The Fast-Growing Fruit Tree You'll Regret Planting In Your Yard

Who doesn't want to grow a tree full of unique fruit in their yard, especially if that tree is native to North America? As appealing as these characteristics sound, in the case of the Osage-orange tree (Maclura pomifera), they still likely won't make up for the downsides. Not only is fruit from the Osage-orange tree inedible, but the trees are prone to spreading aggressively and are covered in thorns.

Native to the south-central part of the United States, Osage-oranges aren't actually oranges at all but are instead in the mulberry family. While their thorns and fast growth habit have made Osage-orange trees popular options for living fences in the past, their aggressiveness and tendency to sucker and spread make other options far more practical to plant for privacy hedges in most suburban neighborhoods. 

Understandably, many people won't enjoy having a spike-covered, up-to-40-foot-tall and up-to-40-foot-wide tree in their backyard, especially when its fruit can't be eaten and can even cause contact dermatitis. Luckily, there are plenty of better fruit tree alternatives available that will actually produce edible fruit and won't take over your yard.

If you were considering an Osage-orange tree because of your love of North American native trees, fear not, because there are a wide variety of other native trees that come without all of the Osage-orange's downsides. One of the best options for anyone looking to grow fruit in USDA zones 5 through 9 is the pawpaw (Asimina triloba). Not only do pawpaw trees attract butterflies and other pollinators to your yard, but they also have delicious fruit. You do need to have two different cultivars for pawpaws to produce fruit, but since the trees tend to be smaller, with a height and spread of between 15 and 30 feet, this is feasible in many yards.

Another fun fruit that's native to North America is the American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis). With a size of only about 10 feet tall and wide, American elderberry plants can easily be squeezed into many backyard orchards. Hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8, American elderberries are tolerant of a variety of soil types and thrive in full to part sun. While they, much like Osage-oranges, are prone to suckering, their lack of thorns and smaller size should make cutting them back far more manageable. Not only are cooked elderberries great for making jams and jellies, but the shrubs are also a hit with hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators.