Jessie Keith
Family
Moraceae
Botanical Name
MacLura pomifera
Plant Common Name
Bois d’arc, Hedge Apple, Osage Orange
General Description
The large, warty, round fruits of Osage orange are heavy and dangerous when they start thudding to the ground in fall. Originally this native deciduous tree only inhabited the plains of the Red River in Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas and the other regions of Texas, such as the Blackland Prairies and Chisos Mountains. Populations spread due to human cultivation and now exist across much of North America. The tree itself is medium-sized, long-lived and develops a pleasing rounded or pyramidal canopy. Its wood is remarkably strong and resists rotting, so it’s historically been used for fence posts. Osage orange produces lots of potentially valuable chemicals that may be useful in medicine as well as the food and pesticide industries.
Deeply fissured, yellowish gray-brown bark covers the broad, strong trunk of this tree and conceals its bright orangish yellow heartwood. When broken the stems emit a strong, acrid smell and milky sap. The new stems of younger trees have vicious thorns. Its ovate leaves alternate on the stem and have tapered, acute tips. In fall they turn shades of yellowish green. The trees are dioecious, which means that each tree produces either male or female flowers. Both male and female flowers small and greenish yellow. The female blooms are round and fuzzy and mature into green warty fruits that are round and often called “monkey balls.” The hard fruits are inedible and emit a milky sap if broken. As they age, they will shatter to release their seeds.
Trees planted in open areas with full sun develop the most pleasing canopies. This is a tough tree that’s quite drought tolerant once established and will withstand a broad range of soil types with average drainage. Like most floodplain trees, it can withstand occasional flooding at the rootzone. It has few pest and disease problems and requires little to no maintenance—aside from the cleanup of fruits from female trees. Male trees can be planted in park, open lawns and even make great street trees. Female trees should not be planted where children play or pedestrians frequent.
Scientists believe Osage orange fruits were the favored food of species long extinct, such as early American horses and the Pleistocene mega fauna like giant ground sloths and mammoths. The Osage tribe's people used the strong, attractive wood for bow wood and war clubs. In fact, the common name bois d’arc is French for "wood of the bow."
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
10 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
4 - 10
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Sunset Zone
2a, 2b, 3a, 10, 11, 12, 13
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Plant Type
Tree
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
25'-60' / 7.6m - 18.3m
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Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring
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Native To
Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Average
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Soil type
Clay, Loam
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Tolerances
Soil Compaction
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Growth Rate
Medium
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Water Requirements
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
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Habit
Oval/Rounded
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Insignificant
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Flower Color
Yellow Green
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Fruit Color
Green
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Yellow, Green, Yellow Green
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Bark Color
Yellow, Orange, Sandy Brown, Gray
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
Yes
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Fragrant Foliage
Yes
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
Yes
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
Yes
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
Yes
