April 22 is Earth Day, a special day to celebrate the Earth by dedicating one day to making it a better, healthier place. For over 50 years, Earth Day has been about celebrating our planet and its beauty, promoting environmental protection, and highlighting the importance of planetary health.
Ohio is home to rare natural beauty (such as the lakeside daisy) and plenty of unique plans and animals. The state has a diverse array of flora and fauna, some of which you may have never heard of before. In honor of Earth Day, let’s take a look at Ohio’s unique plants and animals.
Ohio houses 20 common butterfly species
Earth Day is the perfect day to partake in your yearly gardening activities. As temperatures warm, you might be looking forward to pollinator-friendly gardening. Ohio is home to many butterflies that are attracted to certain plants, and you may find that different kinds of butterflies live in your area.
Here are 20 common butterfly species in Ohio:
Ohio’s three rare, venomous snake species
Ohio is home to a variety of slithery amphibians and reptiles, including three rare venomous snakes. Though these three snakes can be dangerous, you just have to give them space if you find them – they don’t strike unless provoked.
The pawpaw tree is an Ohio native and totally unique
Apples, peaches, oranges. You’ve heard of them. But have you ever heard of Ohio’s native pawpaw tree?
The pawpaw tree is native to Ohio and is extremely common, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. This pyramid-shaped tropical-looking tree can be found in sunny, moist areas with rich, well-drained soil. The trees are commonly found in areas such as the bottoms of ravines, steep hillsides, and creek banks.
The pawpaw fruit was named the official native fruit of Ohio in 2009, and is also known as the ‘Indian banana’.
And yes, the pawpaw fruit is edible.
Ohio’s fan favorite, the famous buckeye tree
Ohio is home to the Buckeyes, but we’re not Ohio State’s sports teams. We are talking about the nut.
Earth Day is the perfect day to recognize the ‘fan favorite’ buckeye tree. Ohio’s 2025 title-winning college football team was named after Ohio’s state tree, known as the Ohio Buckeye tree.
According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Ohio Buckeye tree is a member of the horse chestnut family and can grow up to 60 feet. The deciduous trees thrive in sunny to partially shaded areas in moist and rich soil. Buckeye trees can be found between floodplains with moist soil and even dry upland sites.
The Ohio Buckeye is native to the Midwest and the Great Plains.
And unlike the pawpaw fruit, the buckeye nut is NOT edible.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: It’s Earth Day! Learn more about Ohio’s unique plants and animals
Reporting by Mariyam Muhammad, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
