Non-Daffodil

One more bit about osage orange

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The fruit of the osage orange is wonderful in the late autumn, to put into a bowl in your home! They are almost chartreuse and smellspicy. I stick springs of holly between them for a centerpiece. Last a long time.Janie Vaughan in Virginia

7 comments for “One more bit about osage orange”

  1. Osage orange fruit can also be a very good moth repellent in closets and airfreshener in the basement.Duane HurlbertHoward OH zone 5—-

  2. And….the wood of Osage Orange is excellent for use in making hunting or target bows, as is the wood of the English Yew.

    Dave Liedlich
    Connecticut

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  3. Our property is bounded on the south by one of the original roads of the area, formerly the boundary of one of the many farms of German settlers in this area. They used osage orange trees as a hedgerow to constrain cattle and other livestock. When it is densely growing it is just about impenetrable, at least without tiptoeing. There are 3 in a row here, and the power company offers to take them down every time they trim trees away from the power lines along Long Grove Road. I hold them off as I find the trees interesting features and reminders of things past in an area which is otherwise becoming pretty suburban sterile.When I first started in daffs, I emended the area under these trees with mushroom compost and sand, the only such efforts I made on the property. Now, some 20 years later, it’s a prime area for many of my bulbs, as well as Virginia bluebells, mayapples, viburnum, and other good stuff. Also, some bad stuff. I have to attack the garlic mustard with fervor to keep it from taking over here, and buckthorn wants its place, too. None of these will have any effect on the osage orange.Bulbs divided into this area when I first tilled it were dug a few weeks ago and will find their way into our sale in October. They include Barrett Browning, White Lion, Louise d’Cologny, Acropolis, Mt. Hood and others of that ilk which I bought from Dutch Gardens before I knew anything about the ADS or the Midwest Daffodil Society.I recognize just about all the other facts shared here about osage orange.They discourage spiders as they do moths. One fact I didn’t see but may have missed: If you step on an osage orange thorn with thin shoes on, it will penetrate your foot. I proved that and only wore my Topsiders out there once.George Dorner

  4. As a Northwesterner, I have been fascinated by all the writing on Osage Oranges. The only thing I knew about them was that a friend who was from the Midwest, would have some of them sent to her to use for table decorations. There are nothing like them out here. But, what, George, or anyone else, is a Mayapple? Do you sell bulbs to foreigners from Oregon? We have a big bulb sale for our Madison Ave. Task force projects the last weekend in Sept. and could use any you would send. Please advise.In Corvallis, Or, Barbara Weber

  5. Hi Barbara,

    I contract for the MIssouri Department of Conservation and if you go to this link on their site: http://mdc.mo.gov/conmag/2009/05/outdoor-recreation you’ll find information and a small picture of a mayapple and to this link: http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/mayapple.htm you’ll know all about them. As to sales, I’d say go to http://www.mowildflowers.net/index.htm (I’ve been there at dogwood time, it’s wonderful!) and see what they advise. They sell mayapple rhizomes, but I’m not sure how they’d do in your zone. As to selling bulbs/rhizomes, I believe it’s illegal to collect and sell from the wild, at least in Missouri, at least not without special permits.
    Enjoy!
    Chris

  6. No bulbs I’m afraid, seed and rhizome.   http://2bnthewild.com/plants/H29.htm
    The fruits are coming ripe here soon.
    Drew McFarland
    Granville, Ohio
    In a message dated 7/8/2011 2:41:09 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, title= writes:

    As a Northwesterner, I have been fascinated by all the writing on Osage Oranges.  The only thing I knew about them was that a friend who was from the Midwest, would have some of them sent to her to use for table decorations. There are nothing like them out here.  But, what, George, or anyone else, is a Mayapple?  Do you sell bulbs to foreigners from Oregon?  We have a big bulb sale for our Madison Ave. Task force projects the last weekend in Sept. and could use any you would send.  Please advise.

    In Corvallis, Or,  Barbara Weber

  7. Oops……….what I meant was daffodil bulbs from the Midwest folks that George mentioned.  But thanks for the other websites for the info on Osage and Mayapples.  BBW

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