Ohio Buckeye Trees

The buckeye tree is Ohio's official state tree. While the tree got its nickname from Indians who noticed that the light colored circular part of the hard nut resembled a buck's eye, its fame may be credited to our ninth president, Ohioan William Henry Harrison. When Harrison ran for president his detractors suggested that he was the kind of guy that would sit around a log cabin and get drunk. He turned the tables on them and promoted himself as the log cabin candidate. The emblem designed for his campaign featured a cabin made of buckeye tree logs and promotional items made of buckeye tree wood were used to court voters. Buckeyes were even featured in a campaign song. Ohioans were nicknamed Buckeyes and we carry that name proudly today.

Buckeye trees are fast growing shade trees that are members of the Hippicastanaceae (Horse Chestnut) family. While their fruits may resemble chestnuts, unlike chestnuts they are poisonous and should not be consumed.

This Is a medium sized, cold hardy and densely growing tree that offers a lot of shade. You may have seen its 5 pointed leaf decorating the helmets of Ohio football players whose team is the buckeye's namesake. It's leaves appear early in spring and yellow or greenish yellow flowers appear in May.They're said to have a foul odor though I never seem to find them particularly odiferous. Its autumn leaves are colorful. The seed capsule contains just one seed that will mature in the fall. These trees are easily propagated from seeds.

The wood of the buckeye tree is porous and has an interesting texture. Its popular with wood carvers and at one time was used to make artificial limbs.

The red buckeye tree is a small and very fast growing shrubby tree that offers a showy display of long red flowers that bloom in early spring. These blooms are very attractive to hummingbirds. This tree is shade tolerant but blooms best with plenty of sun. While attractive in spring, it is one of the first trees to lose its leaves in late summer or early autumn.

This hybrid is a larger tree that offers yellowish red flowers in spring and beautiful fall foliage.

The Painted Buckeye is a small tree or large shrub that blooms early producing pinkish green or yellowish green flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. There are multiple seeds in its capsule and like all buckeyes, they are poisonous.

Both butterflies and hummingbirds love the blooms on this Arboretum Hybrid.

Buckeyes are often used for crafts. Jewelry made from buckeyes are popular with Ohio football fans as buckeyes are said to bring good luck

Buckeye tree fruits are poisonous. Do what Ohioans do and eat the yummy peanut butter and chocolate replicas instead.