i recently ran across the article in a past issue of the bowyers journal about growing osage from seed. i thought i'd give it a try, but i don't have access to seeds, does anyone know where to get osage seeds? thanks, Dan.

Just gotta google 'osage orange seeds' and it comes back with a few shopping results. Appears to be between $2.50 and $5.00 but I don't see how many seeds they're selling. *shrug*

The auction site actually has someone selling saplings. 1 tree 6"-12" in height for 5 bucks plus shipping.

If you don't find anything and need a bit of help tracking down seeds just shoot me a PM.

Regards,
 Dave

and I thought the guys who seasoned osage for a couple years in the rafters were patient!

I planted some this spring.  Some of last years were transplanted all around my land.  I won't live to see 'em big enough for bows...but my grandchildern's children's neighbors will surely hate the family name...if they all grow!

QuoteOriginally posted by JAG:
I planted some this spring.  Some of last years were transplanted all around my land.  I won't live to see 'em big enough for bows...but my grandchildern's children's neighbors will surely hate the family name...if they all grow!

Jag,
 You got that one right! Osage is hell on mower tires.

I dropped a big Osage tree 2 years ago and I'm still picking up thorns in the tires. The tree I dropped was about 32" diameter.


With that said you should look for the thonless variety it can be found here.

"'White Shield', 'Park', and 'Wichita'. 'White Shield' is thornless even when very young and is preferred."

 http://www.sunshinenursery.com/trees.htm  

I also ran across a good read about Osage...

"In 1948, Kansas alone still had about 96,000 miles of osage-orange hedgerows. While not particularly attractive as a food source for wildlife, old osage-orange hedgerows offer superior cover and protection for many birds, small mammals, and insects."

 http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1016/is_3_106/ai_65774772/pg_1

These guys also have it..

http://www.klynnurseries.com/

"Macaclurara pomifera 'Whiteshield' Whiteshield Osage Orange
Height: 25-40' Spread: 20-40' Zone: 4
After trying all available cultivars of Maclura we have found that Whiteshield has the best attributes with its glossy foliage, lack of thorns and being a male clone – no fruit. It is a tough, durable, pest free and highly deer resistant native tree that adapts to the poorest of soils dry or wet. Useful as hedgerows or kept tightly clipped as a formal hedge or as an urban tree.
TREE FORM
11⁄2" No. 20 Cont. .........................................................................
13⁄4" No. 20 Cont. .........................................................................
2" Cont.....................................................................................
13⁄4" B&B......................................................................................
2" B&B......................................................................................
21⁄2" B&B......................................................................................
HEDGE FORM
36" No. 5 Cont. ...........................................................................
4' No. 5 Cont. (June).................................................................."

Dan,
   Shoot me a PM in late summer/early fall as a reminder and with your address and I'll mail you some "hedgeapples". Soak them in water until they come apart and you will have plenty of seeds.

"highly deer resistant", Oh no! if i live long enough to build a bow from one it better not be highly deer resistant!    

Thanks guys,

Adeeden, I'll see if i remember in august/sept, thanks, Dan.

How fast do they grow ? How many years would it take them to get to a size where a fella could make a bow from them?

Some of the Osage I've been cutting, which is 8-15 dia.,shows to be approx. 40-60 yrs old.


John

The article I posted above, said they where cutting the Osage, for fence post on a 15 year cycle.