Osage Orange
Maclura pomifera • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
The grain is typically straight or slightly interlocked with a medium to fine uniform texture. The end grain shows ring-porous structure with large earlywood pores filled with tyloses and small latewood pores in wavy bands.
Color Description
Heartwood is a vibrant golden to bright yellow, which inevitably ages to a medium to dark brown or russet color over time due to UV exposure. Sapwood is narrow and pale yellow to white. It possesses a high natural luster.
Hardness Rating
2,620 lbf (Extremely Hard)
Durability Rating
Very Durable. Highly resistant to decay and one of the most rot-resistant woods in North America; also highly resistant to termites.
Common Uses
Fence posts, archery bows (traditionally), dye production, tool handles, woodturning, and specialty small items.
Geographic Origin
South-central United States (Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma), though now widely naturalized throughout North America.
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$8.00 - $15.00 per board foot depending on clarity and size; often sold as turning blanks or bow staves.
Wood Age Estimate
Freshly cut to several months old; the vibrant yellow color suggests it has not yet undergone significant oxidation or UV darkening typical of older samples.
Sustainability Status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List; generally considered very sustainable and often considered a nuisance tree in some regions.
Workability
Difficult to work due to extreme hardness. It has a high blunting effect on cutting edges. It glues, turns, and finishes well, though its density makes it difficult to nail or screw without pre-drilling.
Notable Features
Produces a yellow dye when extracted with water. It is exceptionally dense and heavy with excellent dimensional stability. The wood is known to spark when burned and was historically used by Native Americans for bow making.
Finish Recommendations
Responds well to most finishes. UV-inhibiting clear coats are recommended if the bright yellow color is to be preserved as long as possible; otherwise, oil finishes enhance its natural chatoyance.
Identification Confidence
High. The distinct bright yellow heartwood, ring-porous end grain structure with heavy tyloses, and overall density are classic diagnostic features of Maclura pomifera.