Osage Orange Firewood — BTU Rating, Burn Quality & Tips

Maclura pomifera

BTU per Cord

32,900,000

Density

4,728 lbs/cord

Category

hardwood

Split Difficulty

hard

Spark Rating

high

Smoke Rating

low

Coaling Quality

excellent

Seasoning Time

18 months

Availability

regional

The undisputed king of firewood by BTU output. Burns incredibly hot and produces coals that last all night. Can throw sparks aggressively, especially when freshly loaded, so use only in enclosed stoves. Very hard to split. Common in hedgerows across the Midwest and southern plains.

Pros

  • +High heat output
  • +excellent coaling for long burns
  • +Low smoke production

Cons

  • -Difficult to split
  • -High sparking — use with a screen or in a stove
  • -Long seasoning time (18 months)

Best Uses for Osage Orange

Open Fireplace

Not recommended — high sparking

Wood Stove

Excellent — high heat output

Campfire

Good — mix with softwood kindling for easy starts

Smoking/Cooking

Can be used but not a traditional smoking wood

Seasoning Osage Orange

Osage Orange requires approximately 18 months of seasoning to reach the ideal moisture content of 20% or below. Split wood to 3-6 inch pieces and stack with good airflow. Keep the top covered but leave sides open to air. Store off the ground on pallets or rails.

Compare With Similar Species

Eucalyptus

34,500,000 BTU/cord · excellent coaling

Madrone

30,000,000 BTU/cord · excellent coaling

Mesquite

28,000,000 BTU/cord · excellent coaling

Black Locust

27,900,000 BTU/cord · excellent coaling

Calculate BTU →All Species →

Last updated: December 2024