MACLURA pomifera

A small, picturesque and fast growing tree with an open crown and thorny, orange-brown branches. Leaves opposite, ovate with pointed tips, 6 to 13 cm long, shiny green and filled with milky sap, turning yellow in autumn. Flowers greenish, inconspicuous, appearing from May to June. Fruits large (up to 13 cm in diameter), globose, yellowish green, looking like an orange with similar aroma. A rare, hardy tree for sunny, protected areas and all soil types. Also planted as hedges in the mediterranean region. The wood is strong against decay, fruits were consumed as food in the early days while the root barks were used as a yellow dye for the textile industry. D, H, K, R, S, St. Zone 6b.