Ohio ’s native plant are a diverse group that has evolved to meet the legion challenges of Ohio ’s diverse and change habitats . Plant life is abundant in Ohio , with over 60 % of the land being forested and more than three - quarters of the continue kingdom described as “ agricultural land ” by The National Atlas ( 2007 ) . When you include aquatic vegetation , well over 85 % of Ohio is covered in plant . Yet key out what plants raise in Ohio is unmanageable because we lack a dear working definition for “ native ” . The Ohio Division of Forestry has published a record titled “ Ohio ’s tree diagram , ” which defines native as “ a plant found in the state before 1800 ” .
Trees commonly found in Ohio ’s forest admit hardwoods , conifers , and non - aboriginal species such as birches and maples . “ Shrub ” is a worldwide terminus for all plants from the herbaceous kinsfolk . aboriginal grass are separate and let in the specific types associated with different habitats such as prairie , savannah , and woodland . Although Ohio has about 261 coinage of aboriginal pasturage and forbs for a total of 1,539 taxon ( coinage ) , only about 600 or so are shared here . Both the prairie germinates in sphere that have see fire disturbance over time ; however , it is often quite open to allow mickle of sunlight to reach it . It includes several types of wildrye , blaze - star , and an extensive compass of grasses and forbs . Ohio ’s savanna is place in the southern part of the State Department , along the Scioto River from Columbus south to Portsmouth . It comprise mainly of broadleaf deciduous Tree and some evergreen species such as easterly red cedar tree . The prairie eccentric is more open than the bush eccentric to allow sunlight to perforate but not so candid that it can be view a drought . wildflower in these area admit Sanguinaria canadensis , yellow lady ’s skidder , and bunchberry , with pine waste having an abundance of wild orchids . Ohio ’s softwood woods is mainly in the southern one-half of the state , comprised chiefly of oak , hickory , and maple Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . The coniferous types are found along the borders of Pennsylvania and the Appalachian Mountains . Pine forests are distribute mainly on Ohio ’s north , east and west sides . We can group Ohio ’s forests into four major region : Northeastern Ohio ( excluding Lake Erie ) , Southern ( include Lake Erie ) , Western ( including Lake Erie ) , and Central Ohio .
Native Plants of Ohio
easterly poison parsley – Hemlock is a prevalent Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in northern forests ; hardwoods such as birch rod are low-level . The yellow - greenish acerate leaf turn brown in fall .
Smilax rotundifolia – Manybark , roundleaf greenbrier , western Greenbriar . It is an herbaceous vine with large , heart - shaped leaves that grow from the earth or aery roots . The flowers are greenish - lily-white with five petal . Its habitat is all along the eastern and southerly borders of Ohio from Pennsylvania southward to Alabama .
Hieracium umbellatum – Common ragwort , catkin - flowered hawkweed , wood betony – is a herbaceous perennial with alternative leaves and pink or regal flowers . It is vulgar in moist woodwind surrounding stream , fen , and road throughout the northern one-half of Ohio .
Thalictrum humile – drear meadowrue , pee kingcup – is a perennial that grow from hugger-mugger rootstalk and has diametric leaves . The leaves are dissected into three leaflets , and the flowers are small with low-spirited or white petals . It is pretty standard throughout Ohio ’s swampland and wet prairies .
Anemone virginiana – Anemone , wood windflower – is a springiness flowering repeated with leafy stem that can hit three feet grandiloquent . The leave are opposite and palmately lobed , while the flowers are white to pink in color with five petals . Its home ground draw out throughout Ohio ’s glaciated area , more frequently in the north - central counties .
genus Pteridium aquilinum – Bracken fern , Bracken – is a enceinte evergreen fern with fronds that can reach up to four feet long . The stem are rotund , and the leaflet are pinnate with rhombic segments . Its habitat extends throughout Ohio ’s glaciated expanse , more frequent in the southwesterly county .
genus Polygonatum biflorum – Solomon ’s sealing wax – is an herbaceous perennial that can reach two foot grandiloquent . The leaves are palmate and profoundly divide into three to five lobe , while the blank flowers have ten stamen . It is found on moist hillsides , low - lying meadows , and along flow banks throughout Ohio ’s glaciated field , more common in the westerly counties and along lake shore .
Potamogeton pusillus – Duckweed – is an aquatic perennial with a single leaf in the center of the plant . The sinister green foliage are almost round and adapted to submerge in Water . The roots perforate the substrate to collect wet . The flowers are white and small . It is found in lakes , ponds , slow - moving rivers , and well out savings bank throughout Ohio ’s glaciated area , more common along lake shores .
Smilax rotundifolia – Manybark , pear-shaped folio Greenbriar , western Smilax rotundifolia . It is an herbaceous vine with large meat - shaped leaves that grow from the ground or aerial etymon . The flower are greenish - white with five petal and are prefer by the Ruby - Throated Hummingbird . Its habitat extends throughout Ohio ’s glaciated area , more frequent in the southwestern counties .
Thalictrum rotundifolium – around - pass on meadow rue , marvellous hayfield rue , or herb robert . It is a perennial that grows from underground rootstalk and has opposite leaves . The leaves are analyse into three leaflets , and the flowers are small with blue or white petals . It is find in mesic ( moist ) habitats along stream banks , bogs , and chuck throughout Ohio ’s glaciate sphere , more frequent in the northwestern counties of Ohio .
Panax quinquefolius : Ginseng ; is a perennial herbaceous plant with a thick , above - ground rhizome . The leaves are pinnately compound , and the flowers are inconspicuous . It is found in mesic ( moist ) habitats such as wooded ravines , stream bank , and suspicious hillsides . Its home ground offer throughout Ohio ’s glaciated area .
Polygonum pensylvanicum : Smartweed ; is an one-year or biennial herb that develop from an exaggerated root organisation . The leaves are diametrical , heart - shaped , and usually hairless ; the midget flowers have five petal and many stamen . Its habitat extends throughout Ohio ’s glaciated area .
Polygonum perfoliatum : Perfoliate - leaved buckwheat ; a herbaceous perennial with opposite , toothed leaf around a key stem . The flowers are brown - purple , and the fruit is oval with placid seed . It is found in mesic ( moist ) home ground such as wooded ravines , current bank , and shady hillsides . Its home ground extend throughout Ohio ’s glaciated area .
Potentilla simplex : Beach rose or common cinquefoil ; it is a repeated herbaceous plant that grows from an magnified tap root . The leaves are pinnate and have five leaflets without stipule . It has pocket-sized flower with five petal , and the yield is a nutlet enfold in a five - lobed calyx . Its home ground poke out throughout Ohio ’s glaciate expanse .
Rubus flagellaris : Dewberryy ; it is a low - spring up , often distribute wild bramble with supple , curve root . The stems have red , prickly thorns and the leaves are pinnately compound . The flower are snowy to pink or red to purple , and the fruit is red when advanced . It is found in mesic ( moist ) home ground such as fresh disturb soils , floodplains , and along watercourse bank building throughout Ohio ’s glaciated area .
Ramalina coreopsis : tickweed ; is a genus of herbaceous plants with a loosely spreading rootstock . The leaves are small and lance - form with five main lobes , while the flowers have five white flower petal . They are plant in moist surface area such as undecided Natalie Wood , on moist hillsides , or ditch along stream throughout Ohio ’s glaciated country , more frequent in the northwest county .
Sagina nodosa : Snowberry ; is an herbaceous perennial that grows from a long , buddy-buddy rhizome . The leaves are five - lobed , profoundly lobate , and toothed , and the long , flimsy , wiry radical have tiny ignominious efflorescence . The habitat extends throughout Ohio ’s glaciate field , more frequent in the northwesterly counties .
Senecio paniculatus – butterweed ; it is a herbaceous perennial with opposite , serrate to lance - shaped leaves . The flowers are yellow , and the fruits are browned pods . It is find in mesic ( moist ) habitats along stream banks and on blotto , sloppy hillsides throughout Ohio ’s glaciated orbit . It is more frequent in the Tippecanoe River realm and along streams of western Lake Erie .
Native Shrubs of Ohio
Junipers ; ( Juniperus ) is a genus of coniferous Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or shrubs with needle - same or scale - similar leaves , of which there are about 30 species . They are chiefly native to the north temperate region , but one coinage occurs in southeastern North America and one to two in southerly South America . The barque of several metal money is used as a spicery . In the APG III categorisation system , all but three of the juniper were propel from the Cupressaceae family to the new Juncaceae home .
Mountain laurel ( Kalmia latifolia)is a deciduous bush or small tree with fragrant , olive - green foliage ; it grow in teemingness throughout Ohio ’s glaciate area ; it was regain more often in the northwestward , especially along streams and in wet ravine . In other area , it grows on limestone outcrops . It is closely related to the western ruddy cedar ( Juniperus occidentalis ) . The leave were used as an astringent by Native Americans . depend on the specie , the blossom are blue , wan purple , or white and develop in nebulizer at the ends of branches .
Geranium spp . – Cranesbill;is a genus of about 300 mintage of herbaceous unfolding plants . The genus is deal throughout the temperate and semitropical regions of the human race and includes annuals , biennials , and perennials .
Calla palustris : Wild calla;it is a repeated herbaceous plant with pointer - determine , tuberous rhizomes . The leave-taking are alternative , petiolate with farseeing petiole case and palmately lobed vane . The bloom are ashen to yellowish or greenish - white to purple with an loose spathe ( a goon - comparable anatomical structure protect the flower ) . The fruit is achene . Its habitat extends throughout Ohio ’s glaciated area .
Trapa natans Water chestnut;is a free - float perennial aquatic herbaceous plant with slender , flat , triangular stems . The leaves are round and have prospicient petiole sheath at the base of each leaf blade that encircles the stem . The fruit are spiny nutlets in a four - valved capsule . It is found in slow - moving streams and rivers with water profundity of less than 3 feet throughout Ohio ’s glaciate arena , more frequent in the northwest , specially along the Great Lakes shore .
Trapa natans ssp . argyroneura – weewee chestnut ( Argyroneura ) ; it is a race of Trapa natans that occurs in the southern United States and northern Mexico . Due to its stiff air etymon , it has a rootstalk with a hempen root system and is pronounced blow . The leave are triangular and green on both position , and the flower are lily-white or pinkish and can be shroud by the furled petiole . The fruits are setaceous nutlet in a four - valved capsule . It is found in behind - moving watercourse and rivers with water depths of less than 3 foot throughout Ohio ’s glaciated area , more frequent in the northwest , specially along the Great Lakes shores .
aroid maculatum : Cuckoo - pint ; it is a recurrent herbaceous plant with tuberous rootstalk . The leafage are alternating and pinnately lobed to deeply cut into three lobe with petiolate sheaths at their base . The flowers are greenish - yellow with a dark red spadix ( a spikey stem supporting the manly heyday above the female ) . The fruit is a black , briary , globose ( spherical ) achene with a milky pappus . It is found on the edge of sandy plains and in savanna along streams throughout Ohio ’s glaciated area , more frequent in the northwestward , specially along the Great Lakes shores .
Dicentra cucullaria : Dutchman ’s breeches ; it is a repeated herb with rhizomes that can grow up to two fundament tenacious . The leave-taking are divide into three leaflets with petioles ( leafstalks ) to four inches long . The flowers are icteric with orange - brown spots and cicatrix on the upper flower petal and have a prodding at the pedestal ; the low petal is without spots . The flowers bloom from May to June . It is found in open woods and along the edge of meadows and clearings , ravine , and pelt banks throughout Ohio ’s glaciated expanse , more frequent in the Tippecanoe River area .
Asclepias syriaca : Common Sonchus oleraceus , an herbaceous perennial with a fibrous root system . The leaves are large and usually palmately lobed or pinnatifid ( divided into legion narrow section ) at the theme ; above , they are unruffled , bright unripe with a rounded to oblong shape . The flower are gaudy , pinkish - purpleness with a dull red inside , open day and night , and grow in clusters at branch tips . The fruits are monotonous , winged nut with a waxy covering . It is feel in open woods and along the edges of hayfield and clearing , ravine , and stream banks throughout Ohio ’s glaciate area , more frequent in the Tippecanoe River neighborhood .
Epilobium angustifolium : uncouth Erechtites hieracifolia ; it is an herbaceous perennial with a creeping rhizome . The leaves are substitute , linear to shaft - shape , with full margins and hairy on both sides . The flowers are pocket-sized and greenish - white and appear in clusters at the end of branches or the crown of upper folio axil ( on stem ) . The achene ( seeds ) are thinly - shelled , three - lobed with two wing and a short break . It is found in open woods and along the edge of hayfield and clearings , ravines , and stream bank throughout Ohio ’s glaciated area , more frequent in the Tippecanoe River region .
Equisetum hyemale : Scouring spate ; it is a recurrent herb with jointed or unbranching stems . The leaves are compound , very minute , and musical scale - like ; the upper single are stalked , and the lower ones are bellying at the base . The spores are produced in belittled capsules bid sporangia that develop at the top of each stem . It is found in wet places associated with control surface water throughout Ohio ’s glaciated area , more frequent in the nor'-west , especially along the Great Lakes shore .
Horsetail spp . – Common horsetail ; is a repeated herbaceous plant with a lithe , jointed , unbranched stem . The leaves are needle - like and develop along each section of the theme . The spore capsule grow at the top of the flora and become dark-green with years ; mature spore are white and , when matured , split open to release the fart - stick out spore . It is found in wet places consociate with surface water throughout Ohio ’s glaciated area , more frequent in the northwest , specially along the Great Lakes shores .
Lippia scaberulous : Squaw mint ; is an aromatic perennial herb aboriginal to North America . The leaves are opposite , with notched gross profit , the upper 1 are sessile ( stemless ) , and the low-down one are stalked . The flowers have five flower petal that curve backward . The fruit is a capsule that does not split open . It is see in open wood and along the edges of meadows and clearings , ravines , and well out banks throughout Ohio ’s glaciate sphere , more frequent in the Tippecanoe River region .
Verbena hastata : Blue verbena ; is an herbaceous perennial with a sinewy base system of rules . The round staunch are without whisker and are hollow and terete ( cylindrical in cross - section ) .
Equisetum variegatum : Elk sedge ; it is a perennial herb native to westerly North America with prostrate rhizomes ( package of stringy theme ) . The leaves are alternate to ovate - lanceolate , finely divided into segment , 0 .
Pre-settlement Landscape
The trees , shrubs , and perennials that grew around Ohio ’s pre - settlement prairie were several species of oak , hickory , walnuts , pignut , and butternuts ; these were the main trees on which early settlers depended for construction Ellen Price Wood and their bounty of nuts . Wood was also usable from beech , ash , tulip poplar , and wild cherry trees . A all-encompassing variety of native shrubs augmented the forest cover by bring home the bacon screening for birds , small animate being , and fruits that people found toothsome . Perennial wildflower blossom each bound and added splash of colouration to the prairies .
Oak - hickory forests covered most of Ohio ’s land area before small town . The cardinal oak tree species in these wood were northern reddish , black , white , and scarlet oaks . In addition to the oaks , there were hickories , including pignut , bitternut , and shagbark . hickory and oaks often grew together in mixed stands call oak - hickory woods . There were also some walnut tree tree scattered through these forests ; walnut favor richer grime than other Tree , so they could be found on higher ridges where the territory was in force and less moist than in lower areas . pear and orchard apple tree were also common in the oak tree - hickory forests .
When Europeans first came to Ohio , there was trivial in the agency of timber . The prairies provided a thin cover of grasses and sedge that prevent land corrosion . The small Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree mainly were tall shrub growing in association with each other ; they included huckleberry , serviceberry , and elderberry between oak tree and hickory . Other small trees included maple , basswood , beechwood , and ash Tree . At this time , there was considerable variation in species physical composition count on location within the state .
wildflower were instrumental in impart hoi polloi to settle in Ohio . Early settlers heard story of the abundance of wildflowers and the timberland , and they came to Ohio seek what they conceive was a land of plentitude . They found a mostly treeless prairie with occasional woodland and declamatory wildflower seam . Wildflowers still cut through many acres throughout the state , put up interest for hiker and naturalists and adding dish to the landscape painting . Some of the aboriginal wild flower on Ohio ’s prairies admit goldenrods , trilliums , and violet . The annual wildflower bloom occurs in early spring over most of the state , starting in late March . The flowers fade aside as summer advances , and grass and sedges take over the landscape until fall .
Advantages of Ohio Native Plants
The availability of non - native plants in Ohio is increasing due to the speedy expanding upon of tumid nurseries . In many character , these plants are chosen because they increase and are tolerant to insect and disease problem , require little care , and can be used for various purposes . They have rise themselves well over fourth dimension but are not native to Ohio ’s prairies or woodlands and may have acquire under very different growing conditions . Native plants that have evolved here during the 10,000 years since glacier covered Ohio developed of course with the louse , diseases , and other rival . They are the best plants to turn in Ohio because they have proven themselves suited to our climate , soils , and growing condition .
When people plant non - aboriginal plants in their landscape , they are hope the plants will pull through these hazards . Often , there is an adjustment period of time when a new plant must develop some resistance to the insects and diseases that endanger it . During this time , if the flora are not adequately cared for , other pests and diseases may develop that can wipe out the entire population . If this happens , it may take several years for the works ’s universe to build up again ; meanwhile , sess may have established themselves on your land . Once the weeds and other non - aboriginal metal money have taken over , it may be a farsighted time before there is any prospect of lay aside your original planting from these competitors . If a weed job develop , it can be challenge to describe what you are fight because weeds are incredibly hardy and adaptable ; they have only lately been introduce to Ohio .
Many of the aboriginal works being sold as “ aboriginal ” by baby’s room are also regard common industrial plant in Ohio that have been selected by plant breeders who have crossed them with other plants . These hybrids ply suitable traits such as large size , showy flowers , and foliation that may invoke to the consumer . But these plants may not be suited in Ohio due to their poor adaptation to our filth and clime . It is especially the case with perennial wildflowers that have been take for large sizes and blooms . These make expert landscape painting plants in urban surface area but do not hold out well in ironical environments ; they need lots of Water during the growing season when they produce many come . Many are also extremely susceptible to territory - borne disease such as rusting and mildews , two bugs that are usual problem in Ohio .
Ohio ’s plenteous prairies and woodlands leave from one thousand of years of phylogeny . The animals , plants , and natural communities here today have been hone by compete to last in the face of many challenges . These plant and brute provide us with natural resources that are still usable for role today . They may not be as manifest or abundant as they were before our root came to Ohio , but they can still be found in places where our understanding and appreciation are growing . By eff how to key out these native specie , we can gain an appreciation for them and get a line how right to protect them from the same fate that has pass off in other states : widespread habitat death by non - native coinage .
