How to Grow Osage Orange Trees From Seed
The name “osage orange” is misleading because this unattractive fruit, often called “hedge apple” or “monkey brains,” is actually a member of the mulberry family. Wild osage oranges line the roadways in parts of Oklahoma and Texas, but you can grow them in other parts of the country—they are known to exist as far away as Virginia. The best way to locate seeds is from a fruit that has fallen to the ground. Fall frosts will cause them to become mushy, which is the best time to pick seeds from the fruit—if you can beat the squirrels to them.
Cut open a fallen fruit and scoop out the seeds. Soak them for one week in warm water. Give them fresh water daily to help prevent the seeds from fermenting.
- The name “osage orange” is misleading because this unattractive fruit, often called “hedge apple” or “monkey brains,” is actually a member of the mulberry family.
- Fall frosts will cause them to become mushy, which is the best time to pick seeds from the fruit—if you can beat the squirrels to them.
Plant one seed about ½ inch deep in each small pot. Make sure you use pots with drainage holes and use a sandy potting soil, such as the kind that is used for cactus.
Move your pots to a sunny spot and keep them well watered until you see germination begin. After germination, water your seedlings when the soil just begins to become dry.
Plant young trees in their permanent outdoor location when they are about 1 foot tall. If you want to create a hedge, plant them 5 feet apart in an area that gets full sun and into which you have put a bucketful of compost into each planting hole.
Tip
It might be difficult to locate seeds from seed catalogs or the Internet.
Warning
Make sure you really want to grow this tree. It will grow very large, from 30 to 35 feet tall, within 10 years and only the females produce fruit. Plus, it has thorns that can harm humans and animals. The thorns are sharp enough to cause flat tires if a vehicle drives over a branch.
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Tips
- It might be difficult to locate seeds from seed catalogs or the Internet.
Warnings
- Make sure you really want to grow this tree. It will grow very large, from 30 to 35 feet tall, within 10 years and only the females produce fruit. Plus, it has thorns that can harm humans and animals. The thorns are sharp enough to cause flat tires if a vehicle drives over a branch.
Writer Bio
Barbara Fahs lives on Hawaii island, where she has created Hi'iaka's Healing Herb Garden. Fahs wrote "Super Simple Guide to Creating Hawaiian Gardens" and has been a professional writer since 1984. She contributes to "Big Island Weekly," "Ke Ola" magazine and various websites. She earned her Bachelor of Arts at University of California, Santa Barbara and her Master of Arts from San Jose State University.
