Madura trees

Today we are going to talk about a type of tree that is native to Asia, America, Africa and Australia. Its about Madura trees. Its common name is Louisiana orange tree and it belongs to the genus Maclura of the Moraceae family. This family is made up of more than 10 species of trees. It is also known by the name of the Osage orange tree and comes from the southern United States.

In this article we are going to tell you all the characteristics, care and curiosities of the Maclura pomifera.

Key features

It is a type of deciduous tree that has a rounded crown and multiple branches with thorns. These trees they can reach a size of about 15 meters in height If conditions are right, it has entire, alternate leaves with an oblong texture and slightly wavy margins. We can see that the leaves are bright green on the upper surface, and in autumn, they turn yellow before falling. It's one of the trees that best displays the arrival of autumn, as it tinges the landscape with color.

Its flowers are greenish in color and have little decorative interest. It is not a tree from which flowering is expected to enhance the aesthetics of the garden.. Flowering takes place in late spring to early summer when temperatures are higher and it has been possible to collect water from winter rainfall.

He has a curiosity and they are its fruits. SHe calls it an orange tree because the fruits are very similar to oranges, but in reality they are globose groups of small united fruits. If you look at it from afar, you can see how the tree looks like an orange tree. That's where its name comes from.

Uses of Madura trees

This tree is used as a screen to reduce road noise and windbreaks. They are usually seen located in rows on avenues or in parks to increase green areas. They also serve to provide some shade and can be shaped dry with a shrubby appearance. For the decoration of the streets the Madura trees it can become somewhat annoying in those female specimens. And it is that the females produce fruits that can become quite annoying if they are not collected.

Over time, they rot and leave unpleasant odors. Therefore, They are trees that require little maintenance if they are installed in avenues and parks.We can also plant it in our gardens to provide a tree and some shade. Many people use the Louisiana orange tree to decorate their gardens, reducing the noise of cars entering the home. It also helps reduce the wind in the strongest gusts and in areas where the wind blows most strongly.

Thanks to its low maintenance, it is usually a tree that is found quite frequently in cities. It also serves to decorate the most acclimated areas, especially in the fall. It is its yellow leaves that attract the most attention since they indicate the passage of time and the arrival of winter.

Caring for the Madura trees

Being a tree that is easy to grow, you don't have to think too much about its maintenance. This is one of the reasons why it is used very frequently. You just have to worry about collecting the fruits of those specimens that are female and that can generate bad odors because they are rotten. The appearance they acquire when they are on the ground also generates a bad image.

We are going to analyze the requirements and care that the Louisiana orange tree needs. The first thing we must take into account is the place where it will grow. It needs a sun exposure to be able to develop in good conditions. It is a lover of pleasant temperatures that allow it to develop well. It does not tolerate much frost, so it will be necessary to see the climate of the area where we are going to plant it.

They can grow in almost any type of soil, even poor ones, as long as it's well-drained. This means we can't let rainwater accumulate. Learn more about the Aranjuez gardens where this tree can fit perfectly. Both rainwater and stored irrigation water can rot the roots of the tree. Maclura pomifera. It is preferable those soils that have some contribution of organic matter so that they can have a better flowering and fruit. Although the most striking thing about this tree are its leaves, we must not forget that the flowering and ripening of the fruits is part of its life cycle.

It has very good resistance to drought, so watering should not be too abundant. It rather needs moderate watering and wait for the soil to dry out before watering again. If your area has abundant rainfall, you may not need to water it in winter. Although it doesn't require special fertilizer, it appreciates a light application of compost in early spring to ensure extra strength and nutrients during its flowering period. Remember that it can thrive in poor soils, although this isn't ideal.

Maintenance and pests

El Madura trees needs a pruning at the end of winter so that it can have a more compact appearance for the flowering season. You can do the pruning in the part of the crown or if it can be used as a hedge. There are people who use this tree as a hedge and need to do a more elaborate pruning. This serves to give it the shape we want and increase the decoration in the places where we place it.

As for pests and diseases, it is quite resistant to them, so we should not have too many problems. You have to take into account excess humidity and be careful with low temperatures. If the winter has enough frosts, this tree could suffer and not reach the next flowering season.

For more information about interesting species, you can visit our article on the rarest fruits in the world, where we also include interesting facts and details about different types of fruits and trees.

If you want to learn more about the care and characteristics of the Madura treesWe recommend you check out our section, where we analyze examples of trees adapted to different environments and their maintenance.