I have spotted it growing along the old railroad track bed on the S.W end of town.

I have a 5 acre parcel that was once pasture land. These have made a solid establishment on my land. They produce an extremely hard wood that is also very good firewood. The folklore is the Spanish once used it to make their ships. I harvest the larger ones for firewood & have been eradicating the smaller ones ASAP.

Found some Black Locust growing just off the boat launch.

Found a young up-and-coming stand in an unmanaged forest on the property, they appear to be relatively quickly reproducing due to root suckering. While this stand isn't blooming as of yet, I have noticed that mature trees produce a highly sweet smelling blossom that is very pleasant. Apparently honey from these trees' nectar is also prized.

Saw this seedling for the first time on my property. It's beautiful but I know better. Pulled it. Thank you for the information. Your site helps me make informed decisions.

I have a dozen or so of these trying to get started in my native grass/flower shoreline restoration area and will need to use chemicals to kill them, they can't be pulled out and cutting them results in fast regrowth.

A large colony of this species grows on some rock outcrops near 15th Ave. West in Duluth. It appears to have been sprayed a few years ago but whether that will be enough I don't know. The plants have been here since the 1980s at least.

My Seek app identified it along the path on the east side of Medicine Lake this am.

There is one at the dog park in the small dog enclosure at Zachary Ln, Champlin

How or Why is this plant an Invasive Native? I always save the seeds of this native plant to sow everywhere I go. Flowers Taste Great, Wood Quality is Good, Grows on extremely poor soils and builds those exact poor soils so more Natives can come in and thrive. Not to Mention Thorns keep deer away from other vulnerable Native Plants. Why would a Native Tree that Supports other Native species be labeled as Invasive to eradicate? Sure it might be weedy but that's because it's a pioneer tree species, that's the role they play in Native Ecosystems. This Native tree is restoring the ecological Damage we done to our soils, why are we fighting it?

John, if you look at the national distribution map you'll see black locust is native to the south and east of Minnesota and is introduced (i.e. not native) elsewhere in North America.

So despite it being native on the same continent, It's still not Native to Minnesota? If so who introduced it here to Minnesota? If it were Native Americans who did, then does that mean it's still native? because of the prior to European settlement rule of how native plants are defined?

John, per Welby Smith: "Black locust is native only in the Ozark and Appalachian regions of the eastern US, but it has been widely planted and naturalized beyond its original range. It was brought to MN in about 1860, possibly earlier, and was originally promoted for use in erosion control, as a windbreak, and for fuel, lumber and fence posts." It is unlikely Native Americans were responsible for its introduction here.

Interesting! Thank you for the info from Welby Smith! Is the Vice Versa also true for our state? In other words, would any Minnesota Native Plant, if it Extends beyond it's native range also be considered Invasive in other states? Just like how Black Locust is to us?

John, assume any plant introduced outside its native range has the potential to become invasive there. It doesn't always happen, but could.