SKU: 6432993495
planting osage orange seeds

planting osage orange seeds Osage Orange – UJAMAA SEEDS

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Description

planting osage orange seeds Osage Orange – UJAMAA SEEDSMaclura pomifera Seeds per pack ~ 25 Germination: 77% (Packed for 2024) Also called "hedge apple", "horse apple," "bois d'arc", "bodark"(and sometimes "monkey brain tree"!), or simply "hedge," this typically thorny native tree is most often grown as a natural hedge said to be "pig tight, horse high, and bull strong." First brought to the attention of non indigenous people by Lewis and Clark, who sent cuttings to Thomas Jefferson, a mythology sprang up

Maclura pomifera 

Seeds per pack ~ 25

Germination: 77% (Packed for 2024)

Also called "hedge apple", "horse apple," "bois d'arc", "bodark"(and sometimes "monkey brain tree"!), or simply "hedge," this typically thorny native tree is most often grown as a natural hedge — said to be "pig tight, horse high, and bull strong." First brought to the attention of non-indigenous people by Lewis and Clark, who sent cuttings to Thomas Jefferson, a mythology sprang up around Osage oranges that was very much tied up with "manifest destiny" ideology. Jonathan Turner, a professor who helped found the University of Illinois said that "God designed Osage Orange especially for the purpose of fencing the prairies."

By 1869, there were an estimated 60,000 miles of Osage orange fencing across the Midwest. But by a decade or so later, barbed-wire became popular, cheap, and easier to deploy, so Osage orange hedges became far less common. Osage oranges are in the mulberry family (Moraceae), and as such their leaves can also be used as food for silkworms, though silkworm farming is also far less common compared with a hundred years ago. Doubtless the most important use of Osage orange today is for it's impressive wood: the hardest, most durable, hottest-burning wood native to North America. Our beloved sorghum mill is powered by a decades-old "swing arm" made from the fallen limb of an osage orange tree. It's still in great condition.

Fence-posts made from Osage orange can survive in soil and rain for a century or more. And the wood burns with such intense heat and sometimes produces so many sparks (especially when not properly dried) that it can crack chimneys and even blow up cast-iron stoves. Nevertheless, properly treated, it can provide excellent long-lasting heat when burned. Most famously, the wood is considered superior to all others for making bows and arrows (hence the name "bois d'arc"), and it's also perfect for docks and piers, musical instruments, and tool handles. The only downside is that trees seldom grow straight and tall, and many limbs tend to make it knobby. But its strength and versatility are more important than any drawbacks. It was once a favorite for wagon wheels, since it has a bending strength (MOR) of 20,000 psi (pounds per square inch), 50% higher than red oak's (another very hard and durable native wood). This bending strength is why it makes such perfect bows — one early 19th century account noted that a quality bow was worth as much as a horse and a blanket!

Most people only ever realize they're in the presence of an Osage orange tree in the fall, once it starts dropping its grapefruit-sized green fruit (which do bear a striking resemblance to a brain). The fruit can be processed into an edible starch, and some animals eat them, but they contain a very sticky latex that makes any processing challenging. They're also aromatic, and they have long been touted as a natural pest repellant, though there's apparently little evidence to support this claim. Nevertheless, some people line them up along the interior of doors to the outside to keep creepie-crawlies like cockroaches and mice from scuttling in. Extracts of the fruit have been found to have significant anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative properties.

One enduring mystery surrounding Osage oranges is why they evolved such large and unusual fruit. Squirrels sometimes eat the seeds, but they don't spread them far. Many people have theorized that they evolved as food for giant megafauna that used to roam across North America. Seeds were found in the remains of 12,000 year-old mastadon dung in Florida, and DNA fragments were found in dung from a Pleistocene era ground sloth. Horses can eat them, but they don't like them, and if they try to eat one whole it may choke them (as has often been a problem for cattle grazing around Osage oranges), leading to recommendations that only pollen-bearing (a.k.a. male) trees be planted as hedges.

Some Osage oranges are naturally thornless, so don't be surprised if some of yours are not thorny as advertised. This seed comes to us from Pennysylvania via the good folks at Sheffield's Seeds in Locke, New York. GROWING TIPS: Seeds benefit from cold moist stratification for 30 days before planting. They may be fall planted as well. Keep young seedlings well weeded until they are strong enough to compete on their own.

GUIDELINES - FALL SOWING TREE SEEDS-PDF FOR PRINTING

KEEP SEEDS REFRIGERATED FOR LONG TERM STORAGE PRIOR TO SCARIFICATION TREATMENT BELOW.

GROWING INFORMATION

Scarification

None required

Stratification

Cold stratify for 30 days

Germination

Sow 3/8” deep, tamp the soil, mulch the seed bed

Other

Can be fall sown without stratification

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Lexington, US
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Great basic and timeless design
Size: 12 Little Kid, Color: Brown
These sandals are a great find! They’re super easy to get on and off thanks to the Velcro straps, which is a huge win for little ones learning to be more independent. The fit is adjustable and secure, so they stay in place well during all kinds of play. The cork-style footbed is comfortable and gives good support, and the overall design feels sturdy enough to handle everyday wear. They’re lightweight but still durable, and have held up really well so far. They also have a classic, versatile look that goes with just about everything, perfect for summer outfits. Overall, a reliable, comfortable sandal that’s great for active kids. Would definitely buy again!
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West Palm Beach, US
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Size: 13 Little Kid, Color: Black, Size: 13 Little Kid, Color: Black
This is really more of a unisex option for a sandal. I have sandals that look like this, and both of my children have worn this style. I ordered these for my daughter, with the plan to pass them down to my son if they're not too worn when she outgrows them. The style is very minimalistic, so it goes with lots of outfits. All the straps are easily adjustable, so you can get a good fit. I would say the length is true to size, but the width is maybe a bit wide. Nevertheless, the adjustable straps really help them fit well. They feel really sturdy and I appreciate that the sole has cushion to it. My daughter has worn these every day since I got them out of the closet and they're holding up well.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2026
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Good sandals, the kid just didn't want them. Fast shipping and easy returns!
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Birmingham, US
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Perfect for little ones
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Lake Worth, US
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These are cute and my kids say they’re comfortable! We got a few colors. Definitely would purchase again. They’ve got good quality.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2026

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