Black locust. Legume (pea) family -- same as wisteria. They're blooming here now -- quite a show.

Do appreciate your input. Are they considered a weed tree? I guess weed is a subjective value, however. I like them but the owner wants to eliminate them. Interesting about being in same family as wisteria. I had a beauty in my last house but had to cut it waaaaay back as it threatened to eat everything around it. Thanks again.

A weed is nothing more then a plant growing in the wrong place. I've seen dandelion greens in the grocery store...somewhere there are dandelion farms. If grass grew in their dandelion fields, it wold be considered a weed. Don't assume there is an absolute meaning to "weed"....it's all relative.

In my state Black Locust is considered an invasive species...but it is native to the Southern United States.

The major use of black locust is people plant it along the coast and along salted roads because it tolerates salt well and grows where few other trees will grow. Also planted on old mines for this reason.

HERE is a nice tidbit about locust honey. I don't keep bees but know others who do. They are always welcome to bring hives which are transported at night, and leave them for a couple of weeks. Locust honey is great and this year we had a tremendous bloom.

Larger farms traditionally had a stand of Black Locust on the property from which they would cut and let it regenerate. Fence posts made from this tree seem to never rot. Also the firewood from BL is excellent.

sam_md, at one time I had a beehive. When extracting the honey late in the summer, the experienced guy helping me noted several frames of very light-colored honey and said those were from black locust and not to mix them w/the other honey as it had a distinct vanilla-flavor that was much esteemed. It was kept separate & was indeed distinctly colored & flavored. Honey made from honey locust is similar, tho black locust is a far more common tree. Below are some of my honey locust flowers right now -- bees swarm them:

Thanks to all and yes, as I said, "weed" is a subjective value. I hope the land owner doesn't cut it down -- but if so, he can make long lasting fence posts.

The people above beat me to some great points about black locust.

But one thing to remember is that the wood is heavy as concrete, but the trees can be weakly rooted. I’d never let one grow within falling range of something important.

black locust is a nitrogen fixer, has high density BTU wood, and is super rot resistant. The tree gives a dappled shade many people like, and has a spring flower show. On down side, they can grow wicked thorns, and borers can make them prone to falling over.

And the flowers are edible. Years ago i was at a party where the flowers were dipped in batter, fried and eaten with maple syrup or sorghum molasses.

Wow to these comments. I think they are so nice looking and to hear you can eat the flowers - a definite plus. I have 3 that are now blooming. I will mow any of the suckers and keep the 3. But as I said, they are growing on community property (not mine) so I may not have the option. Thanks again to all.

If it were growing in my yard it would be a unique treasure lol

An open grown Black locust can be a fine tree. Here's one (MD) from last autumn, leaves just starting to turn. Trunk bark is rough & picturesque:

Considered an invasive species in 17 european countries and covers 2,3 million hectares of land, especially in central Europe. For example you could often see them in the background in news reports from the war in Ukraine some years back. I even got one my self, grown from seed. It's not invasive up here though, it barely survives.

It does well here but isn't invasive. Must be Goldilocks conditions for it.

It is considered a noxious invasive weed, is restricted or even prohibited in some parts of the U.S. Yes, even native plants can become a problem. My advice to anyone would be to educate yourself regarding the status of this tree.