Osage Orange 'White Shield'
Maclura pomifera
Osage Orange 'White Shield' (Maclura pomifera) is a tree suited to the Colorado Front Range, rated "Conditionally Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List. It matures to about 30–40 ft tall and 25–35 ft wide, and needs low to medium water. Osage orange has aggressive roots and produces large messy fruits — choose male/seedless cultivars.
low to medium water30–40 ft tall and 25–35 ft wideXeric / water-wiseDeer-resistant
Photos
At a glance
- Rating
- Conditionally Recommended
- Botanical name
- Maclura pomifera
- Variety / cultivar
- Osage Orange 'White Shield'
- Type
- Tree
- Mature size
- 30–40 ft tall and 25–35 ft wide
- Water needs
- low to medium water
- Colorado native
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Soil
- clay, loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 6.0–8.2
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- high
- Bloom time
- mid spring
- Good for
- hellstrip, south wall
Site factors to consider
- Critical: Cold Hardiness
- Watch: Transplants
Planting & establishment
Water deeply every 7–10 days through the first 2 summers. Winter water 1–2×/month October–March when soil is dry and unfrozen — winter desiccation is a top killer of newly-planted trees. Year 3: taper to 2×/month in summer, then rely on natural precipitation.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Osage Orange 'White Shield' good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes. Osage Orange 'White Shield' is included in the Front Range Plant Finder as a tree suited to Colorado's Front Range, rated "Conditionally Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List.
- How big does Osage Orange 'White Shield' get?
- It matures to about 30–40 ft tall and 25–35 ft wide.
- How much water does Osage Orange 'White Shield' need?
- It needs low to medium water once established.
- Is Osage Orange 'White Shield' native to Colorado?
- No — it is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
Find Osage Orange 'White Shield' near you
See also
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