Osage-Orange

This tree is one of the 150 trees initially included in the arboretum to coincide with the campus's 150th anniversary celebration.

Scientific Name:
Maclura pomifera

Cultivar:

Native to:
East and central North America

Mature Height and Width:
20-40 feet by 20-40 feet, can reach 60 feet high

Additional Notes:
Osage orange was spread throughout agricultural regions of the United States during the early 1800’s as farmers planted the species in dense, single rows as alternative to wooden fences.  The idea was to prune the closely planted trees into thorny thickets that confined or excluded livestock.  This practice, combined with the tree’s large fruit, leads to its nickname “hedge apple.”  Soon, the wide availability of barbed wire quickly eroded the popularity of this species.