Also known as hedge apple, mock orange, horse apple, bodark, monkey ball, bow-wood, yellow-wood, and bois d'arc. Synonyms include Ioxylon pomiferum, Joxylon pomiferum, Maclura aurantiaca, Toxylon aurantiacum, Toxylon maclura, and Toxylon pomiferum. Perennial in USDA zones 4-9.
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| Habit/Size | up to 50 feet tall |
| Germination | Direct sow in fall or stratify (cold/moist) for 30 days before sowing 3/8 in. deep. |
| Requirements | Tolerant of most soil types and pH levels. Requires full sun. Medium water needs. Can tolerate poor soils and maritime exposure. |
| Zones | USDA zones 4-9 |
| Life Cycle | deciduous tree |
| Harvest | Though somewhat toxic, the fruit contains an antioxidant usful for preserving food (especially oils). The heartwood and roots also contain compounds usful as a preservative. |
| Uses | edible (heartwood, roots)*, medicinal*, utility (antibiotic, dye, fungicide, preservative, repellent, tannins, wood) |
| Notes | The fruit and other parts of the plant contain toxins. The milky sap can cause skin irritation for some people. |
| Breed Status | Open Pollinated |
| Resistance | Resistant to Honey Fungus. |
| Saving Seeds/Propagation | Maclura pomifera is dioecious (each flower is either male or female but only one sex per plant). It is not self-fertile so both male and female plants are required to harvest seeds. |
| Seed Storage | Store seeds cold and dry (34-41 degrees F). |
| Synonyms | Ioxylon pomiferum, Joxylon pomiferum, Maclura aurantiaca, Maclura pomifera var. inermis, Toxylon aurantiacum, Toxylon maclura, Toxylon pomiferum |
*Always consult a medical professional before consuming any plants, including plants labeled "edible" or "medicinal". Click here for more information. By using this website you understand and agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
**Purchasers are responsible for understanding and complying with all local laws, restrictions, and regulations. For more information and a list of restricted plants and seeds, please visit the USDA's composite list of Federal and State noxious weeds. The extent Amkha Seed LLC can be held liable for damages is limited to replacement of the item, or a refund of the purchase price (within 30 days of purchase). Click here for more information.
Original Image by H. Zell, Some rights reserved. Seed Image by Amkha Seed.
