Iowa's State Tree: Iowa Time Machine March 13, 1961

Iowa Time Machine ⏰:  On March 13, 1961, Iowa Governor Norman A. Erbe signed a bill designating the oak as Iowa’s official tree. Beloved for wide-spreading branches twisting into Iowa skies, many Iowans hold memories made under the state’s official trees.

Many people have come to recognize the bur oak as Iowa's state tree since it is the only species found throughout the state. Twelve different species of oaks grow native in Iowa. Iowa oaks separate into two groups: red oaks and white oaks.

Wild turkeys, pheasants, quail, wood ducks, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, deer, bluejays, nuthatches, grackles, several kinds of woodpeckers, and other wildlife enjoy the acorns of oak trees. 

In recent years, state ecologist John Pearson has set out to find the state’s oldest standing oak tree. A white oak located in Pammell State Park near Winterset dates back to 1634 and currently holds the title as the state’s oldest oak. #IowaOTD #IowaHistoryDaily #IowaHistoryCalendar