Maclura cochinchinensis (Cockspur Thorn)

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Maclura spp.

osage orange

Moraceae

South-central United States (M. pomifera); pantropical genus

Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 4–9

Overview

Maclura spp. is a genus of about 11 to 12 species of trees, shrubs, and woody climbers in the mulberry family (Moraceae), found in the Americas, Africa, and Asia. The temperate species Maclura pomifera, the Osage orange, is a deciduous tree 30 to 60 feet (9 to 18 m) tall, native to the south-central United States, with thorny twigs, glossy oval leaves, and milky sap. Plants are dioecious; female trees of the Osage orange bear large, hard, yellow-green compound fruits 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) across with a brain-like surface, often called hedge apples. Tropical species such as M. tinctoria are evergreen and were once a source of yellow dye. The Osage orange has dense, rot-resistant, springy wood that was used for bows, fence posts, and tool handles, and its thorny growth was planted in long living hedges before barbed wire. Trees grow in full sun in a wide range of soils and withstand drought, wind, heat, and poor ground. The fruit is generally not eaten, and the milky sap can irritate skin.

Native Range

The genus occurs in the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Maclura pomifera is native to the Red River region of Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas in the south-central United States and has been planted and naturalized far beyond that range across North America.

Suggested Uses

Grown as a tough shade and windbreak tree for difficult, dry sites and as a living hedge or shelterbelt in open country. The rot-resistant wood is used for fence posts, and the fruit is sometimes set out as a folk insect repellent. Tropical species are grown for timber and dye.

How to Identify

The Osage orange is recognized by thorny twigs, glossy pointed-oval leaves, and milky sap that flows from broken stems and leaves. Female trees carry large, grapefruit-sized, yellow-green fruits with a wrinkled, brain-like surface in autumn. The bark is furrowed and orange-brown, and the wood beneath is bright yellow-orange.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height30' - 60'

Width/Spread30' - 40'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Spring

Flowering occurs in late spring, around May to June, with small green flowers; male and female flowers are borne on separate trees. The flowers are inconspicuous and wind-pollinated. On female trees the large green fruits develop over summer and drop in autumn.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 8.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay sand rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

Reaches mature size in 15 to 25 years; bears fruit after about 10 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun in almost any soil, including dry, alkaline, compacted, and poor ground, with a pH from about 6.0 to 8.0. Once established, it withstands drought, heat, wind, and cold and needs no supplemental water in most climates. The thorny twigs and dropped fruit can be a hazard near walkways and lawns, and male or fruitless trees are often chosen to avoid the messy fruit. The milky sap can irritate skin on contact. Trees are hardy and largely free of serious pests and diseases. They sucker and self-seed where conditions suit, sometimes spreading into pastures and fence lines.

Pruning

Young trees can be pruned in winter to a single trunk and a strong branch framework. Thorny and low branches are removed for clearance along paths and drives. As a hedge, the Osage orange tolerates hard, repeated cutting and was historically laid and trimmed into stock-proof barriers.