Officially Ohio
Since the early 1800s, Ohio lawmakers have chosen symbols to honor the state’s people, places, and history. Most of these symbols are listed in Chapter 5 of the Ohio Revised Code, while others were created through special resolutions passed by the legislature. States began officially designating state trees in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the movement gaining significant momentum during the 1930s and 1940s in response to industrial deforestation. Most state flowers were adopted between the 1890s and 1920s to foster regional identity and celebrate native flora. Visit the official symbols web page here.
The banner image at the top of this page shows the view that inspired the Great Seal of the State of Ohio, featuring Mount Logan as seen from across the Scioto River valley. Located in Chillicothe,Ohio, near the Great Seal State Park. (Public Domain image)
Ohio has had an official seal for more than two hundred years and it has gone through several revisions, the last modification in 1996. See All State Seals of the United State.
In the most recent version, the Scioto River flows between cultivated fields and Mount Logan. A rising sun with 13 rays symbolize the original thirteen colonies. A sheaf of wheat stands in the foreground as a symbol of agriculture and bounty.
Standing next to the wheat is a bundle of 17 arrows representing Ohio’s Native Americans and also symbolizing Ohio as the 17th state to enter the Union.
Official Plants of Ohio
State Tree
The Ohio Buckeye (Aesculus glabra) was designated as the state tree in 1953. The name “buckeye” comes from the small, shiny, dark brown nuts with a light tan patch that resemble the eye of a deer.. The Ohio State University uses Brutus Buckeye as it’s mascot, and Ohio is often referred to as the Buckeye State.
State Wildflower
Used in our logo, the State Wildflower is the Great White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum). Found in all counties of Ohio, this woodland wildflower became the state flower in 1986. Click here to learn more about Ohio’s eight trillium species and how to conserve them.
State Flower (Cultivated)
Ohio designated the Red Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) as the official state flower in 1904. The red carnation was in honor of Ohio President William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States, who liked to wear a red carnation on the lapel of his jacket.
State Agricultural Fruit
The Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentus) was adopted: as the official fruit of Ohio on January 6, 2009. Ohio is the third-largest producer of tomatoes in the United States, harvesting over 6,000 acres of tomatoes annually.
State Beverage
Tomatoes are big in Ohio! The official state beverage is tomato juice, designated in 1965 to recognize the state’s significant tomato production and the agricultural legacy of Reynoldsburg native Alexander Livingston, who modernized the fruit. Read more about him here.
State Native Fruit
The pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is the official native fruit of Ohio. It features a creamy, custard-like texture with a tropical flavor often described as a blend of banana, mango, and pineapple. The large fruits ripens in late summer, with a Pawpaw Festival held each September.
Official Animals of Ohio
State Bird
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is a favorite among many and is the state bird of seven states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. They are among the first birds to begin singing their spring song on sunny January days.
State Mammal
Named in 1988 as Ohio’s official state mammal, the White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) thrives across all Ohio counties. They are highly adaptable, inhabiting rural, suburban, and forested areas, and are active year-round. Learn about all of Ohio’s mammals here.
State Amphibian
Spotted Salamanders are found throughout Ohio in low-lying moist woodlands adjacent to swamps, ponds, and creeks. Because of their secretive nature and their love for tunneling underground, they are seldom seen except in early spring, when they migrate to breeding pools in large numbers. Learn more about Spotted Salamanders here.
State Frog
American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) is a large true frog native to Ohio and is commonly found in ponds, marshes, and slow-moving streams throughout Ohio.
State Snake
The Eastern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor constrictor) is a fast, slender, non-venomous snake native to Ohio, designated as the state reptile in 1995. Found primarily in eastern and southern Ohio, they are solid black with smooth scales, a white chin, and a dark belly, growing up to 60 inches long.
Learn more about snakes and other Ohio reptiles here.
State Fish
Lake Erie, the North Coast of Ohio, is often called the “Walleye Capital of the World.” Walleye fishing is big business, generating $1 billion in economic activity for Ohio. Walleye (Sander vitreus) naturally occurs in Lake Erie and the Ohio River, and is stocked into several inland reservoirs in Ohio
State Insect
The ladybug, also called the ladybird beetle, is Ohio’s official state insect. The native ladybug (Coccinella novemnotata) or nine-spotted lady beetle) was once common in Ohio. It is now rare due to sharp population declines since the 1980s. As a native predator of aphids, it is currently the focus of conservation efforts like the Lost Ladybug Project, which seeks to track and restore its population.