How to grow hedge apple trees – the native species with otherworldly fruits

Green fruit of the hedge apple tree in a sunny garden.

The hedge apple tree, also known as the Osage orange, is a native tree growing in the south of the United States. Native to the Red River of the South basin, it can be found in the wilds of Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

While the strange-looking fruit is not edible, this tree species has a long history of usage by Osage Native Americans, who made use of the strong and durable timber.