Why is locust named a municipal tree of Beijing?
Locusts are good for Beijing’s cold, dry and windy climate and arid soil. The crown of the tree is shaped like a globe, and the branches reach out lushly. The leaves are deep green and lustrous. Every year the tree blooms during June-July with yellow-green butterfly-shaped flowers. The tree’s fruits look like strings of pearls. The tree has a long life and can grow as tall as 25 meters, with a diameter of 1.5 meters. Beijing has a long history of growing locusts along roads and residential areas. Currently, there are 2,776 locusts over 100 years old.
