Black Locust vs. Honey Locust vs. Kentucky Coffeetree - Ninja Gardening - Episode 35

Black Locust vs. Honey Locust vs. Kentucky Coffeetree, which is which and how can you tell these three legume trees apart? In this video I do a side by side comparison of the seeds and pods of each of these species.
This issue comes up on a lot of internet forums. Someone will usually ask if one of these trees are edible, then someone will chime in, "Yes, but don't confuse it with..." To my eyes each of the seeds and pod are very distinctive.
There are hybrid locust trees and several locust trees native to North America I haven't seen in person, but offer a few comments on. Also, in urban settings you may see non-native trees that are similar, such as the Carob tree.
Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)
Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)
Kentucky Coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus)

[@markpiersall9815]

This begins at 3:53. The Honey Locust is livestock friendly. The leaves, seeds and pods are edible.

[@mrbr549]

Interesting! You're right, there's not much to be confused about while comparing them side by side. We had lots of those Honey Locust trees where I grew up in Southern Illinois. I remember them well. Very long thorns and they are considered a trash tree there. We sometimes burned the wood for heat, as they really made a great fire.

[@jessicagreen1876]

Very helpful!!! Thank you so much. I now know that my beautiful tree is a Kentucky Coffee tree--so much more exotic than the others! Lol

[@donnielee8556]

Thanks man. I was so confused at which seed pods I had. I was thinking black locust. But wasn't quite sure, and thought possibly honey locust. Thanks to your video. I got my answer. It was in deed black locust. Appreciate your video

[@PlantAssassin]

+Donnie Lee Thank you, glad to hear you were able to identify your species of tree.

[@numismatik]

@2:14, I like the Silver Dollar comparison!!! LOL!!!

[@PlantAssassin]

:-)

[@Laurel-Crowned]

​@@PlantAssassinWTH! We must be related now that I see your name 😢😂

[@jameslaubacker2171]

Kentucky Redbud same sead pod.... And very. Good. Tree...

[@Doom2pro]

My wife's grandparents have what they described as Coffee Trees on their property (about five of them, varying age) and they are located in upstate new york near the Vermont border... The thing is, the pods are *as short as your coffee tree pods* but not as wide (about *half as wide* ) and they are just as thick as yours *if not thicker* , with the pod rind being very thick also, and the strange thing is that these trees *almost never set fruit* (they are very low yielding with only about a dozen or so pods falling to the ground a year *for all five trees* which are *very large* about 80 feet tall) that and the pods *NEVER have seeds in them* , never, just a *thick sticky brown sweet smelling paste* (sweet tasting too, I spit it out afterwards just to be cautious). Could this be some kind of hybrid with sterile pods? Or could they all be cuttings of the same parent plant and the species is not self compatible thus the low yields and seedless pods? Very strange. There is also a possibility these trees were brought over from Spain.

[@agricola]

Sounds like carob trees

[@LEBUNCHESFAMILY]

We have long black pods that are fuzzy velvet like. Which one of the three has this? Also is there a smell to any of these that would help to distinguish between?

[@PlantAssassin]

None of the ones I cover in the video are what I would call “fuzzy.” There are several other native locust trees that may fit the bill, but I haven’t had a chance to examine them. There are also plenty of options amongst introduced species. There is a mesquite tree named the velvet mesquite, but the pods I have seen were always smooth, and white.

[@davidazinger5639]

excellent video !!

[@jameslaubacker2171]

Simi. Dorfe. HONEY Locust. Don't have seeds... Right...

[@tschaennfarm]

I the future us a dime in the plate give that size comparison Thank u

[@Dollapfin]

Last fall my sister got married in Maryland (from pa). Found the Kentucky one. Brought a ripe pod home and took the seeds out. It’s a shame cuz I totally forgot to plant them and lost them. Lol. Whatever I want black locust anyways.

[@jungleebushcraft]

What? She got married? The b!tch!!!

[@kathymartin8741]

so sorry! confused your video with another.

[@PlantAssassin]

+Kathy Martin Ha ha, no problem.

[@kathymartin8741]

you completely have black locust and honey locust confused. small pods are black locust and large pods are honey locust.

[@blubastud]

that's what he said

[@BackYardScience2000]

Sounds like Kathy wasn't paying attention.

[@jungleebushcraft]

Kathy honey...you completely locust? Next time stop playing with your Tarzan 🥒 while watching a video...