Maclura pomifera 'White Shield'

Orange tree 'White Shield'

Maclura pomifera ‘White Shield’ (White Shield Osage Orange) is a deciduous tree with an upright-spreading, rounded habit and notably glossy, dark green foliage. This selection is especially valued for being fruitless and essentially thornless, making it a much cleaner and more landscape-friendly form of Osage orange than the species. Fall color is yellow.

Type: Tree (Deciduous)
Mature Size: 30–35' W × 30–35' H
USDA Zones: 5a–9b
Form: Upright-spreading, rounded

Light: Full sun
Soil / Water: Adaptable, well-drained soils; low to moderate water, heat and drought tolerant once established
Bloom Time / Length: Inconspicuous spring flowers; not ornamental

Wildlife: Birds and small mammals may use the species for cover; this fruitless cultivar has less wildlife value from fruit than standard Osage orange. That is an inference based on the species profile and the cultivar being fruitless.

Features & Landscape Uses:
Excellent for tough sites, screens, windbreaks, and urban landscapes. It is especially useful where the durability of Osage orange is desired without the messy fruit and heavy thorniness of the species. J. Frank Schmidt describes it as the most thornless of the Osage orange cultivars and notes strong heat and drought tolerance.

Care:
Plant in full sun in well-drained soil. Water regularly during establishment, then only during extended dry periods. Minimal pruning is usually needed beyond early structural shaping. Like the species, it is a tough tree for difficult sites once established. 

Plant type

Deciduous Tree

Height

30-35'

Width

30-35'

Hardiness zones

5–9

Sunlight

Full Sun

Growth rate

Fast

Leaf color

Green

Fall color

Jonquil

Attracts

Birds

Soil

Highly Adaptable, Well Drained

Landscape use

Accent Plant, Hedge, Mass Planting, Privacy Screen

Shape

Rounded, Spreading, Upright

Drought tolerant

No