Hedge Apple Season!

The grapefruit-sized fruits seen in this blog are from the Osage orange tree (Maclura pomnifera). More specifically, these are the fruits of the female Osage orange as this woody tree is dioecious with both male and female plants (member of the mulberry family). This time of year, the fruits start dropping and are not insignificant in size or weight! The photos below with fruits on the ground were taken at Longenecker Gardens which is a fabulous woody plant collection up at the UW-Arboretum (go visit often!). Originally native along waterways in portions of Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma, this plant has naturalized in many other states as it was planted in earnest in the early 1900s as a common hedgerow plant (thorns!) before barbed wire was invented. Osage orange also goes by the name hedge apple, horse apple, bodark, monkey ball and bow-wood. Hardy from zones 4-9, this tree will reach heights close to 50’ tall with a similar width. The shiny leaves are showy and greenish spring flowers might catch the eye. The durability of this tree is amazing in terms of drought tolerance, adaptability to tough soils (including clay) and resistance to air pollution. The wood is long lasting, dense and tough. In the past, the wood was popular in making bows by various Native American tribes. The large fruits, while interesting to see and use in crafts, seasonal arrangements and as curiosities, have very little interest to area wildlife although squirrels will eat the seeds once the fruits soften and break apart. The male form ‘White Shield’ is a common street tree for adaptability, toughness and lack of windshield shattering fruits!