Robinia (black locust)
The Wood Guide · The wood register
Broadleaf wood · referenceRobinia
False acacia, black locust, faux acacia. A North American tree that became Europe's most durable home-grown hardwood — and can go in the ground.
- Robinia pseudoacacia
- Class 1–2
- Also in ground contact
RobiniaRobinia pseudoacacia
Robinia at a glance
Robinia pseudoacacia L., family Leguminosae — originally from North America, now planted in Europe, Asia, North Africa and New Zealand.
The confusion over the name is persistent: in the Netherlands and Belgium robinia was simply called "acacia" for years, while true acacia is a completely different genus. In Germany it is called Falsche Akazie or Robinie, in France faux acacia, in Britain false acacia, and in the United States black locust.
What makes robinia special: it is the only wood grown in Europe that reaches durability class 1 to 2 — including in ground contact. For posts, play equipment and bank revetments it is therefore Europe's answer to tropical hardwood.
Most of the robinia processed here comes from Hungarian plantations from around 1950. Hungary has the largest robinia stands in Europe and is the main supplier — a short chain and a truly European alternative to tropical wood.
- Botanical
- Robinia pseudoacacia L.
- Family
- Leguminosae (Papilionaceae)
- Origin
- North America
- Main source
- Hungarian plantations, around 1950
- Durability
- class 1 to 2 — also in ground contact
- Other names
- false acacia, black locust, faux acacia
To be fair: robinia grows crooked. The trunks are rarely straight and often twisted, so few long, straight boards come out of them. That makes it expensive per usable metre and explains why it is mainly used for posts, short pieces and play equipment — not for three-metre tabletops.
One tree, five names
In the Netherlands and Belgium robinia was simply called “acacia” for years, while true acacia is a completely different genus. In Germany it is called Falsche Akazie or Robinie, in France faux acacia, in Britain false acacia, in the United States black locust.
Click a chapter or use the arrows · route and growth schematic.
Why it is so durable
Class 1 to 2
The highest natural durability of all species grown in Europe — comparable to teak, without tropical forest.
Ground contact
Where most species give up, robinia holds out. Posts last for decades without impregnation.
Hard and strong
High density and bending strength; it is one of the strongest European woods.
Ring-porous
Pronounced growth rings on a yellowish-green to golden-brown ground colour that darkens to brown.
Precisely because of that crooked growth. For our picnic tables and beer tables we need long, straight boards of equal thickness, and robinia rarely delivers them. For posts and play equipment, on the other hand, it is hard to beat.
What robinia is used for
| Use | Why robinia | Distinctive |
|---|---|---|
| Posts and bank revetments | Class 1 in ground contact | The European alternative to pressure-treated wood |
| Play equipment | Durable without chemicals | Important where children come into contact with it |
| Outdoor furniture | Hard and weather-resistant | Often in short pieces because of the crooked growth |
| Garden screens and fencing | Strong and rot-resistant | Traditional use |
| Parquet | Hard and decorative | Limited supply in long lengths |
| Vineyard posts | Durable and strong | The classic use in Central Europe |
Robinia spreads vigorously through root suckers and seed and displaces native vegetation in parts of Europe. It is on the list of invasive alien species. That argues for using the wood from existing plantations — but not for new planting in the wild.
Frequently asked questions about robinia
Is robinia the same as acacia?
No, even though it is called that. Robinia is Robinia pseudoacacia; true acacia is a different genus. The name false acacia says it all.
Can robinia go in the ground?
Yes, and that is its strongest property. With durability class 1 to 2, posts last for decades without impregnation — unique for a European wood.
Why is robinia so expensive?
Because of the crooked, often twisted growth, few long, straight pieces come out of a trunk. You don't pay for the cubic metre but for the usable metre.
Robinia in perspective
Europe's own class 1 — grown crooked, but indestructible.
Have a question about your project? Just ask — we're happy to help.
Robinia pseudoacacia — Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Robinia pseudoacacia — Mnemosine, Public domain · Photo via Wikimedia Commons: Robinia pseudoacacia — Gerda Arendt, CC BY-SA 4.0