False acacia
Robinia pseudoacacia
Last reviewed: September 2026

False acacia is toxic to dogs and cats.
Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-08-15). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435and your veterinarian's emergency line.
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants so you can choose a pet-safe native alternative for your yard.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
360"–600" H × 240"–360" W
Bloom
May, Jun
Native to
AL, AR, AZ, DE and 40 more states
Pollinators
bees
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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A fast-growing deciduous tree with thorny young branches and compound leaves, producing long, fragrant clusters of white pea-like flowers in late spring. It suckers readily from the roots and can colonize an area if not managed, giving it a less-groomed appearance over time.
Wildlife value
Host plant for silver-spotted skipper.
The fragrant spring flowers are one of the best honey-bee nectar sources of any native tree, and the foliage is the primary host plant for silver-spotted skipper caterpillars.
Common questions
- How much sun does False acacia need?
- False acacia grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does False acacia bloom?
- False acacia blooms in May and June.
- Where is False acacia native?
- False acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia) is native to AL, AR, AZ, DE and 40 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- Is False acacia toxic to dogs?
- Yes. False acacia is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Is False acacia toxic to cats?
- Yes. False acacia is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- What butterflies or moths does False acacia host?
- False acacia is a larval host plant for silver-spotted skipper.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants like False acacia and shows pet-safe natives for your ecoregion instead.
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