Osage Orange is a tree, a long-term addition to the landscape. It's hardy across USDA zones 5 through 11 and shrugs off deer.
Zones
5-11
pH Range
4.5-7.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
---
Score Osage Orange on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether osage orange actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score osage orange against your land's real conditions.
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
No card required · your full report in seconds
What Osage Orange is
Osage Orange grows as a perennial and reaches around 40 feet at maturity. It blooms green in late spring. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Osage Orange
Osage Orange grows in USDA zones 5 through 11. Osage Orange does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.5 to 7.5. It needs a growing season of at least 180 frost-free days and about 400 hours of winter chill, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
5-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.5 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
Data pending
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
-23°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
40 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
400+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
180+
plant_species_v5.csv
Plant it right
Set osage orange in full sun with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Osage Orange prefers pH 4.5 to 7.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. Match watering to the plant's drainage preference and your local rainfall.
Be patient, then harvest
Prune annually while the tree establishes; fruit trees reward patience with years of harvest. Local Extension guides publish per-cultivar bearing-age tables.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — osage orange is toxic to dogs and cats (mild severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Osage Orange isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data — pair it with high-value bloomers nearby to feed bees.
Where Osage Orange thrives
Osage Orange is hardy across USDA zones 5 through 11. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 5–11·Where Osage Orange growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Osage Orange can grow in these states:
See if Osage Orange will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether osage orange actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Osage Orange in my zone?
Osage Orange grows in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Osage Orange?
Set osage orange out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Osage Orange need?
Osage Orange needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Osage Orange need?
Osage Orange prefers soil pH 4.5 to 7.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Osage Orange attract pollinators?
Osage Orange isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data. Pairing it with high-value bloomers nearby keeps bees and butterflies fed.
Is Osage Orange safe for pets?
Osage Orange is toxic to pets (dogs,cats) with mild severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency.