Black Locust
Black Locust is one of North America's most underrated woods. For outdoor use — fence posts, deck posts, garden furniture, arbors — its rot resistance rivals ipe and far exceeds pressure-treated lumber, without the chemical treatment. The fresh-cut yellow-green color is striking but oxidizes to golden-brown over time. It's rarely sold commercially because it's difficult to dry without checking, but if you can source fresh-cut local material and dry it yourself, the value is exceptional.
- Drying it too fast — it checks badly without slow, patient drying
- Overlooking it for outdoor applications — rot resistance is genuinely ipe-class
- Not pre-drilling fastener holes — it splits without exception
Fresh-cut heartwood is a striking yellow-green — one of the most distinctive domestic colors. Oxidizes to golden-brown and then dark brown over years. Sapwood is pale yellow and clearly demarcated.
Hard and dense, workable with sharp carbide. Excellent natural rot and decay resistance — among the best of any domestic species. Pre-drilling mandatory for fasteners. Difficult to dry without checking. Primarily harvested locally rather than sold commercially, so sourcing requires regional contacts.
| Region | Availability |
|---|---|
| North America | Regional / select dealers |
| Europe | Regional / select dealers |
| South America | Rare / not commonly imported |
| Australia/NZ | Rare / not commonly imported |
| Asia | Rare / not commonly imported |
| Africa | Rare / not commonly imported |