Purple Robe Locust               ro-BIN-e-a

• Deciduous tree, 30-50 ft [9-15 m] tall, ascending, open.  Described as thornless, but some plants offered as Purple Robe have typical R. pseudoacacia thorns.  Leaves, 17-21 leaflets, bronze- red at first then bronze-green in summer.  Flowers large, dark rose-pink, appear before those of the species.
• Sun.  Drought tolerant.
• Hardy to USDA Zone 3      Apparently the result of an intentional cross by William Silva between R. ambigua 'Decaisneana' and R. hispida 'Monument'.   Plant patent (PP2454) granted in 1964.  Often sold as Robinia pseudoacacia  'Purple Robe'.