With rosy-pink, pea-like flowers that hang in showy clusters, Bristly Locust brings a burst of color and quirky charm to spring gardens. This shrubby legume grows 3–10 feet tall and is known for its bristly stems and graceful, compound leaves.

Prefers full sun and well-drained soils, tolerating poor, rocky, or sandy sites with ease. Drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, though it may appreciate a little shaping or pruning.

Spreads by suckers to form loose colonies—great for naturalizing in tough spots or adding informal structure to native plantings. Its open habit and textural foliage pair well with grasses and spring bloomers.

Native to the southeastern U.S., often found on dry slopes, woodland edges, and disturbed areas.

Leafy stems emerge in spring with soft bristles, followed by vivid pink flowers in late spring to early summer. Foliage stays attractive through summer, with seedpods and amber fall color adding subtle seasonal shifts.

Fixes nitrogen in the soil and supports pollinators, especially native bees. Dense stems and foliage offer cover for small wildlife and nesting habitat for birds.