Wood Species Guide
Osage Orange
Maclura pomifera
Also called: Bois d'Arc, Bodark, Hedge, Hedge Apple, Horse Apple, Bowwood
What Osage Orange looks like
Fresh-cut heartwood is a bright golden to lemon yellow, one of the most vivid colors of any North American wood. Over months it darkens to a medium russet brown, especially in sunlight. It glows under a blacklight.
Grain and texture
Usually straight, sometimes irregular, with a fine to medium texture and a natural luster. Logs are often small and full of knots and checks.
Working Osage Orange: planing, cutting and gluing
Very hard and dense, so it dulls tools quickly and is tough to hand-plane. It turns beautifully and takes crisp detail. It glues reasonably well after a fresh surface is prepared. Always pre-drill.
Finishing Osage Orange: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Polishes to a high natural shine and takes oil well. Expect the yellow to shift toward brown, and a UV-resistant clear coat only slows that. For epoxy, wipe with acetone and sand fresh before casting. Keep the yellow dust off a clear or white pour.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
One of the most decay-resistant woods in North America, famous for fence posts that last for generations. It is very stable once dry. That makes it one of the few domestics that holds up well on a covered Florida lanai.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Osage is the archer's wood and a favorite for turnings, knife scales and small accent pieces. Wide clear boards are rare because the trees are small and twisted. Keep its color change in mind: the bright yellow you fall in love with will mellow to a warm brown. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source it.
Common uses for Osage Orange
Archery bows, fence posts, turned objects, tool handles, knife scales, musical instruments, and dye.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List.
Safety and toxicity
- Skin irritation
The milky sap can cause skin rashes in sensitive people, and some woodworkers find the dust irritating. Dry wood is less of a problem than fresh sap.
- In the shop
- Gloves with green wood; dust collection + mask; goggles when sanding
- Food contact
- Use with care for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
The sap has been reported to cause skin irritation. Wear gloves when handling green wood, and use dust collection and a mask.
Osage Orange in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Osage Orange listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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