Sugar Maple (Hard Maple) vs Black Locust - TreeTime.ca

Sugar Maple (Hard Maple) vs Black Locust

Robinia pseudoacacia

Acer saccharum

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

Black Locust
Sugar Maple (Hard Maple)

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.

Sugar Maple is a large, deciduous tree known for its brilliant fall yellow, orange, and red-orange color display.

This long-lived shade tree features unique "maple"
lobed leaves.

Note: this Zone 4 tree is unlikely to produce commercially viable sap on the prairies.

Black Locust Quick Facts

Sugar Maple (Hard Maple) Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 4a
Height: 12 m (40 ft)
Height: 20 m (66 ft)
Spread: 8 m (25 ft)
Spread: 11 m (35 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: long
Life span: medium
Suckering: high
Suckering: none


Bark: dark reddish brown to balck with furrows
Flowers: Creamy white flowers in a pyramidal shape bloom in may-june
Seeds: dark brown peapod-like pods
Seeds: winged samara
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: ON, QC, NS, NB, PE
Other Names: false acacia, yellow locust
Other Names: hard maple, rock maple