Osage Orange

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Osage Orange

October 2, 2011 by Linda Welch

Well, I’ve been introduced to a new tree this weekend. I’ve never seen one before and didn’t know what it was when everyone in the campground said they have to go collecting “Sage Orange” for the trailers. Evidently the seasonal campers tell me by setting these large fruits full of seeds around the trailer it keeps the mice and spiders out. They swear by them. They also have been using them in their basements to keep the spiders out. So I took some photos to post. I did a bit of research this morning when I came home as well. It is an Osage Orange-Maclura pomifera, also know as a Hedge or Hedge Apple. . In my research I find they are edible…but just the seeds are desired since there’s a slimy mucus like on the inner side. Squirrels evidently love them. The ones in my photos are still green, however I understand they turn a bit more yellow. So upon the advice of my fellow campers we placed these in a bowl with some aluminum foil under them all around areas of the trailer. We shall see…could it just be co-incidence or fact that the mice stay away? Although some of the websites did confirm that there is a chemical in them that repels cockroaches and spiders. Anyone out there know anything else about this tree? My fear is that I come back to some rotted fruit in the Spring.

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

5 Responses

on October 2, 2011 at 12:12 pm | Reply Linda Welch

Seems the wood is strong and so dense that is doesn’t rot and won’t surcomb to termite infestation. Another bonus: recent studies showed it repells mosquitoes with a component much like those in Deet. The tree has both male and female. Only the female blooms. It’s too bad that they leave so much fruit all over for cleanup. It could otherwise be a great one to have around.
on October 2, 2011 at 3:39 pm | Reply Jennie

“Hedge” is abundant in my daughter’s woods, and the heavy, hard fruit up to grapefruit and softball size presents a danger to walkers in the fall. Talk about hard hats under nut trees! (Did you ever wonder how much of the name of the season has to do with things falling off trees at this time of year?)
Native to Texas, it was brought here by conservation services for thorny, impenetrable windbreaks and fencerows, and for fenceposts slow to rot. There is a good-sized tree a couple of miles north of us on Dennison Rd, and Pat Wyman has often brought baskets of the fruit to our November brunches.
The wood has lovely grain in an unusual, rich color. I brought some back from Illinois for Paul Marks for one of his woodworking projects and he turned a bowl for me from it. Leaves are attractive, too.
on October 3, 2011 at 9:09 am | Reply Carol Koesel

We had a whole row of these growing along an abandoned mill race in NE Ohio. As kids we waited until the green outside matured to a dull brown. At that point the wrinkly outside fluffs off. We used to have battles throwing the fluff all around!
on October 3, 2011 at 10:26 am | Reply Linda Welch

We camp up at Irish Hills and they are abundant up there according to the other campers. Now, I’m really sorry not to have been at last year’s November meeting. I’d love to see your bowl for the wood grain, Jennie. And Carol, I’m glad you didn’t throw them at one another while green. They are rather hard at that point. I’m learning something new all the time since I’ve become a Master Gardner. I never saw this tree or fruit before.
on October 4, 2011 at 9:10 am | Reply gail keane

Many years ago I saw these at Zeiler’s; a local market here in Temperance. I was told if you put them about in the house they would repel spiders. I let them go until spring cleaning – brown & all dried out. They seemed to work. In September – 4 yrs ago, I went to visit my sister in Missouri. The countryside is peppered with these trees. I loaded up bags and brought them home to share with family (made the car smell but I didn’t find it offensive), my sister unaware she was fortunate to have such an ample, free supply but happily uses them – they have some really big and ugly spiders there. The oranges are big there, found lying in roadways; a real mess if in your yard. Another note the milky sap is very sticky…so be careful where you set them out. I always use a plastic bowl or plate.