Black Locust vs Lewis Mock Orange - TreeTime.ca

Black Locust vs Lewis Mock Orange

Robinia pseudoacacia

Philadelphus lewisii

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Black Locust
Lewis Mock Orange

Black Locust is an attractive tree. Its distinctive leaves are made of about a dozen bright green leaflets. It also notable for its fragrant white flowers, which smell of citrus.

Black Locust can grow in many situations, but prefers dry areas with lots of sun. It is robust and is an excellent choice for establishing shade in dry, open areas.

Important note: Much of the Black Locust is toxic to humans and livestock, including seeds, bark, and leaves.

Lewis Mock Orange is a flowering ornamental shrub that produces an abundance of white, fragrant blooms. The flowers have a sweet scent similar to orange blossoms, with a hint of pineapple. They bloom for several weeks from late spring to early summer, attracting pollinators and other beneficial insects.

Native to North America, Lewis Mock Orange is found from the southernmost portions of Alberta and British Columbia, and south into the northwestern United States. It makes an attractive shrub and can be used in hedgerows, pollinator gardens, and naturalization projects. Blooms occur on the previous year’s wood, so it is recommended to prune after it has finished flowering.

Black Locust Quick Facts

Lewis Mock Orange Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 4a
Height: 12 m (40 ft)
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 8 m (25 ft)
Spread: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: long
Life span: medium
Growth form: upright to arching, multi-stemmed
Spreading: suckering - medium, seeds - low
Suckering: high


Bark: dark reddish brown to balck with furrows
Flowers: Creamy white flowers in a pyramidal shape bloom in may-june
Flowers: fragrant, white
Bloom time: mid spring to early summer
Seeds: dark brown peapod-like pods
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC
Other Names: false acacia, yellow locust
Other Names: california mock orange, lewis mockorange, western mock orange, western syringa, wild mock orange