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| Maclura pomifera
Osage-orange,Hedge appleCulture: This tough, durable plant can withstand almost any condition. It tolerates very moist to very dry sites and is pH adaptable. Most importantly, this species is able to tolerate the strong sweeping winds of the lower Midwest and Plains states. There are no serious disease or insect problems. Usage: This probably ranks with Robinia pseudoacacia for usage; its incredible tolerance makes it ideal for highway plantings and possibly in strip-mined regions (although it lacks the ability to fix nitrogen). The wood is also useful for gardeners -- when the logs are used as landscaping timbers, they will not rot. Because of its performance in exposed sites, it is often used as a windbreak in the lower Midwest and Plains states. Hedges of these trees can be identified in the winter from a distance by their irregular habit, gray trunks and yellowish upper branches. |
