Update : We use them to repell spiders and other insects from our shed/garage and the place we usually get ours from havent gotten any in yet... thanks for any info The fruits can be an awful mess with their thick, tough rind and lots of sticky, white sap. Meriwether Lewis sent some slips and cuttings of the curiosity to President Jefferson in March 1804. Doug Schock picks a hedge apple off a hedge tree near the edge of a pasture. Bois D’ Arc is native to Oklahoma, Louisiana, Missouri, and Texas and plentiful throughout the Red River Valley. Open the fruit and remove the desired number of seeds. Osage orange will grow to 10 feet tall within 5 years, eventually reaching 20 to 40 feet. (Note: This referred to Pierre Chou… The wood of hedge apple cont… )If I were planting a row of apple trees in my hedge, I would plant them about 8 feet away from the property line or fence to ensure I had enough space for harvest on the fenceline, spacing the trees about 7.5 feet from one another width-wise. { document.write(String.fromCharCode(60,97,32,104,114,101,102,61,34,109,97,105,108,116,111,58,108,97,110,99,97,115,116,101,114,64,117,110,108,46,101,100,117,34,62,108,97,110,99,97,115,116,101,114,64,117,110,108,46,101,100,117,60,47,97,62)) //--> By early October, you can find hedge apples all over the ground where Osage-Orange trees are present. Produced by the Osage-orange tree, all hedge apple trees sport glossy, lance-shaped leaves and an abundance of thorns. A medium apple — with a diameter of about 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) — equals 1.5 cups of fruit. The milky white juice inside hedge apples is a skin irritant, however, so always wear gloves when handling them and keep them away from pets and children. January 24, 2017. The "apple" in hedge-apple comes from the huge, 4-6 inch diameter fruit ball, which is actually made up of many fruits that have coalesced into one unit. Drop the seeds into a container of water and place it in a warm location. Remove any large rocks or soil clumps left behind. UNL web framework and quality assurance provided by the, Apply to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Give to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 2020 Successful Farmer Series information, Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Staff Blogs, Nebraska Extension Publications & Mobile Apps, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Admissions, Hedge Apples and Osage Orange Trees (hedgeapple). Rumors are plentiful regarding the insect- and spider-repelling properties of these fruits. They grow in hardiness zones 4 – 9. It is generally not eaten by people or wildlife. They are far too large to mow over. The leaves of the Osage-orange are a shiny medium to dark green. First, if hedge apples fall from the trees later than usual, this is said to indicate that the coming winter will be cold and snowy. Hedge trees are used in locations that have much more room to develop and grow than a hedge shrub would need. Hedge apple trees (Maclura pomifera), also called Osage orange, are native to the southwestern United States, but have been used as a hedgerow so extensively throughout the Midwest that they are now considered naturalized to the region. There are male plants which are fruitless and have few thorns, but they are relatively difficult to find in the nursery trade. It was prized for its wood by the Osage Nation of Native Americans, as well as the Cherokee—producing the finest hunting bows available (the only challenger might be the English … The yellow-green fruit are commonly call \"hedge apples.\" They are produced by the Osage-orange (Maclura pomifera). Some male, nearly thornless cultivars to look for include 'Whiteshield' and 'Witchita. Soften the Fruit. Allow the seeds to remain in the mixture and stir once each day until they begin to sprout. Leave the fruit there until it begins to feel mushy. According to Lewis's letter, the samples were donated by "Mr. Peter Choteau, who resided the greater portion of his time for many years with the Osage Nation." [CDATA[ For information on reproducing this article or using any photographs or graphics, read the Terms of Use statement, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in Lancaster County is your on-line yard and garden educational resource. If termed long-season, apple quality will be best in Zones 5 to 8. Check your zone here. Plant the sprouted seeds in an area of the yard or garden that receives full sun and has rich, slightly sandy soil. Helping Nebraskans enhance their lives through research-based education. Hedge apples are not an important source of food for wildlife as most birds and animals find the fruit unpalatable. Hedge apples are not poisonous, but they are an effective repellent against insects and spiders.Using hedge apples to control your spider population is an easy, chemical-free pest-control option. Lawson is pursuing an Associate of Arts degree at Southeast Kentucky Community College. by Don Janssen, UNL Extension Educator. Some parts of this site work best with JavaScript enabled. LINDSEY MOON, BYLINE: Osage oranges, hedge apples, horse apples, monkey brains - these are synonymous for the fruit that falls from the hedge tree. Pull weeds and grass from around the hedge apple trees as necessary to prevent competition for water and nutrients. Allow the seeds to remain submerged for six to eight days. 4.0 out of 5 stars 1. Till the soil in the permanent planting location. Depending on where you're from, this tree has such names as hedge-apple, osage orange, bodark, bowwood and bois d'arc. This is a rather small tree that stays short in stature. The fruits are numerous on female plants and disposal is a nuisance. Place a hedge apple into a bucket filled with water. Drain the water away and replace it with equal parts potting soil and sand. I was shopping with friends last weekend when we saw a basket full of bright green hedge apples for sale. Hedge apples are thought to be a natural spider and bug repellent. Since Hedge Apples are not edible to humans, and animals and aviary tend to avoid them, people struggle with what to do with Hedge Apples. While many people claim that they are a good natural pest repellent, it is only in concentrated amounts that it is effective. Where Do Apples Grow? Franklin County Kansas: How to Grow Osage Orange. Water until the soil feels very moist. Native Habitat and Current Distribution: The Osage-orange is native to a small area Photo Credit: hardworkinghippy Flickr For example, dwarf apple trees are expected to get 8-10 feet wide. // , Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County 444 Cherrycreek Road, Suite A, Lincoln NE 68528 402-441-7180 | lancaster@unl.edu Office hours are 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday with the exception of designated holidays. Osage Orange – Osage Orange Frụit Tree - Hedge Apple Plạnt Lịve for Growing. If you decide you want to test hedge apples for yourself, there is certainly no harm in trying if you do so carefully. Other common plant names include hedge apple, bodark, bois d'arc, and bowwood.The Osage-orange is a small- to medium-sized tree. As a general rule, if a tree is termed hardy, it grows best in Hardiness Zones 3 to 5. Place a hedge apple into a bucket filled with water. Learn more About Us. The fruit trees mentioned would grow well within the hedge, being more natural and easier-going than fruit trees developed solely for big, perfect fruits. We always have a large crop of Hedge Apples every year. Annita Lawson has been working as a freelance writer since 2004. Osage oranges, hedge apples, horse apples, monkey brains… these … The wood of the hedge apple is exceptionally hard and heavy, with a yellowish hue that turns brown with age. $33.69 $ 33. In the fall, hedge apples develop and when ripe, fall from the tree. It commonly grows 30 to 40 feet tall, occasionally as tall as 50 to 60 feet. With thousands of furniture, home decor, and lighting options; we're here to help you feel confident about expressing your unique personal style at home. These plants generally grow to somewhere between 25 and 30 feet. The wood of this species is naturally rot-resistant and has been used for archery bows, furniture, decks and fence posts. Some people can develop dermatitis if the milky sap contacts their skin. The hedge apple tree is covered in large thorns; take this into account when selecting a planting site. According to regional folklore, there are three things to look for. The osage orange's reputation for tolerating just about any environmental stress you throw its way is likely the reason it was so popular on farmsteads as a hedge plant. Her work has been published in various Web and print outlets, including The Dabbling Mum, A Virtuous Woman and Pediatrics for Parents. Hedge apples, also known as hedge balls and horse apples, look like large yellowish-green grapefruit. The two main choices are deciduous and evergreen trees when choosing a hedge tree. The tight, swirling grain of the wood is also quite decorative when used for furniture and gunstocks. How to Grow a Hedge Apple Tree From an Apple Locate a Fruit for Seed. // eMail Obfuscator Script 1.31 by Tim Williams - freeware Some of the many names that Hedge Apples are known by are: Maclura Pomifera Osage Orange Hedge Apple HedgeApple Bodark Move the hedge apple seedlings to the new location after they've developed three to four leaves. The thorny trees do provide nesting and cover for wildlife. Today, most consider the plant to be a weedy, pest plant, like its "cousin," the mulberry. It is subject to relatively little shrinkage compared to other wood, making it a good choice for fence posts and building nailless structures. Armed with wicked thorns, it's an ideal hedge plant from a security standpoint. Hedge Apples have many monikers. The Buyer will receive 12 Organic Hedge apples. Customizable. So how do hedge apples predict the weather?