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Maclura pomifera - (Raf.)C.K.Schneid.

Osage Orange

Author	(Raf.)C.K.Schneid.	Botanical references	11, 60, 200
Family	Moraceae	Genus	Maclura
Synonyms	Maclura aurantiaca - Nutt. Toxylon pomifera - Raf.
Known Hazards	The milky sap can cause dermatitis in some people[200]. An extract and the juice of the fruit is toxic, though a 10% aqueous infusion and extract diluted 1:1 are not toxic[240].
Range	Southeastern N. America - Arkansas to Texas.
Habitat	Woods, fields and thickets in rich bottom lands[73, 83].
Edibility Rating	1 (1-5)	Medicinal Rating	2 (1-5)

Physical Characteristics

A decidious Tree growing to 15m by 12m at a medium rate.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

Habitats

Woodland Garden; Canopy; Secondary; Sunny Edge; Hedge;

Edible Uses

One report suggests that the fruit is edible[74] but this is surely a mistake - although very large, the fruit is harsh, hard, dry and astringent. The fruit does, however, contain an anti-oxidant which can be used as a food preservative, especially for oils[61]. The heartwood and the root yield a non-toxic antibiotic that is useful as a food preservative[240].

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Cardiac; Ophthalmic.

A tea made from the roots has been used as a wash for sore eyes[222, 257]. The inedible fruits contain antioxidant and fungicidal compounds[222]. A 10% aqueous infusion and an extract diluted 1:1 have cardiovascular potentialities[240].

Other Uses

Dye; Fuel; Hedge; Preservative; Repellent; Shelterbelt; Tannin; Wood.

A yellow dye is obtained from the bark of the root and the wood[46, 57, 95, 149, 169, 257]. Green and orange can also be obtained from it[168]. The sap of the fruit is used as an insect repellent[95]. It is said to be effective against cockroaches[222]. The bark is a source of tannin[82, 149]. The plant is often grown as a hedge in N. America and Europe[1, 20, 50], it is very tolerant of severe pruning[200], makes an effective stock-proof barrier[200] and succeeds in maritime exposure[K]. A hedge in a very exposed position at Rosewarne in N. Cornwall has grown well (1989), though it is very bare in winter[K]. This species is also used in shelterbelt plantings[200]. Wood - coarse-grained, exceedingly hard, heavy, flexible, very strong, very durable, silky, lustrous. It weighs 48lb per cubic foot. One of the most durable woods in N. America, it is seldom used commercially, but is used locally for fence posts,piers, bows etc and makes an excellent fuel[46, 82, 95, 171, 200, 227, 229, 274].

Cultivation details

Prefers a well-drained soil in full sun[200]. Succeeds in poor soils and also in dry ones[20]. Plants are fairly tolerant of maritime exposure[K]. They dislike waterlogged soils[188]. Dormant mature plants are hardy to about -20°c though the young growth in spring can be cut back by late frosts[200] and young plants can be damaged in cold winters[188]. Plants require hot summers to fully ripen their wood if they are to thrive in areas with cold winters[188]. Plants are tolerant of severe pruning[200]. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[200]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in pots in a cold frame. Pre-soak stored seed for 48 hours in warm water and stratify for 2 months at 4°c then sow in a cold frame[113, 200]. Germination is normally good. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. The seed stores for 3 years[113]. If growing larger quantities of plants, it is probably best to sow the seed in an open seed bed[200]. Grow the plants on for a couple of years in the seed bed before planting them out into their permanent positions. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[200]. Cuttings of mature wood, November to January in a frame[113]. Layering in summer[200]. Root cuttings 4cm long in December. Plant horizontally in pots in a greenhouse and plant out as soon as possible. Good percentage[78].

Links

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[20] Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978 ISBN 0-88266-064-0
Fairly good.

[46] Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

[50] ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964
An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.

[57] Schery. R. W. Plants for Man. 0
Fairly readable but not very comprehensive. Deals with plants from around the world.

[60] Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955
A standard flora for Western N. America with lots of information on habitat etc. Five large volumes, it is not for the casual reader.

[61] Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.

[73] Adamson. and Salter. Flora of the Cape Peninsula. 0
A good flora but rather short on details of habitat. Not for the casual reader.

[74] Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968
An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers.

[78] Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.

[82] Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965 ISBN 0-486-20278-X
Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader.

[83] Evans. R. L. Handbook of Cultivated Sedums. Science Reviews 1983
Deals with the genus Sedum. Fairly easy reading, it gives cultivation details and some notes on habitats.

[95] Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976 ISBN 0-486-23310-3
Useful wild plants of America. A pocket guide.

[113] Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987 ISBN 0942375009
A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.

[149] Vines. R. A. Trees of Central Texas. University of Texas Press 1987 ISBN 0-292-78958-3
Fairly readable, it gives details of habitats and some of the uses of trees growing in Texas.

[168] Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974 ISBN 0-02-544950-8
A very good and readable book on dyeing.

[169] Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden. 0
Covers all aspects of growing your own clothes, from fibre plants to dyes.

[171] Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952
Not very comprehensive, but it is quite readable and goes into some a bit of detail about the plants it does cover.

[188] Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[222] Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990 ISBN 0395467225
A concise book dealing with almost 500 species. A line drawing of each plant is included plus colour photographs of about 100 species. Very good as a field guide, it only gives brief details about the plants medicinal properties.

[227] Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. 1982 ISBN 0292780206
A readable guide to the area, it contains descriptions of the plants and their habitats with quite a bit of information on plant uses.

[229] Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980 ISBN 0442238622
A very good concise guide. Gives habitats, good descriptions, maps showing distribution and a few of the uses. It also includes the many shrubs that occasionally reach tree proportions.

[240] Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.

[257] Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.

[274] Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999 ISBN 1-889878-01-4
An excellent flora, which is also available on-line.

Readers Comments

Plants for a Future does not verify the accuracy of reader comments, use at your own risk. In particular Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. You should always consult a professional before using plants medicinally.

Maclura pomifera

Donna Kolwaite Wed Nov 20 22:38:06 2002

I have just discovered the osage orange in my back yard a week ago. I live in Upstate New York (Utica). So I am finding this "hedge" very interesting. I have lived here for 8 years and this is the first time I have seen the osage orange. I'm amazed that it is growing in my area. Why is that?

Maclura pomifera

Bill Allen Tue Sep 23 03:49:48 2003

There is a good stand of Osage Orange trees in Shreveport, LA, along the "Kings Highway Bayou". Most sources give the original range of the Osage Orange as "East Texas and Southwestern Arkansas and southern Oklahoma", but I was wondering if these trees could be original, as Shreveport is near the texas border. Another factor that makes me wonder is that this bayou (I believe) was at one time the bed of the Red River, and although the Osage Indians are credited with making bows from the wood, could not the Caddo Indians also have used the tree? I would welcome information on this from anyone, my e-mail is billandbonnie@peoplepc.com

Maclura pomifera

Tue Oct 21 00:04:37 2003

I don't have a comment, but I do have a question I have recently bought a home that we have found out has bugs roaches to be exact and some one had told me that the osage orange is a good repellent I would like some one to tell me how to use them so that I canget rid of these things as quicky and as cheaply as possible if any one has any idea please let me know by e-mailing me at javlin@accnorwalk.com

Maclura pomifera

James Easter Sun Feb 29 07:34:45 2004

Link: Building the Osage Bow Good site for Osage Orange information and Osage Staves.

Maclura pomifera

Marty Roberts Sun Oct 10 02:42:42 2004

I'm in Western Kansas and just found out about Osage Oranges as bug repellent. The instructions I received were to take each carefully picked ball, treat gently and place on a small (foam) plate[to catch any 'sap' that might leak out] and place in the corners of rooms. So far this has worked beautifully against the usual fall invasion of crickets - they are all gone! Dunno about against roaches, don't have any of those; but it would seem worth a try.

It is dry and fairly alkaline here. Zone 5, almost 4. Very hot in summer and can be quite cold in winter.

Maclura pomifera

K. Troxel Wed Oct 13 20:22:51 2004

My family has lived in Kansas for 7 generations and Osage orange wood (hedge) was used a great deal on the old farmsteads. Besides the windbreaks the tree provides, the wood was used for posts, heating the house, cooking and for making wagon parts. My grandfather made many wagon tongues and single trees from hedge. Hedge should only be used in a wood burning or coal burning stove..not a fireplace. After hedge has burned down to a bed of coals, it can produce a shower of sparks like a fireworks display. Many a home has burned down from using hedge to heat.

Hedge posts can last over a hundred years in the Kansas sod. I have collected barbed wire patented in the 1800's still attached to their hedge post.

Maclura pomifera

D. Dunn Mon Sep 11 2006

On a recent September trip to the University of Arkansas, I was amazed to see the huge lime green fruit on the trees. When I asked some people on campus what there were, I was told they were calles "horse apples". Two people told me that horse apples could be used as a bug repellant and that they put them in their attic. My curiosity about this strange fruit (and tree) brought me to the internet to learn more. I was suprised to find out that Maclura pomifera has both male and female trees. Some websites that were helpful in my search to learn more about Osage Oranges (Horse Apples) are the following: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MAPO and http://hort.ufl.edu/trees/MACPOMA.pdf#search=%22Maclura%20pomifera%22

USDA Plant Profiles taxonomy, pictures, and range

Maclura pomifera

michele monson Wed Oct 25 2006

Where can I buy one?

Maclura pomifera

Ajna Fern Mon Oct 30 2006

For british sources of this plant see http://www.rhs.org.uk/RHSPlantFinder/plantfinder.asp

Maclura pomifera

Joe Jones Fri Jun 8 2007

The seeds of Maclura pomifers contain a carbohydrate recognizing lectin that has been the subject of numerous reports in journals and books regarding immunological properties.

Maclura pomifera

Elsabe van der Mescht Fri Feb 29 2008

I have just discovered the osage orange in the north west of south africa, near the botswana border. I find it a very interesting fruit and would like to know if any body ever tried to dry these fruits for use in dry arrangements.elsabe van der mescht.Johannesburg,South Africa.

Maclura pomifera

Storm Mon Jul 7 2008

They are quite excellent as a bug repellent when placed under cabinets and such. However, here in Northeastern Oklahoma we call them "hedge apples" (D. Dunn, are you sure they said 'horse' and not 'hedge'? Because horse apples are a term for horse dung...)

Maclura pomifera

Judy Mullins Sat Dec 27 2008

Mullins Log Cabin Country Getaway Medicinal information about "Hedgeapples"

Maclura pomifera

prue robertson Wed Jun 3 2009

Planted as hedges for stock control in early european settlement in Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia. They have not been cut for probably 50 years but still thrive on the farm. I grew up with visitors fascinated by the strange inedible fruits. I have since found a good market for the fruits with adventurous florists in Sydney. The fruits look great piled up in bowls or urns and last for ages.

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