The state tree of Iowa is the oak, with the bench oak being the most common species. Oak trees have lobed leaves and produce acorns, which are a staple food source for many animals. Iowa also has other state emblems, including the wild rose as the state flower and the American goldfinch as the state bird. Iowa is known for its pork production, caucuses, state fair, navigable rivers, Red Delicious apples, and aviation museum. Iowa produces more corn than any other state. The best trees to plant in Iowa include the silver maple, American sycamore, river birch, cottonwood, and hybrid willow.
The state tree of Iowa is the oak. When the 59th Iowa General Assembly selected the oak in 1961, it did not specify any particular species. Many people find the bench oak to be the best fit for the state tree, perhaps because it is the most common oak species in Iowa. An alternate spelling is burr oak, and this tree is also referred to as moss oak and white moss oak.
Characteristics of the oak tree
Oak trees have lobed leaves that can grow up to 12 inches long. The fruit of an oak tree is called an acorn. Mature oaks are quite prolific and a single tree can produce tens of thousands of acorns each year. Many birds and animals, including deer, quail, squirrels and blue jays, rely on acorns as a staple food source. Oak wood is very dense and resistant to insects and fungi, so it has various uses, including flooring, lumber, and barrels for aging wine and spirits.
Did you know?
The scientific name of the bench oak is Quercus macrocarpa.
The official national tree of America is also the oak.
The Iowa Horticultural Society conducted a poll to choose the state tree at the 1958 Iowa State Fair. Nearly 14,000 votes were cast, and the winning tree was the black maple. Oak was fifth on the list.
The Iowa State University Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension indicates that Iowa has 12 native species of oak, but the bur oak is the only one found throughout the state.
What is the most common tree in Iowa?
Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer. According to a 2013 publication by the United States Forest Service, the American elm is the most numerous species in terms of total number of trees in the entire state. However, oak won the award for the species with the highest total volume of live trees statewide on forest land, totaling just under half a billion cubic feet.
What are the best trees to plant in Iowa?
If you’re an Iowa resident looking to add some trees to your yard, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has a few suggestions. These trees grow relatively quickly:
Silver maple
american sycamore
River birch
Cottonwood
Hybrid willow
The Iowa State University Tree Planting Guide states that early spring is the best time to plant trees. While it is possible to plant trees throughout the year, there is a greater chance of failure for trees planted in late fall and winter.
What are the other symbols of the state of Iowa?
Along with the state tree, Iowa has several other state emblems:
Iowa State Flower: Wild Rose (No official species, but many sources show Prairie Wild Rose)
Iowa State Bird: American Goldfinch (sometimes specified as a subspecies of the Eastern Goldfinch)
Iowa State Song: The Song of Iowa by SHM Byers
Iowa State Rock: Geode
Iowa state motto: “We value our freedoms and will maintain our rights.”
Iowa is known as the Hawkeye State. There is no conclusive evidence of the origin of this nickname. Some sources indicate that it may have been inspired by the book The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper. In the book, there is a scout named Hawkeye.
What is the state of Iowa known for?
Although many people immediately think of cornfields, there are many other things Iowa is famous for.
It is the top pork producer in the United States and has more pigs than any other state (23.6 million).
Iowa caucuses kick off presidential primaries.
Des Moines is home to the Iowa State Fair, which always includes a cow sculpture made of butter.
It is the only state with borders that are navigable rivers (the Mississippi and the Missouri).
Iowa was the first state where the Red Delicious apple was grown.
Sioux City is home to the Mid American Museum of Aviation & Transportation and the Sergeant Floyd Monument, which commemorates the single casualty of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Of course, it makes sense to think about cornfields. Iowa produces more corn than any other state; In 2018, 12.8 million acres of corn were harvested.
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