The stems exude a milky The Osage orange tree, very durable and once a favorite of American settlers, deserves a look from modern-day homesteaders. by Dr. Barbara Ogg, Extension Educator, This OF THE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS: You may reproduce the Educational tree - are being sold at farmer's markets, garden Precise-as-can-be check: Below your tree, dig 6-8 inches deep and grab a handful of soil. Lichens and algae are often mistaken for a fungal disease but, fortunately, they do not harm plants on which they grow. Osage-orange is a small to medium-sized tree, having Mice and More, Insects, Resource Guides for educational purposes but not for sales purposes The small, green flowers appear in May or June. The large, grapefruit-sized, brain-like green fruit are better-known that the trees and show up in the fall of the year in stores and farmers markets where they are sold for their purported ability to repel insects. Some people say they resemble brains. The twigs are buff to orange-brown and are armed with 1/2-inch long spines. Do I want any wood? My mother brought me 3 more bags of hedge apples today. - Rhetorical question considering how bad my back feels. It is subject to relatively little shrinkage compared to other wood, making it a good choice for fence posts and building nailless structures. Texas, southeastern Oklahoma, and southwestern Arkansas. While the Osage-orange is hardy in southern Iowa (USDA Hardiness Zone 5), it is not a suitable tree for the home landscape because of its large fruit and sharp thorns. I am thinking at least 50 years ago according to the locals in the area. a short trunk and a rounded or irregular crown. I will spread them out tomorrow. Maclura pomifera, commonly known as the Osage orange, hedge, or hedge apple tree is a small deciduous tree or large shrub, typically growing to 8 to 15 metres (30–50 ft) … The wood of the hedge apple is exceptionally hard and heavy, with a yellowish hue that turns brown with age. Videotapes are copyrighted and may not be reproduced. its widespread planting, but many Osage-orange trees About the size of a grapefruit, these green fruits have a bumpy, knobby appearance. article appeared in the October 2001 NEBLINE Newsletter. Teachers and Students: Consider the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension educational programs abide with for information about a specific insect pest or your local wildlife? If Other common plant names include hedge apple, bodark, bois d'arc, and bowwood. Where do they come from? While many people claim that they are a good natural pest repellent, it is only in concentrated amounts that it is effective. The leaves on my bee balms are covered with a grayish white "powder." A small to medium-sized deciduous tree, the Osage orange tree reaches a mature height of 30 to 40 feet tall with a 40-foot broad, arching crown. Hedge apples seem to be of great abundance this fall. I am plague with Hedge apples , Once they get started they are hard to kill and grow like crazy . also found that natural concentrations of these compounds During the mid-nineteenth century, it was widely planted by midwest farmers, including those in southern Iowa, as a living fence. The tree I see from my front window looks like it could have been along a hedge line several years ago. Source: Amazon Spruce trees are easily recognizable due to their pyramidal shape. A few years ago, Iowa yourself or to use the fruit as a fall decoration, At any rate this tree is well over 40 feet tall more like 60 to 70 feet and is one of the most beautiful trees I have ever seen. that these fruits can be used as an insect repellent, reproduced). It is a tough and durable tree, transplants easily, and tolerates poor soils, extreme heat, and strong winds. They are a nuisance in the home landscape. of Nebraska Cooperative Extension in Lancaster County (http://lancaster.unl.edu/enviro/pest/bug.htm), About Are they good for anything? twigs are buff to orange-brown and are armed with The wood of the Osage-orange is golden yellow or bright orange when first cut, but turns brown on exposure. Native In Latin, it's Maclura pomifera, a member of the mulberry family named for American geologist William Maclure. one-half inch long spines. Many of the original hedges have since been destroyed or died.