Thread: What to do with Osage oranges?
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Old 09-11-2014, 10:14 PM posted to rec.gardens
David E. Ross[_2_] David E. Ross[_2_] is offline
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Default What to do with Osage oranges?
On 11/9/2014 12:47 PM, wrote:

I have access to a couple dozen Osage Oranges if I want them. But, I
can't figure out what to do with them. Help!


If you mean the fruit, it is not edible.

If you mean the trees, they can grow quite large -- to 60 ft tall and 40
ft wide, making nice shade trees. Or they can be trimmed to form a tall
hedge (not less than 6 ft) that provides some security because new
growth is quite thorny.

Osage orange (Maclura pomifera) is quite hardy down to 10F and actually
needs significant winter chill. It will NOT grow in my climate because
my winters are too mild.

The fruit might be considered ornamental. There are male and female
plants. The female plants will not set fruit unless there is a nearby
male plant. (Such plants are called "dioecious". Dioecious plants
include asparagus, ash trees, and ginkgo trees.)


--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary
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