October 2024

Osage Orange is a native tree which goes by many common names. Other regional names used to identify this tree include hedge apple, horse apple, bois d’arc, bodark, bow-wood, monkey brain, post tree and probably others. Common names used for plants can be misleading and in this case this tree is neither an apple or an orange. Additionally, although the fruit is edible, it’s truly not palatable for our taste  but some wildlife including squirrels, deer and numerous other wildlife enjoy this fall native fruit.

The name Osage Orange is the predominant name used in describing this tree. This native tree steeps in history from its use by Native Americans and then by settlers moving west. Osage Orange is dioecious which means in nature you will find male trees and female trees. When purchasing an Osage Orange tree, its best you know which sex you have so you can make good choices of where to plant. The female tree produces fruit that range in size from a baseball to a softball. This fruit will begin falling in late September to early November and can do serious damage to whatever is beneath.

You may ask why I am featuring this not-so-perfect tree as our “Plant of the Month.” Osage Orange is a long-lived tree with little to no insect or disease issues and its leaves turn golden yellow by late October to early November. Its fruit can be used in fall decorations inside and outside of the home. If you want this tree because of its carefree attributes, but do not want to deal with the fruit, you will find male clones in the market such as “Wichita” or “Pawhuska”.

Here at BGO you will find an Osage Orange tree west of the children’s vegetable garden, near the gate leading to our greenhouses. I set up buckets near the tree and each morning we collect 10 to 15 fruits. We use the fruit to create displays in some of our garden beds. Come visit BGO this fall and admire Osage Orange fruit in our parking lot entrance bed. We sprayed the fruit a metallic silver to accent the silver dusty miller used in the bed to spell out our initials “BGO.”

Berni Kurz

Director of Horticulture

Botanical Garden of the Ozarks