April 22 is Earth Day, a special day to celebrate the Earth by dedicating one day to making it a better, healthier place. For over 50 years, Earth Day has been about celebrating our planet and its beauty, promoting environmental protection, and highlighting the importance of planetary health. 

Ohio is home to plenty of unique and rare beauty. The state has a diverse array of flora and fauna, some of which you may have never heard of before. In honor of Earth Day, let’s take a look at Ohio’s unique plants and animals.

Ohio houses many pretty butterflies

Earth Day is the perfect day to partake in your yearly gardening activities. As temperatures warm, you might be looking forward to pollinator-friendly gardening. Ohio is home to many butterflies that are attracted to certain plants, and you may find that different kinds of butterflies live in your area.

Here are 20 common butterfly species in Ohio:

• Spicebush swallowtail
• Eastern black swallowtail 
• Eastern tiger swallowtail 
• Cabbage white
• Checkered white
• Clouded sulphur 
• Orange sulphur 
• Eastern tailed blue 
• Spring azure 
• Great spangled fritillary
• Pearl crescent
• Question mark butterfly
• Comma butterfly
• Mourning cloak 
• Red admiral 
• Painted lady
• Red-spotted purple
• Viceroy 
• Monarch 
• Silver-spotted skipper

Ohio’s three rare, venomous snake species

Ohio is home to a variety of slithery amphibians and reptiles, including three rare venomous snakes. Though these three snakes are dangerous, you just have to give them space if you find them—they don’t strike unless provoked.

1. The Copperhead snake, commonly found in southeast Ohio. These snakes occupy floodplains and ridge tops and prefer the rocky hillsides of Ohio. 
2. The massasauga rattlesnake inhabits swampy and wet areas of Ohio. Its range once included 30 counties, but it is now endangered, scattered and rarely seen.
3. The timber rattlesnake can be found in southern Ohio and is one of the most venomous snakes in the northeastern United States. The timber rattlesnake is one of the last mature forest species. 

The pawpaw tree is an Ohio native and totally unique

Apples, peaches, oranges. You’ve heard of them. But have you ever heard of Ohio’s native pawpaw tree?

The pawpaw tree is native to Ohio and is, in fact, extremely common, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. This pyramid-shaped tropical-looking tree can be found in sunny, moist areas with rich, well-drained soil. The trees are commonly found in areas such as the bottoms of ravines, steep hillsides, and creek banks.

The pawpaw fruit was named the official native fruit of Ohio in 2009, and is also known as the ‘Indian banana’.

And yes, the pawpaw fruit is edible.

Ohio’s fan favorite, the famous buckeye tree

Ohio is home to the Buckeyes, but not Ohio State’s sports teams. We are talking about the nut.

Earth Day is the perfect day to recognize the ‘fan favorite’ buckeye tree. Ohio’s title-winning college football team was named after Ohio’s state tree, known as the Ohio Buckeye tree.

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Ohio Buckeye tree is a member of the horse chesnut family and can grow up to 60 feet. These deciduous trees thrive in sunny to partially shaded areas in moist and rich soil. Buckeye trees can be found between floodplains with moist soil and even dry upland sites. 

The Ohio Buckeye is native to the Midwest and the Great Plains. 

And unlike the pawpaw fruit, the buckeye nut is NOT edible.