Do black locust trees have thorns? Certainly, there are thorns on black locusts, and they can be easily noticed. This particular species of the tree is distinguished by its sharp and paired thorns located near each leaf at its bottom. They vary between half an inch and an inch in size and serve as a defense mechanism for preventing animals from eating their bark and leaves.
Even though the thorns are a hindrance when dealing with black locusts, they indicate that such trees are strong and adaptive, as they can grow in a variety of unfavorable conditions, from poor soils to an urban environment, which makes them desirable in landscaping.
Nevertheless, if you decide to plant a black locust in your backyard, it is important to consider where exactly you will place it since children and pets can be harmed by thorns. Despite being somewhat dangerous because of thorns, black locusts are great trees thanks to their leaves, flowers, and wood.