The Battle Between Edibility and Toxicity - Honey Locust Vs Black Locust

[@hippo-potamus]

The black locust has fragrant showy flower whereas the honey locust does not.

[@aplacetoexist]

That is true! I failed to mention that in the video! Good catch!

[@ramblinman4197]

That is one of the easiest ways to tell them apart in the spring. Black locust flowers are one of my favorite smells. Don't quote me on this, but I think the flowers may also be the only edible part of the plant.

[@aplacetoexist]

@ramblinman4197 as far as I can tell, "it's a gamble" was the answer to the flowers being edible! But I hear the honey that is produced from black locust flower is truly a delight!

[@hippo-potamus]

@@aplacetoexist Might be but really there is no way to tell where the honey comes from as it is mixed with other batches and you really can't trust the label to pinpoint its location. My uncle works for a honey company. They ship bees to south texas but the jar says the honey is from colorado.

[@aplacetoexist]

@hippo-potamus correct, I definitely wouldn't trust labels! but you can isolate particular flavors based on bloom availability, and a lack of biodiversity! So if the only thing blooming in the bees flight range is black locust, you get a small amount of black locust honey! I've only tasted it once on a black locust logging plot! Twas good though!

[@martinv.-]

Hey man, great video, thank you for the information. I'm on the country side of Buenos Aires (Argentina), and there are tons of Honey Locust (we call it "Acacia negra"), they grow all over the fences between fields and the streets.

[@zephyrkhambatta]

Interesting. I do love nature, and look forward to exploring the nature of the West too, when we go there for holidays. Thanks Alex!

[@aplacetoexist]

It's a pretty wild world out there! I hope you enjoy your travels fully!

[@maryracine3389]

BTW, I’m located in Western New York. Our new-to-us home is on the high bank of Cattaraugus Creek, 1/4 acre. Also blessed with 3 walnut trees. And squirrels! Have enough chewed out walnuts to make a Christmas tree garland! Collecting the walnuts with a “nut garden weasel.” Faster. Saves my back. There’s nothing like listening to walnuts falling on a metal roof at night! The large, older black locust and walnut trees on the creek bank are protected by Virginia creeper and poison ivy. Yay. Really, we are enjoying our new home and the adventure of exploring it. In the Spring, I’m planting native perennials. They will be beautiful and, most importantly, have deep roots, providing excellent erosion control. Bee Balm, cone flowers, milkweed, joe pye weed just to name a few.

[@aplacetoexist]

Oh man! Walnut trees are some of my favorite! I love black walnuts the best, but they can be a menace to Crack open! Haha!

[@waykeeperfarmandnerdery]

In my experience, in small quantities black locust can be safely be eaten by sheep. It was also recommended in the book Silvopasture by Steve Gabriel. He uses it as forage for his sheep as well, although he mentioned one instance of pregnant cows aborting after eating black locust. So I think in small quantities it can be a good source of feed, in addition to pasture, depending on timing, etc. our sheep have grazed directly off our trees and we also cut branches to supplement their feed occasionally. I also have honey locust trees planted at the same time and black locust grows so much faster, which makes it a better source of forage in the early years of establishing a silvopasture. 😊

[@aplacetoexist]

Ive met a few ranchers who said they supplement with black locust, and I do wish there was a way to safely supplement with black locust, but they said the risks are pretty high with long term health of the animals so they only supplement with the cattle/goats raised for slaughter!

[@Hanes4Heroes]

Great video!! -VRA Fam

[@aplacetoexist]

Thanks for stopping by!

[@thelook87]

Thanks for all the vids showing a bare minimum approach! As someone about to attempt this as well and now slightly paranoid based off what you said, I'd love to hear some more details on how you got driven off your land to maybe avoid the danger. Totally understand if you're not comfortable disclosing though. Regardless, keep up the good work!

[@aplacetoexist]

I'm really glad you are enjoying! As for how I got driven off my land, it was most likely hunters trying to "prank" me, but going waaaay too far, or it was transients, or it was the local cult. The best way to avoid it is probably #1. Have a loaded ranged weapon with you at all times, #2. Make sure you know exactly where your property lines are and stay well within them, #3 clearly mark your borders with "no trespassing" signs, and #4 talk to the local police department about local disturbances, cult activity, hunting problems, etc! Try to stay friendly with the police as they'll be the first and only ones to your rescue if you need it! I honestly think I just had bad luck, but since I'm a naturally anxious person, the anxiety that encounter created was just too much for to handle! Good luck! And feel free to email me or message me with questions if you need a hand!

[@maryracine3389]

We have black locust trees. Several large ones on the steep creek bank. Young one by the corner of our new house. It’s 2 stories high, has vicious thorns on the trunk, along all the branches. Many seedlings had sprouted. Being careful not to pull them by hand. 🤦🏽‍♀️ going to try cutting deeply around the tree trunk every couple inches and treating with some kind of poison. Was told that if you just cut the tree down, the roots will go into overdrive. They’d probably surround the foundation and lift the house to the clouds! 🙄 like Jack and the bean stalk!😂Hoping this slower way will work in a couple years. I could send you some nice pictures of my black locust trees!

[@larryweinberg1191]

thanks for video. What is your take on eating out of a black locust or honey locust bowl? Salads, cereal, etc. would seem ok. Maybe stay away from hot foods? Not a lot of information on subject.

[@aplacetoexist]

Not a ton of info, but I think if it's sealed then it'd be OK! Or if it's well aged or made of soaked wood! Honey locust would be safest, black locust might be a concern though! All said, I'm not sure! XD

[@raphlvlogs271]

despite the robustness and the generalist nature of the black locust they are actually only native to a very small area in the Appalachians

[@aplacetoexist]

True! it's hard to say how limited its historically native range was, but it's evident it didn't expand into western USA until quite recently, historically speaking!

[@RisenFromDarkness_1880]

I've eaten the tiny seeds of black locust roasted with their seed shells removed with no il effects. They taste like small peanuts. I also like to grind them up into a paste and eat them. It's easier that way because of how small they are. (Don't eat the seeds or flowers if you're allergic to peanuts as they are in the same family.)

[@aplacetoexist]

That's a good observation that I didn't mention in the video! When I do my deep dive video on black locust, I'll be sure to add that!

[@RisenFromDarkness_1880]

@@aplacetoexist Also mention to be cautious as everyone will react differently when trying new things.

[@aplacetoexist]

@RisenFromDarkness_1880 very valid! Allergies are weird!

[@joanrobinson638]

I have a lot of locust trees on the surrounding property that bear 10 to 12" pods, but have "rose" type thorns like a black locust. I am located in South western Ontario, Canada, in the Hamilton area. Any reliable way of positively identifying the species? Our young dog likes to play with the pods when they fall in late fall and winter.

[@aplacetoexist]

Hmmm, would you be willing to email me a picture of the pods and thorns at [e-mail] its hard to say without looking, but black locust pods are usually only 4" long give or take, so my guess is it's a honey locust!

[@nickhockey96]

If the bark looks similar to a Kentucky coffee tree, it’ll be honey locust. Black locust has deep furrowed bark with a similar pattern to a black walnut

[@lambfactory2537]

Why not try an improved thornless honey locust with huge pods like Calhoun or Hershey ?

[@aplacetoexist]

You definitely can! They're pretty nice! I personally prefer the fthorns on honey locust because it limits the amount of scratching and damage that animals do to the trunk of the tree! But both types have their niche and are both incredible in their own ways!

[@scottjenkins4613]

The black locust is NATIVE to the eastern north american continent. Hardly "invasive". It has a relatively short life-span, reclaims de-forestation quickly, makes way for long lives species, fertilizes poor soils, provides excellent quick growth firewood and fence post wood, and should be considered an exemplary specimen of a natural forest ecosystem, or sustainable human habitat. Be kind to the black locust.

[@aplacetoexist]

Oh man, if you'd watched the video, I say all that stuff! It's pretty awesome that we're saying the same thing! Except that you're saying it's not invasive, while I'm saying many states class it as invasive! Similar to the tree of paradise! It is native to America, but not all of America! Where it's not native to, it's often classed as invasive due to how aggresive it pushes out natives! I love both trees equally, which is why I say "when choosing one of these trees, it easily goes either way based on your needs!" Thanks for the comment! Hope you enjoyed at least part of it!

[@lovegodfirst654]

Why no pictures

[@aplacetoexist]

I threw a few up there, but didn't have the resources or time to get better pictures than what I had in the video! Most the pictures are from friends that live where there are trees!

[@ellenorbjornsdottir1166]

There's rumours that you can cook the poison out of black locust. I would not recommend this course of action, and I can't find a reliable source.

[@aplacetoexist]

I have heard those rumors, but similar to you, I've been unable to find any source that is trustworthy! Same with honey locust! You can eat the seeds if cooked long enough, but there just isn't enough data to verify its safety!

[@ellenorbjornsdottir1166]

@@aplacetoexist I wish I had large enough land to appropriately contain pseudoacacia. It seems like such a neat little tree (nitrogen fixing, poles, performs well under coppicing), other than being more invasive than honeylocust and obviously being poisonous unless cooked heavily.

[@aplacetoexist]

@@ellenorbjornsdottir1166 they're pretty awesome if I do say so myself! A great niche plant if you've got the time and mindset for them!

[@RisenFromDarkness_1880]

I have eaten the tiny seeds of black locust mostly roasted with no il effects. They taste like peanuts. I like to grind them up into a paste and eat them. (Don't eat the seeds or flowers if you're allergic to penuts as they are in the same family.)

[@aplacetoexist]

@RisenFromDarkness_1880 be safe! most of the negative health effects I've seen are results of either long term small exposures resulting in tumors, or acute exposure leading to gastrointestinal problems leading to death! Either way, I'm not a huge fan of eating black locust seeds until more research has been done!