Osage Orange Uses: Fence Posts, Bows, Wildlife Food, and Thorn Challenges

Garden friend D.G. has extensive osage orange experience:

"Grew up on small farm in west-central Illinois, father had quarter-mile row of osage orange, 'hedge trees.' Planted by grandfather early 1900s as impenetrable hedge around pastures if pruned to 4-5 feet. By 1950s-60s most grown to full size, farming mechanized, hedges removed. Surviving trunk diameter ~10 inches.

Fruits loved by squirrels and mourning doves, especially winter after fruit deteriorates post-freezing. Trees produce lots of fruit—green, hard, filled with bitter, sticky, milky sap; tastes terrible.

If cows eat fruit significantly, milk becomes bitter, undrinkable. No toxicity witnessed on cattle/hogs.

Fence posts from mature trees last 30+ years in clay soil. Disadvantage: without pruning, natural character not straight branching—hard to get high percentage straight posts. Wood splits with wedges, split posts as durable. Wood attractive mellow red-orange, very hard/tough, comparable to yew; Native Americans used for bows. (As kid, made bow from wood—worked well.)

True thornless varieties would be major advantage—trees attractive with glossy dark green leaves, intermediate size, tough in Midwest. Never seen damaged by disease/insects. References understate thorn quantity, sharpness, size. Thorns 1-1.5 inches, needle-sharp. Dry twig driven over can puncture tire.

Teen farm boy earning money cutting 'hedge posts'—cut hundreds, never without leather gloves, rarely escaped without puncture wounds.

All anecdotal but accurate!"

Osage orange fruit