​Hedge Apple/Osage Orange

Photo by Mahieddine23 on Wikimedia

Maclura pomifera

I had never seen or even heard of a Hedge Apple until I moved to Kansas. I was with the birding group and kept seeing these round things on the ground. I thought they might be something similar to oak galls. When I asked what they were, people looked at me, confused, and said they were Hedge Apples. Hadn’t I ever seen one before? Well, no. 

The fruits aren’t edible, but apparently get quite large, about five inches across, and could seriously injure you should they fall on your head. Apparently, other than squirrels, most wildlife doesn’t particularly care for them. The ones I was seeing on the ground were brown, obviously old. Someone pointed out some that were growing on the tree along the road. This was summer, so they were still small. They mature in the fall. Some people do use them for decorations or to repel insects, and there has been some evidence that they do.

The tree is in the mulberry family and is native to the South and Central United States. The places I have seen them are probably described as hedgerows by the English – along the road and next to sidewalks. This is probably because they have spines and have been used as security fences. There are male and female plants, but I don’t know what a male looks like since I only know how to identify them by their fruit.

I want to learn more about these strange trees before next fall. I might even see if they really can repel insects!

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