How well do you know Ohio’s symbols?

By Marilyn McKinley

OSU master gardener volunteer

Do you know Ohio has an official reptile, tree, animal, insect, bird, flower, wildflower, and fruit?

The reptile is the black racer snake. Due to its prevalence in our state, mostly in the south and east, in 1995 our legislature chose it as our state snake. It is non-poisonous and important to Ohio’s farmers because it eats rodents that cause crop damage. Snakes are an important part of our ecosystem.

In 1953 the Buckeye became our state tree. It is called a buckeye because the nut resembles a deer’s eye. The tree is commonly seen along rivers, streams and in floodplains. We have been known as the “Buckeye State” since 1840. Ohio resident William Henry Harrison won the presidency, and his supporters carved campaign souvenirs out of buckeye wood.

In 1988, the white-tailed deer was selected as the state animal. This deer was important to Ohio’s native people and European settlers. The meat was used for food, the hide for clothing, the bones and antlers for tools. In more-recent years, as humans have “invaded” the deer’s habitat, this beautiful and graceful animal has become a nuisance to farmers and gardeners. White tails can run up to 40 miles an hour, can jump nine feet into the air and can swim 13 mph.

In 1975 the ladybug was selected as Ohio’s state insect. What many people refer to as a ladybug is actually a ladybird beetle. The state legislature never designated a particular species of ladybird beetle, but one frequently considered as an Ohio native is the Convergent Ladybird beetle. According to the Ohio General Assembly resolution: “The ladybug is symbolic of the people of Ohio – proud and friendly, bringing delight to millions of children when she alights on their hand or arm to display her multicolored wings. She is extremely industrious and hardy, able to live under the most adverse conditions and yet retain her beauty and charm, while at the same time being of inestimable value to nature.”

The cardinal became the state bird in 1933. Cardinals were rarely seen until the forests in Ohio were cleared and the habitat became more suitable for the cardinal. Cardinals are found in all of Ohio’s counties in rural and urban settings. At the Ohio State Fair, a huge cardinal stands at the north end of the fairgrounds.

The state flower, the bright scarlet carnation, was adopted in 1904. This highly fragrant flower was chosen in honor of President William McKinley: it was his favorite flower which he often worn on his lapel.

Designated in 1986 as the state wildflower is the white trillium, found in all counties in Ohio. It is a beautiful, three-petal flower that grows in woodland areas where the soil is rich. It blooms in late spring.

Our state fruit, named in 2009, is the pawpaw. The pawpaw is the only edible fruit native to Ohio. It tastes somewhat like a banana with the texture of an avocado. Some call it the banana of the north.

To learn more about our state symbols in the garden and woodland area, go to http://go.osu.edu/ohiosymbols.