If there is one thing all 50 states have in common, it is their zeal in designating official state symbols or icons.
States assign their official imprimatur to plants, minerals, dinosaurs, pets, songs, and flowers. And, of course, all 50 have a state tree. All of these state trees, with the exception of Hawaii’s, are native to that state.
According to the United States National Arboretum in Washington, D.C., a state tree is often connected to the state by historical events, uses of trees by settlers, or the importance of the timber industry to a state’s economy.
Most states adopted their state trees following the nation’s rapid industrial and agricultural expansion in the 1800s and early 1900s. Without a strong conservation movement to oppose rapacious deforestation, many of the original forests were stripped for building materials, fuelwood, or to clear land for crops and livestock.
In recognition of Arbor Day on April 27, 24/7 Wall St. salutes the official tree in every state.
Click here to see the official tree in each state.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.
Source: Wirepec / Getty Images
1. Alabama
> State tree(s): Southern Longleaf Pine
> Scientific name: Pinus palustris
> Maximum height: 100 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1997
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Source: ChrisBeverly2070 / iStock
2. Alaska
> State tree(s): Sitka Spruce
> Scientific name: Picea sitchensis
> Maximum height: 180 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1962
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Source: EuToch / Getty Images
3. Arizona
> State tree(s): Palo Verde
> Scientific name: Parkinsonia florida
> Maximum height: 40 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1954
Source: RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / Getty Images
4. Arkansas
> State tree(s): Pine
> Scientific name: Pinus taeda
> Maximum height: 100 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1939
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Source: Scott_Walton / Getty Images
5. California
> State tree(s): California Redwood
> Scientific name: Sequoia sempervirens/Sequoiadendron giganteum
> Maximum height: 250+ feet
> Named the state tree in: 1937
Source: rootstocks / Getty Images
6. Colorado
> State tree(s): Colorado Blue Spruce
> Scientific name: Picea pungens
> Maximum height: 75 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1939
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Source: WilshireImages / iStock
7. Connecticut
> State tree(s): The Charter Oak
> Scientific name: Quercus albus
> Maximum height: 100 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1947
Source: Photo (c)2007 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) / Wikimedia Commons
8. Delaware
> State tree(s): American Holly
> Scientific name: Ilex opaca Alton
> Maximum height: 30 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1939
Source: LVV / Getty Images
9. Florida
> State tree(s): Sabal Palm
> Scientific name: Sabal palmetto
> Maximum height: 20 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1953
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Source: traveler1116 / Getty Images
10. Georgia
> State tree(s): Live Oak
> Scientific name: Quercus virginiana
> Maximum height: 80 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1937
Source: Tina Power / Getty Images
11. Hawaii
> State tree(s): Kukui
> Scientific name: Aleurites moluccana
> Maximum height: 60 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1959
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Source: knowlesgallery / Getty Images
12. Idaho
> State tree(s): Western White Pine
> Scientific name: Pinus monticola pinaceae
> Maximum height: 175 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1935
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Source: stevegeer / Getty Images
13. Illinois
> State tree(s): White Oak
> Scientific name: Quercus alba
> Maximum height: 100 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1973
Source: magicflute002 / Getty Images
14. Indiana
> State tree(s): Tulip Poplar
> Scientific name: Liriodendron tulipifera
> Maximum height: 90 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1931
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Source: lynngrae / Getty Images
15. Iowa
> State tree(s): Oak
> Scientific name: Quercus macrocarpa
> Maximum height: 100 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1961
Source: marekuliasz / Getty Images
16. Kansas
> State tree(s): Cottonwood
> Scientific name: Populus deltoides
> Maximum height: 190 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1937
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Source: mtreasure / Getty Images
17. Kentucky
> State tree(s): Tulip Poplar
> Scientific name: Liriodendron tulipifera
> Maximum height: 90 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1994
Source: MSMcCarthy_Photography / iStock
18. Louisiana
> State tree(s): Bald Cypress
> Scientific name: Taxodium distichum
> Maximum height: 100 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1963
Source: GeorgeBurba / Getty Images
19. Maine
> State tree(s): White Pine
> Scientific name: Pinus strobus
> Maximum height: 100+ feet
> Named the state tree in: 1945
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Source: Joesboy / Getty Images
20. Maryland
> State tree(s): White Oak
> Scientific name: Quercus alba
> Maximum height: 100 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1941
Source: PierceHSmith / iStock
21. Massachusetts
> State tree(s): American Elm
> Scientific name: Ulmus americana
> Maximum height: 90 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1941
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Source: duckycards / Getty Images
22. Michigan
> State tree(s): Eastern White Pine
> Scientific name: Pinus strobus
> Maximum height: 100+ feet
> Named the state tree in: 1955
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Source: KeithBenard / Getty Images
23. Minnesota
> State tree(s): Red Pine
> Scientific name: Pinus resinosa
> Maximum height: 90 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1953
Source: Kenneth_Keifer / Getty Images
24. Mississippi
> State tree(s): Magnolia
> Scientific name: Magnolia grandiflora
> Maximum height: 80 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1952
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Source: nickkurzenko / Getty Images
25. Missouri
> State tree(s): Flowering Dogwood
> Scientific name: Cornus florida
> Maximum height: 40 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1955
Source: sstaton / Getty Images
26. Montana
> State tree(s): Ponderosa Pine
> Scientific name: Pinus ponderosa
> Maximum height: 200+ feet
> Named the state tree in: 1949
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Source: marekuliasz / Getty Images
27. Nebraska
> State tree(s): Cottonwood
> Scientific name: Populus deltoides
> Maximum height: 190 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1972
Source: AvatarKnowmad / Getty Images
28. Nevada
> State tree(s): Single-Leaf Piñon and Bristlecone Pine
> Scientific name: Pinus monophylla & Pinus longaeva
> Maximum height: 50 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1987
Source: johnandersonphoto / Getty Images
29. New Hampshire
> State tree(s): White Birch
> Scientific name: Betula papyrifera
> Maximum height: 70 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1947
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Source: Whiteway / Getty Images
30. New Jersey
> State tree(s): Northern Red Oak and Dogwood
> Scientific name: Quercus borealis maxima and Cornus
> Maximum height: 90 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1950
Source: Heather_Szarka / iStock
31. New Mexico
> State tree(s): Piñon Pine
> Scientific name: Pinus edulis
> Maximum height: 35 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1948
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Source: Ron_Thomas / Getty Images
32. New York
> State tree(s): Sugar Maple
> Scientific name: Acer saccharum
> Maximum height: 115 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1956
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Source: MarkWagonerProductions / Getty Images
33. North Carolina
> State tree(s): Fraser Fir and Pine Tree
> Scientific name: Abies fraseri and Pinus
> Maximum height: 40 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1963
Source: Unimatic1140 / Wikimedia Commons
34. North Dakota
> State tree(s): American Elm
> Scientific name: Ulmus americana
> Maximum height: 90 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1947
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Source: NajaShots / Getty Images
35. Ohio
> State tree(s): Ohio Buckeye
> Scientific name: Aesculus glabra
> Maximum height: 82 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1953
Source: aquatarkus / iStock
36. Oklahoma
> State tree(s): Redbud
> Scientific name: Cercis canadensis
> Maximum height: 30 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1937
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Source: RyanJLane / Getty Images
37. Oregon
> State tree(s): Douglas Fir
> Scientific name: Pseudotsuga menziesii
> Maximum height: 325 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1939
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Source: Wirepec / Getty Images
38. Pennsylvania
> State tree(s): Eastern Hemlock
> Scientific name: Tsuga canadensis
> Maximum height: 80 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1931
Source: ClubhouseArts / Getty Images
39. Rhode Island
> State tree(s): Red Maple
> Scientific name: Acer rubrum
> Maximum height: 115 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1964
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Source: digidreamgrafix / Getty Images
40. South Carolina
> State tree(s): Sabal Palmetto
> Scientific name: Inodes Palmetto
> Maximum height: 82 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1939
Source: YinYang / Getty Images
41. South Dakota
> State tree(s): Black Hills Spruce
> Scientific name: Picea glauca
> Maximum height: 40 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1947
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Source: seven75 / iStock
42. Tennessee
> State tree(s): Tulip Poplar and Yellowwood Tree
> Scientific name: Liriodendron tulipifera
> Maximum height: 70 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1947
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Source: pelicankate / Getty Images
43. Texas
> State tree(s): Pecan Tree
> Scientific name: Carya illinoinensis
> Maximum height: 140 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1919
Source: MagicDreamer / Getty Images
44. Utah
> State tree(s): Quaking Aspen
> Scientific name: Populus tremuloides
> Maximum height: 50 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1933
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Source: Ron_Thomas / Getty Images
45. Vermont
> State tree(s): Sugar Maple
> Scientific name: Acer saccharum
> Maximum height: 115 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1949
Source: Flowering Dogwood / Getty Images
46. Virginia
> State tree(s): Flowering Dogwood
> Scientific name: Cornus florida
> Maximum height: 40 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1918
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Source: gdbrekke / Getty Images
47. Washington
> State tree(s): Western Hemlock
> Scientific name: Tsuga heterophylla
> Maximum height: 200 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1947
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Source: aimintang / Getty Images
48. West Virginia
> State tree(s): Sugar Maple
> Scientific name: Acer saccharum
> Maximum height: 115 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1949
Source: lipika / Getty Images
49. Wisconsin
> State tree(s): Sugar Maple
> Scientific name: Acer saccharum
> Maximum height: 115 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1949
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Source: RCarner / iStock
50. Wyoming
> State tree(s): Plains Cottonwood
> Scientific name: Populus deltoides
> Maximum height: 190 feet
> Named the state tree in: 1947
Detailed Findings & Methodology
Trees have long been the beloved subject of poets such as Joyce Kilmer, Robert Frost, and William Makepeace Thackeray, but they still needed a champion. Eventually, forest and tree preservation concerns prompted conservation efforts.
In the early part of the 20th century, states began to recognize trees indigenous to their state and started designating them official state trees. Virginia was the first state to name an official tree when it named the Flowering Dogwood in 1918. Alabama was the last to do so, designating the Southern Longleaf Pine as its official tree in 1997. Half of all the official trees were named in the 1930s and 1940s.
If you can’t get to all 50 states to see each state tree, you can see all 50 state trees in Washington, D.C., at The National Grove of State Trees, a 30-acre attraction at the United States National Arboretum.
Planting for the grove began in 1989 and was a collaboration of the National Association of State Foresters, the American Forest Foundation, the USDA Forest Service, and the U.S. National Arboretum.
Institutions such as the national arboretum raise awareness about tree population as concerns about deforestation persist. According to a study by Nature magazine three years ago, there are 3.04 trillion trees on our planet, or 422 trees for every person on Earth. In the U.S., there are 716 trees for every person. Those numbers were a pleasant surprise to scientists. But the study also found that there are 46% fewer trees since deforestation was begun by mankind.
24/7 Wall St. compiled a list of each state’s official tree from online sources, including state websites, media outlets, and information from United States National Arboretum and Nature magazine.
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