Osage Orange - Revisited

In fall, this fruit’s color turns a bright yellow-green and it has a faint odor similar to that of oranges thus it name The Osage Orange.

Are Osage Oranges edible?

How do you grow Osage Oranges.

Do Osage Oranges repel insects?

This last question was addressed in the October 2009 issue of Better Homes and Gardens. On page 141 to the left of a photo of a decorative tray of wrinkly green hedge apples was the question - Do hedge apples keep spiders out of houses? The answer - This belief isn't supported by science evidence but is widely held, particularly in the Midwest. Demand for hedge apples is such that many grocery stores sell them each fall when the fruits ripen. The tree, known as osage orange, was planted to create fence rows before barbed wire was invented, but it is not a recommended ornamental tree.