What is the bois d'arc?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

March 29, 2002

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The Osage-orange (Maclura pomifera (Raf.) C.K. Schneider) is the single most planted tree in the continental United States. It was first cultivated by native Americans and later by settlers. The Pima of the Southwest called the trees "s'hoitgam kawli" meaning thorny
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Its common name comes from the Osage tribe which traded the trees, wood, and bows of the wood with numerous other tribes.
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fence.

The settlers followed the Pima example. Osage-orange made life on the prairies possible. Its dense growth provided the living fences and windbreaks needed. Hedges of Osage-orange defined quarter-sections (3 miles by 3 miles) of grasslands.

Its common name comes from the Osage tribe which traded the trees, wood, and bows of the wood with numerous other tribes. Osage itself is a mispronunciation of the tribal name "wazhazhe" [wa zaz' ee]. Orange was probably a reference to the 'fruit', a dense round aggregate of single-seeded drupelets, but may have been descriptive of the yellow-orange wood.

A Man Holding a Chainsaw Stands Atop a Felled Osage Orange Tree

Orange was probably a reference to the 'fruit', a dense round aggregate of single-seeded drupelets, but may have been descriptive of the yellow-orange wood.
A Man Holding a Chainsaw Stands Atop a Felled Osage Orange Tree Photographic Print Joel Sartore
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The wood is flexible and strong with a maximum crushing strength of 9800 pounds per square inch. The early French traders called the tree "bois d'arc" [bwa dark] or wood of bow, a reference to the self (D-shaped) bows used by woodland tribes. Later settlers bungled the French name calling the trees bodarks. T. M. Hamilton in Native American Bows (1972) reported that in 1810 a bow made of Osage-orange wood cost one horse and one blanket.

The thorns of the Osage-orange were the inspiration for barbed wire. The wood is impervious to termites and rot. Millions of Osage-orange fence posts with the accompanying barbed wire started the land wars between cattlemen and settlers. Often, if the posts were installed before the wood dried, they took root and became hedges.

The College of Natural Resources, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University has several photographs of the Osage orange. To view the photographs, click on the link:

http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/syllabus/mpomifera.htm

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Amur Maple Hedge

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Thick Foliage Really Takes to Trimming

Rugged Siberian native turns a fiery yellow and red in fall! Amur Maple Hedge grows 20 feet tall if untrimmed, but thickens up under heavy pruning.

Hedges divide a yard into separate spaces for outdoor entertaining, for gardening and for setting off a stretch of lawn. They are far more attractive then fencing and much less expensive.

Bareroot. Zones:3 - 9 (-30° F.).

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Dwarf Burning Bush

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

So Compact, Seldom Needs a Trim

Dwarf Burning Bushes turn traffic-stopping crimson in fall. Looks good weeks after others are bare. Grows 4-6 feet tall with "winged" twigs.

Hedges divide a yard into separate spaces for outdoor entertaining, for gardening and for setting off a stretch of lawn. They are far more attractive then fencing and much less expensive.

Bareroot. Zones:4 - 9 (-20° F.).

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Rosa Rugosa Hedge

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

Compact, Loaded with Blossoms

Grows 4-5 ft. tall, forms an almost impenetrable hedge. Foliage turns fiery red in fall. Attractive blooms and scarlet hips. Rosa Rugosa thrives in poor soils.

Windbreakers protect farm buildings, feed lots and orchards from heavy sows and icy winds. They prevent erosions of valuable topsoil, reduce heating costs, cut down on snow removal, shelter livestock and provide a winter wildlife refuge.

Bareroot. Zones:2 - 7 (-50° F.).

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Rose-of-Sharon Hedge

Springhill Nursery®

Single 3-4" red-centered blooms with petals in shades of pink, blue or white top glossy green foliage from midsummer to fall. A late bloomer, this shrub is among the last to leaf out in spring, but once it does, it blooms continuously.

Grows to 6-12' high and makes a great colorful hedge, border or feature planting in your garden. Space shrubs 6-12' apart. Our choice of varieties.

Hibiscus syriacus

Hardiness Zone: 4 - 9 (-20° F)

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Butterfly & Hummingbird Hedge

Springhill Nursery®

These 4 selected shrubs will produce flowers all the way through the summer in various shades of pink.

This includes one each of:

Butterfly Bush Pink Delight

Variegated Weigela

Josee Lilac

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Red Leaf Barberry Hedge

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This colorful, thorny shrub makes an excellent natural barrier for unfenced areas. Clusters of small yellow bell-like flowers in spring sprout from purple-red foliage which retains its coloring all summer. In fall, leaves turn a rich golden red and plants sport brightred berries, which are a favorite of wildlife and remain on the bush into winter.

Performs well in poor soils and grows to 5-7'. Space shrubs 3-5' apart.

Berberis thunbergii ‘Autropurpurea’

Deer Resistant. Zone 4 to 8.

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Unique Characteristics: Thorny, bright colored deciduous shrub makes a splendid barrier plant to stop unwanted traffic. Purple red foliage all growing season followed by a bright red fall color. One of the best plants for hedges that are clipped or unclipped. Performs well in poor soils. Often said that if the Japanese barberry won't grow in a poor spot, nothing else will grow there! Tolerates shade conditions, but performs best in sunny locations.
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