OHIO OUTDOOR NOTEBOOK
By Laura Jones, Ohio Department of Natural Resources

You bet your Buckeye you can grow this state symbol in your own backyard!  
Buckeye Tree Information

	Natural and cultural history of the Ohio buckeye
		It’s one of six species of buckeye trees that grow in North America
		Two buckeye species are native to our state: the Ohio and the yellow
		Its botanical name is Aesculus glabra
		Some people believe carrying around a buckeye seed in the pocket wards off rheumatism
		The Buckeye name became a synonym for Ohioans during the 1840 presidential campaign of native son William Henry Harrison. The old general’s campaign symbol was a log cabin built from buckeye timber and decorated with strings of buckeye nuts. He won, and today is honored as one of seven “buckeyes” elected President of the United States.
		The Ohio buckeye tree became our state symbol in 1953, during the 150th anniversary of statehood.

For all of you who “bleed” scarlet and gray this time of year, there’s a way to show your team spirit for years to come, while beautifying your landscape and helping the environment. You can grow your very own Ohio buckeye tree from the “eye of the buck” itself!

Right now, the branches of most buckeye trees are laden with seeds or nuts encased inside a greenish-gold, leathery husk. From early September to late October the husks drop to the ground and split open, revealing their hidden treasures. The nuts come out of the husks a deep, glossy chestnut-brown with a tan, circular patch. Native Americans who once inhabited the Ohio Valley region called the nut “hetuck” or “eye of the buck” because it resembled a deer’s eye.

Collecting buckeye nuts for planting is as easy as the planting itself. Ohio buckeye trees can be found growing in forests, parks and neighborhoods across the state. These native trees grow naturally in moist soil, often along river bottoms. State parks and state forests are great places for gathering; just be sure to collect only those nuts that have fallen to the ground.

Only recently fallen nuts are viable for planting. This means the lucky buckeye that you’ve been carrying around since the Ohio State Buckeyes won the 1968, or 2002 National Championship, is not a candidate for germination!

Because it can be difficult knowing how recently a buckeye seed has fallen to the ground, experts with the Ohio Division of Forestry, suggest soaking your recently collected buckeyes in water for two to four hours before planting.

Seeds should be planted in loose, well-worked soil about 6 inches apart, and at a depth twice the diameter of the seed. It won’t hurt to plant more buckeyes than you want, since only half are likely to germinate. To help hold the soil in place, put 2 to 3 inches of mulch, straw or well-rotted sawdust over the planting. Check the soil once a week, adding just enough water to keep it moist.

TIP! If there are squirrels in the neighborhood, they’ll likely dig up the seeds. To discourage their scavenging, place a screen mesh over the planted seeds before covering them with mulch. Remove the screen and mulch in early spring after the ground thaws.

Once the seeds have germinated in the spring, begin applying enough water to maintain about one-inch per week. During the first season, lightly fertilize in April and again in June.

By August, buckeye trees big and small will be exhibiting leaf scorch, a nonfatal fungus resulting in early leaf drop. But don’t worry, even without its leaves, your little buckeye tree will be just fine. You’ll know it’s in good shape if you see a plump bud at the end of the stem – reflecting the start to next year’s growth – and if the bark does not appear to be wrinkled.

Keep in mind that as “young bucks,” these trees prefer partially shaded conditions. You can transplant your seedling to a sunnier location the first spring after germination. Be sure to do so before it leafs out, and don’t wait more than two years to transplant. Trees in more open settings will have to endure the tribulations of leaf scorch, but as the tree matures the reward is more profuse blooming and that ever-so-important nut production.

Depending on growing conditions, Ohio buckeye trees will begin producing nuts in five to 10 years. The average height for Buckeye trees is 40 feet; they have fairly narrow crowns and short trunks that are 2 to 3 feet in diameter. Bark on older trees is dark, furrowed, and scaly. The white, fine-grained wood is moderately soft, easy to carve, and resistant to splitting.

Buckeyes are some of the first trees to leaf out in the spring, producing the widely recognized fan of five, nearly elliptical leaflets. Cone-shaped clusters of small, pale yellow flowers bloom at the end of branches in late April and early May. In the fall, these popular trees are equally well known for being among the first to turn yellow and drop their leaves.

If you’re in a hurry to harvest nuts from your very own Ohio buckeye tree, you might want to consider skipping the seed-planting process and going straight to a local garden center. Many tree nurseries across the state have Ohio buckeye trees in stock and after all, ‘tis the season.

Go Bucks!

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For Further Information Contact:
Laura Jones
(614) 265-6811