{"id":1436,"date":"2022-03-13T14:57:03","date_gmt":"2022-03-13T14:57:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/?p=1436"},"modified":"2022-03-26T17:36:01","modified_gmt":"2022-03-26T17:36:01","slug":"osage-orange-firewood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/osage-orange-firewood\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Osage Orange Good Firewood?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Osage orange (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Maclura_pomifera\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Maclura pomif<\/a>era) is more commonly referred to as the hedge tree. This is because it will not grow very tall at all but does have a traditional use as a windbreaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They can be found all over the US but are not harvested for their fruits in the same way that their name\u2019s sake is. So, can you use Osage orange as firewood instead?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>When only considering a firewood&#8217;s heat output, osage orange is one of the best with a very high BTU of 32.9. However, it is very high in sap which means that it creates far more smoke and creosote than other hardwoods.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/osage-orange-firewood.jpg\" alt=\"osage orange firewood thumbnail\" class=\"wp-image-1423\" srcset=\"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/osage-orange-firewood.jpg 500w, https:\/\/theyardable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/osage-orange-firewood-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/theyardable.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/osage-orange-firewood-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_62 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #000000;color:#000000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #000000;color:#000000\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/osage-orange-firewood\/#What_Are_The_Varieties_Of_Osage_Orange\" title=\"What Are The Varieties Of Osage Orange\">What Are The Varieties Of Osage Orange<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/osage-orange-firewood\/#What_Are_The_Physical_Characteristics_Of_Osage_Orange\" title=\"What Are The Physical Characteristics Of Osage Orange\">What Are The Physical Characteristics Of Osage Orange<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/osage-orange-firewood\/#Does_its_Wood_Split_Easily\" title=\"Does its Wood Split Easily?\">Does its Wood Split Easily?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/osage-orange-firewood\/#How_Much_Sap_Does_It_Have\" title=\"How Much Sap Does It Have?\">How Much Sap Does It Have?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/osage-orange-firewood\/#How_Does_The_Wood_Smell\" title=\"How Does The Wood Smell?&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;\">How Does The Wood Smell?&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/osage-orange-firewood\/#Heat_Output_And_Efficiency_Of_Osage_Orange\" title=\"Heat Output And Efficiency Of Osage Orange\">Heat Output And Efficiency Of Osage Orange<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/osage-orange-firewood\/#Fire_Characteristics_Of_Osage_Orange\" title=\"Fire Characteristics Of Osage Orange\">Fire Characteristics Of Osage Orange<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/osage-orange-firewood\/#Is_It_Okay_To_Burn_Osage_Orange_In_A_Fireplace\" title=\"Is It Okay To Burn Osage Orange In A Fireplace?\">Is It Okay To Burn Osage Orange In A Fireplace?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/osage-orange-firewood\/#How_Expensive_Is_Osage_Orange_Firewood\" title=\"How Expensive Is Osage Orange Firewood?\">How Expensive Is Osage Orange Firewood?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/osage-orange-firewood\/#How_Long_To_Season_Osage_Orange\" title=\"How Long To Season Osage Orange\">How Long To Season Osage Orange<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/osage-orange-firewood\/#Pros_And_Cons_of_Osage_Orange_Wood\" title=\"Pros And Cons of Osage Orange Wood\">Pros And Cons of Osage Orange Wood<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/osage-orange-firewood\/#How_Does_Osage_Orange_Compare_To_Other_Firewood\" title=\"How Does Osage Orange Compare To Other Firewood?\">How Does Osage Orange Compare To Other Firewood?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/osage-orange-firewood\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" title=\"Frequently Asked Questions:\">Frequently Asked Questions:<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/osage-orange-firewood\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_The_Varieties_Of_Osage_Orange\"><\/span>What Are The Varieties Of Osage Orange<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While Osage orange grows all over North America, it does not have notable varieties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_The_Physical_Characteristics_Of_Osage_Orange\"><\/span>What Are The Physical Characteristics Of Osage Orange<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td>Name<\/td><td>Osage Orange<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Heat per cord (Million BTUs)<\/td><td>32.9<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Weight dry (lbs per cord)<\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Weight green (lbs per cord)<\/td><td>5270<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Seasoning time<\/td><td>1 -2 years<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Resin \/ Sap content<\/td><td>High<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Splitting Difficulty<\/td><td>Difficult<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Smoke<\/td><td>Substantial<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Smell<\/td><td>Citrusy<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Coal Production<\/td><td>Good<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Creosote Build-up<\/td><td>Substantial<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_its_Wood_Split_Easily\"><\/span>Does its Wood Split Easily?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Osage orange wood grows with spiky, thick thorns that are a nightmare to remove. These thorns can make it difficult (and dangerous!) to split the wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make sure to use&nbsp;protective gear&nbsp;when splitting Osage wood and use a hydraulic splitter if you can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No matter what tool you use to split Osage orange, it is best to split it while it is still green. When seasoned, its wood will become extremely dense and will be basically impossible to split.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Much_Sap_Does_It_Have\"><\/span>How Much Sap Does It Have?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The sap content of Osage orange wood is extremely high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though some of the sap it produces is distributed its bright yellow fruit, Osage orange wood will still hold a lot of sap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Does_The_Wood_Smell\"><\/span>How Does The Wood Smell?&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It is the light citrusy smell that gives Osage orange its name and not because it has any relations to orange trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Heat_Output_And_Efficiency_Of_Osage_Orange\"><\/span>Heat Output And Efficiency Of Osage Orange<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/what-wood-burns-the-hottest\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1487\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Osage orange is one of the hottest burning woods<\/a> in North America with an <a href=\"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/firewood-weight-btu-chart\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"817\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">excellent BTU of 32.9<\/a>. This is more heat than some coal is able to produce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fire_Characteristics_Of_Osage_Orange\"><\/span>Fire Characteristics Of Osage Orange<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The heavy density of Osage orange means that it can burn for an extremely long time while holding steady heat. The good quality coals that it produces throughout its burn helps to keep its fire going for a long time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the very high levels of sap within Osage orange wood means that it tends to smoke a lot for hardwood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even once the wood has been seasoned, a substantial amount of sap remains. This sap sticks to chimneys and flutes once burnt, creating an excessive build-up of creosote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_It_Okay_To_Burn_Osage_Orange_In_A_Fireplace\"><\/span>Is It Okay To Burn Osage Orange In A Fireplace?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You could burn Osage orange in a fireplace if you wanted to, but it can be dangerous if not monitored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The high levels of sap mean that it will spark a considerable amount. Likewise, you will have to dispose of fireplace creosote more regularly for the same reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, Osage orange does burn extremely hot. If you have it and need some heat in the middle of winter, then you can use Osage orange as a heating source. However, it is best to butn it in a closed log burner rater than in an open fireplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Expensive_Is_Osage_Orange_Firewood\"><\/span>How Expensive Is Osage Orange Firewood?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>According to woodchuckfirewood.com, for a rick cord of split osage orange you can expect to pay 120USD. A Rick cord is 1\/3 of a cord so 120USD per rick cord would turn up to be 360 USD for a full cord of wood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Long_To_Season_Osage_Orange\"><\/span>How Long To Season Osage Orange<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There is little that can be done about the high sap content of Osage wood, but it is still important to make sure that it reaches a moisture content of below 20%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Seasoned firewood will burn better and will create less smoke. In the case of Osage orange, it will take roughly a year to reach peak burning levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some say that you should wait 2 years before burning Osage orange. Seeing as it is rot-resistant, you can wait as long as you want to burn the wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pros_And_Cons_of_Osage_Orange_Wood\"><\/span>Pros And Cons of Osage Orange Wood<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Pros<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Highly effective heat<\/li><li>Pleasant smell<\/li><li>Rot resistant<\/li><li>Widely available<\/li><li>Good coals<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Cons<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>High levels of sap<\/li><li>Difficult to process<\/li><li>Excessive smoke and creosote production<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Does_Osage_Orange_Compare_To_Other_Firewood\"><\/span>How Does Osage Orange Compare To Other Firewood?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Osage orange is one of the hottest burning hardwoods available in North America, burning <a href=\"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/is-oak-good-firewood\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"697\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">hotter than most&nbsp;oak&nbsp;<\/a>and hickory varieties. However, in comparison, it is poor firewood due to the amount of smoke and creosote it produces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is a wood that has an abundance of sap that hinders its desirability. Though it does not have as much sap as pine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Can I Burn Osage Orange On A Stove?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is better not to burn Osage orange on a stove as it sparks and smokes too much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Can I Eat Osage Orange Fruits?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The fruit produced by Osage orange smell awful when damaged and so are not really edible. They will not harm you if you do eat them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What Firewood Can Cool Hotter Burning Firewoods?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mixing cooler burning firewoods with those that burn too hot will help to control the fire while ensuring not over loading your fireplace.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/maple-firewood\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1139\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Maple&nbsp;is still very good firewood<\/a> but will help to manage hickory or Osage orange from getting too hot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Osage orange is up there with hickory in terms of heat production but fails to provide a clean-burning fire. This is why it is not particularly popular firewood as oak, but it will keep your home warm throughout the winter nevertheless. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Osage orange (Maclura pomifera) is more commonly referred to as the hedge tree. This is because it will not grow very tall at all but does have a traditional use as a windbreaker. They can be found all over the US but are not harvested for their fruits in the same way that their name\u2019s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1423,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1436"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1436"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1436\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1490,"href":"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1436\/revisions\/1490"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1423"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1436"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1436"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theyardable.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1436"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}