National Arbor Day is this Friday, April 29

Twenty-six states are celebrating their state arbor days this week. Is your state one of them?

Wyoming, Kansas and Nebraska– The Cottonwood
The Wyoming plains cottonwood, or Populous sargetii, as well as the Nebraska and Kansas Eastern cottonwood, or Populous deltoids, produce seeds with a cotton-like consistency that enables them to travel long distances with the wind.

Ohio – The Ohio Buckeye
The Ohio buckeye, or Aesculus glabra, has been the state tree since 1953. But Ohians have been called “Buckeyes” since 1840, when supporters of President William Henry Harrison carved souvenirs for his campaign out of buckeye wood.

Pennsylvania – The Eastern Hemlock
The eastern hemlock, or Tsunga Canadensis, often takes 250-300 years to reach maturity and can live to be more than 800 years old.

South Dakota – The Black Hills Spruce
The black hills spruce, or Picea glauca, became the state tree of South Dakota in 1947, after both the cottonwood and juniper were considered for the title.

Utah – The Blue Spruce
The blue spruce, or Picea pungens Engelm, is common at elevations between 6,000 and 11,000 feet and can survive in areas of extreme temperature, including Utah’s Wasatch and Uinta mountain ranges.

Montana – The Ponderosa Pine
The ponderosa pine, or Pinus ponderosa, is said to have large, puzzle piece-like strips of bark that make it easily identifiable. The bark of mature ponderosa pine often smells like vanilla in the heat.

Minnesota – The Red Pine
The red pine, or Pinus resinosa, is also called the Norway pine in Minnesota. Early explorers originally named the pine after a similar tree found in Norway. The name stuck as many Norwegian descendants currently live in Minnesota.

Illinois & Connecticut – The White Oak
The white oak, or Quercus alba, became the official state tree of Illinois in 1973. Although the species of the Connecticut state tree is the white oak, it is not in fact the official state tree. Connecticut named the historical Charter Oak as its state tree as a tribute to America’s colonial ancestors and their commitment to freedom and liberty. Click here for the complete story behind the Charter Oak.

Delaware – The American Holly
The American holly, or Ilex opaca Aiton, is often used in a small decorative pieces during the winter holiday season. However, many fail to realize that the American holly can grow up to 60 feet in height and is considered one of Delaware’s main forest trees.

Texas – The Pecan
The pecan tree, or Carya illinoensis, has been a key figure in American history long before it was adopted as the state tree of Texas in 1919. Fossils of the pecan tree have been found in Texas that date back to before human migration to the Americas.

Rhode Island – The Red Maple
In 1890, the red maple, or Acer rubrum, was voted to be the state tree by school children throughout the state. However, it did not officially become the state tree until 1964.

Virginia – The Flowering Dogwood
The flowering dogwood, or Cornus florida, is a small tree with blossoms in a variety of colors ranging from white to pink to yellow.

New York & Wisconsin – The Sugar Maple
The sugar maple, or Acer saccharum, is one of the largest hardwood trees and can live up to 400 years old. However, it generally will not blossom until after its first 20 or so years of life.

New Jersey – The Northern Red Oak
Although the northern red oak, or Quercus borealis maxima, is the official state tree of New Jersey, the dogwood is also recognized as the state’s memorial tree.

Michigan – The Eastern White Pine
The eastern white pine, or Pinus strobus, made Michigan the leader of the lumbering industry during the late 1800s. Due to the value of its lumber, the eastern white pine is one of the most valuable trees in North America.

Massachusetts – The American Elm
Massachusetts claimed the American elm, or Ulmus americana, as its state tree in honor of the American elm under which George Washington took command of the Continental Army in 1775 on Cambridge Common.

Idaho – The Western White Pine
The western white pine, or Pinus Monticola pinaceae, can grow in a wide range of elevations from the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountains to sea level.

District of Columbia – The Scarlet Oak
The scarlet oak, or Quercus coccinea, is often confused with the pin oak. A key signifier is that the scarlet oak grows mainly in dry or rocky areas, while its look-alike prefers floodplains and swamps.

New Hampshire – The Paper Birch
The paper birch, or Betula papyrifera, gets its name from its use as writing paper. It is also known as the canoe birch as Native Americans used its bark for making canoes.

Nevada – The Singleleaf Pinon & Bristlecone Pine
The singleleaf pinon, or Pinus monophylla, was the first to be designated as the state tree of Nevada in 1959. In 1987, the bristlecone pine, or Pinus aristata, was nominated by Nevada students to share the title of state tree.

Indiana – The Tulip Poplar
The tulip poplar, or Liriodendron Tulipifera, is named for its tulip-shaped blossoms. It became the state tree of Indiana in 1931.

Iowa – The Oak
The oak, or Quercus spp., was designated the Iowa state tree in 1961. The legislature failed to specify a particular species of oak, as there are 13 native species abundant in the state of Iowa.