My Osage tree

[DC]

I have three, this is the biggest. I wonder if I'll live long enough to make a bow out of it It's got quite a bit of character

[bjrogg]

Looks like you might get one of those nature center shoot handles DC
Bjrogg

[Eric Krewson]

I never got past the sapling growing stage, I did cull any saplings that didn't grow straight. I ended up selling/giving away all of them.

I don't have a place to plant one now but always wondered if one could train a sapling to grow straight by tying it to a stake as it grew.

[BowEd]

I believe that's a female sapling DC.It's got thorns and should in time produce hedge balls.

[GlisGlis]

use copper wire and tutors to make it straighter
copper is used in bonsai to shape and position the limbs

[JEB]

when did you plant that tree? or how old is it?

[Pat B]

Once that seedling is allowed to grow unassisted in it's permanent location it should straighten up. The one I planter about 10 years ago has a straight trunk for about 5.5' with longer, straight shoots coming off of it. The bends in this sapling are at the alternate budding giving it it's zigzag form.

[DC]

when did you plant that tree? or how old is it?

I got them from Wizardgoat at our gathering last June. They've been in  4" pots until this spring when I decided where to put them.

use copper wire and tutors to make it straighter
copper is used in bonsai to shape and position the limbs

I did bonsai for 15 years, I've got "LOTS" of wire. Then I did model yachts so I've got a bundle of carbon fibre mast I can use to get them straight.

Once that seedling is allowed to grow unassisted in it's permanent location it should straighten up. The one I planter about 10 years ago has a straight trunk for about 5.5' with longer, straight shoots coming off of it. The bends in this sapling are at the alternate budding giving it it's zigzag form.

 

Do they have a decent flower? I need a bit of a selling point for when the start to get in the way

[Pat B]

I've never seen an osage flower. I know they do flower because they have fruit but depending on their pollinators the flowers may not be noticeable to us.