Osage orange (Maclura pomifera) is a deciduous tree that is often planted in hedgerows. It produces a large yellow-green fruit called a “hedge apple” that looks somewhat like a wrinkly orange, however it is not generally eaten though the seeds are edible. The sap is used as a natural pest pest deterrent. Osage orange trees grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9 and reach heights of 25 to 50 feet. The trees will grow in most soil types, pH levels and in wet or dry conditions, making it a favorite choice for hard-to-grow places.
Measure the length and width of the leaf. Osage orange leaves are approximately 3 to 6 inches long and 2 to 3 inches wide.
Examine the color. The leaves are a glossy, dark green in the spring and summer. The bottom of the leaf is a lighter green color. In the autumn the leaves turn bright yellow before they fall in the trees.
Feel along the borders of the leaf. The edges are smooth, not rough or serrated. Feel the lines in the leaf. There is a line down the center of the leaf, with lines forming upside-down V-shapes extending from the center line to the edge of the leaf.
Examine the shape. The leaf is shaped like a pointed egg, with the base of the leaf curved and broad, tapering to a very long, pointed leaf tip.
Examine the leaf stem when the leaf is still attached to the tree. There will be a little thorn on the division where the leaf attaches.