Osage Orange ‘White Shield’
Arbor walk #45
This medium-sized tree has a short trunk and rounded crown. It produces large fruit (8-15 cm in diameter) which is roughly spherical, bumpy, and turns bright yellow-green in the fall.
| Name | Osage Orange |
|---|---|
| Latin Name | Malclura pomifera ‘White Shield’ |
| Type | Native Cultivar, Shade |
| Diameter | 4 ci |
| Color of Leaf | Dark green, turn bright yellow |
| Shape of Leaf | Alternating, simple ovals |
| Color of Flower | Inconspicuous |
| Shape of Flower | Inconspicuous |
| Fruit Characteristics | Large 4-5″ diameter fruit, resembling green orange with tuberculated surface |
| Bark Characteristics | Dark brown, furrowed and scaly |
| Foliage Type | Deciduous |
The tree is not related to the Orange tree, and its common name refers to the coloration of its bark and the superficial resemblance of its fruit to an orange rather than any genetic relationship. While the wild-type tree does bear inedible, grapefruit-sized fruit which is most closely related to a fig, the ‘White Shield’ cultivar does not bear fruit. This fruitless variety is generally chosen to be planted alongs trees and sidewalks where the fruit will not become an impediment to the walkway. It is also thornless, and has better heat and drought tolerance compared to the species tree.