Osage Orange - Maclura Pomifera

Maclura pomifera, or more commonly known as Osage Orange is a small deciduous tree or large shrub that typically grows to about 30 feet tall. It is native to Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas but has naturalized throughout many other states. The fruit looks pretty psychedelic and turns bright yellow-green in the fall. Despite the name "Osage orange", it is not related to the orange at all and is actually a member of the mulberry family. Due to its latex secretions and woody pulp, the fruit is typically not eaten by humans or animals.

I extract the dye from the shredded bark of the Osage tree. It is a quality dye that produces a very bright yellow on all the natural fibers. When you overdye with indigo, it creates beautiful teals to electric greens. I tend to like to darken colors of my dyes and when you use iron on Osage, you get mossy green.