State Tree Emblems Trivia Quiz

Answer: Texas

Derived from the word Peccan, which means "hard-shelled nut" in the Algonquian language, there is evidence that the pecan has been a part of the Texan landscape since prehistoric times. The tree is a native of the state and is perfectly suited to its climate. The production of the pecan nut has been a valuable contributor to the Texan economy, but it nearly wasn't the case. At the beginning of the 1900s, the tree was being cut down in great numbers for lumber until its true value was appreciated.

The tree, which can grow as high as 150 feet and live for the same number of years, was a particular favourite of former Texas governor James Hogg. That love translated into legislature in 1919, when the tree was officially recognized as the Texas state tree.

(Roots) "Deep in the Heart of Texas" was recorded in 1942 by Ted Weems and his Orchestra. The vocals were provided by Perry Como.

Answer: California

There are two distinct species of the California redwood, the coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and the giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum). Both have been adopted, since 1937, as state trees. There was a time when the redwood, the tallest trees in the world, could be found scattered through a fair chunk of the Northern Hemisphere. Nowadays you are only likely to find them along the Pacific coast, preserved in national parks.

The most famous of the redwoods is the General Sherman Tree, which resides in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, and is some 274 feet high. The circumference of its base is measured at 102 feet.

(Roots) "(I Wish They All Could Be) California Girls" was written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love. It was recorded by the Beach Boys in 1960 for their "Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!)" album.

Answer: Minnesota

This sturdy, majestic tree, which is also called the Norway pine can grow up to 80 feet in height and live for up to 400 years. There are estimates that, at one point, it covered over 30% of Minnesota's six million acres of pine forest. That was before the lumber drive kicked in and put a serious dent in its numbers.

The red pines are found, mainly, in the northern and the north-eastern forests of Minnesota and, despite the fierce winds in the region and the soil being poor and exposed, the red pine still manages to thrive. That said, the tree is not quite out of the woods (sorry about the pun) thanks to climate change. The warmer temperatures are seen as a significant threat to the survival of the tree.

It was proclaimed the state's official tree in 1953 after strong campaigns by both the Friday Study Club and the Minnesota Federation of Women's Club.

(Roots) "Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota" was recorded for the movie "UHF" soundtrack (1989) by Weird Al Yankovic.

Answer: Arizona

Palo verde, which means "green stick" in Spanish, became the Arizona state tree in 1954. Thing is, there are two species of the palo verde (the foothills and the blue) and the legislature didn't identify which of the two it was to be. They solved that issue by making both of them the state tree.

The remarkable feature about this tree, and the reason for their name, is that their bark is loaded with chlorophyll. Whilst most trees would use their leaves for photosynthesis and the production of sugars, the palo verde will metabolize up 75% of its food through the bark. Both varieties produce seed pods that provide a sweet pea, similar to a snow pea, that is quite tasty. They are still a valuable food source for the Hohokam people.

(Roots) "Arizona" was recorded by Mark Lindsay in 1970 and it was the title track for his album, released the same year. The above line, after substituting the state for the tree, is the first line of the chorus of the song.

Answer: Alaska

The Sitka spruce became Alaska's state tree in 1962 and it seems like it was an appropriate choice. It is the most valuable tree in the state but, aside from that, the Sitka spruce is also the largest spruce in the world, and Alaska is the largest state of the United States... it's almost like they were made for each other. It gets its name from the Alaskan island of Baranof Island. Baranof was so named in 1805 but, prior to that, it had the name Sheet-ka X'aat'l, which had been given to it by the native Tlingit people.

(Roots) "North to Alaska" was released by Johnny Horton in 1960. It provides the backstory to the film of the same name, which starred John Wayne and Stewart Granger.

Answer: Georgia

The correct name for this tree is the Southern live oak, a fast growing, and wide spreading tree. However, the main feature that has drawn Georgians to this monster that lines its streets and grows abundantly on the lower coastal plain, is its strength. It was this strength that identified it as a great lumber for building ships. And, it was this strength that attracted the Edmund Burke Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution to put in the request that the live oak become the state tree. They got their wish in 1937.

One of the theories put forth as to why the tree is called a live oak is that, unlike most oak trees that lose their leaves in the fall (and look dead), the live oak will shed and replace its leaves throughout the year.

(Roots) "Georgia on My Mind" was first performed by Hoagy Carmichael in 1930, however, the most prominent version of the song was the Ray Charles rendition released in 1960.

Answer: Ohio

Probably one of the few trees in this quiz that didn't require a pop culture reference to help identify the state it belongs to. That's because Ohio is known as the "Buckeye State" and, one of the reasons it got that nickname, is the prevalence of the tree within its borders. There are additional circumstances to that nickname, and they are linked to the presidential campaign of William Henry Harrison in 1840. His supporters used buckeye wood to carve out souvenirs as a means of showing their support for their candidate.

The buckeye gets its name from its nut, which looks like the eye of a deer. That said, it does get confused with the horse chestnut. The Ohio buckeye, which became the state's official tree in 1953 loves the floodplains, the rivers and the streams.

(Roots) "Down on the Banks of the Ohio" is a murder ballad that was first heard in 1927. The song was popularized by Olivia Newton-John when she released her version of the song in 1971.

Answer: Alabama

The longleaf pine was a significant feature in many of Alabama's forests, but it was also a highly sought after tree. Its timber was excellent for construction, particularly shipbuilding. The resin within the tree was also a good source of tar, rosin and turpentine.

Whilst it remains short in stature for the first five years of its life, its growth spurt is strong, and it can rise to 150 feet in height. It is one of a number of evergreen pine trees that can be found in the Alabama region, and they have been collectively called loblolly pine. This became an issue when Hugh Kaul presented the bill to have the longleaf declared the Alabama state tree. It was approved in 1949, but the specific species was not stipulated. This would be rectified with the passing of Bill 533 in 1997.

(Roots) The Blind Boys of Alabama is a gospel group that originated in Talladega, Alabama in 1939. Since then they have featured a changing roster of, mostly, visually impaired musicians throughout their history.

Answer: Maine

A bit like Stephen King, the pine tree is inextricably linked to the state of Maine. Maine has so many white pines that its nickname is the "Pine Tree State". It has been an important part of the Maine economy and identity as far back as 1605 when Captain George Weymouth arrived there and collected samples of the pine. The issue in Europe, at the time, was the unavailability of quality lumber for ship's masts and the Eastern white pine proved to be ideal.

The majority of the white pines in Maine, that were termed "virgin", were cleared by the 1850s and lumber production in Maine peaked by the early 1900s. Its importance was identified in 1895 when the pine cone and tassel were legislated as the state's official floral emblems. This was solidified in 1945 when it was passed that the Eastern white pine, the biggest of the Eastern conifers, was to be designated the state's official tree.

(Roots) Not sure what the count may be like now but, by the end of 2016, Stephen King had set 24 of his stories in the fictional town of Derry in Maine. Derry is a thinly disguised version of Bangor, Maine, the town where Stephen and his family live.

Answer: Virginia

In a unique twist, the Virginia state tree is also the Virginia state flower. The flowering dogwood is actually a tree that explodes with a range of blooms that come out in reds, pinks and whites. These blooms, however, are not the real flowers, they're bracts. The bracts attract the pollinators and the true flowers, which are yellow in colour, grow in small clusters inside these bracts.

The blooms will arrive in springtime and disappear when the summer sets in, however, its dark showy leaves still make it a delight to see. Come the fall those dark showy leaves will turn into a dazzling collage of scarlet, orange and red hues, offset by some bright red berries.

Virginians have a love affair with the dogwood. They have named streets and even a harbour (in Chesapeake) after it. The dogwood was a favourite of Thomas Jefferson, who'd planted many on his estate in Monticello and this was firmly in the minds of the state's legislators when they proclaimed it as their state tree in 1918.

(Roots) "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" is a play by Edward Albee first staged in October 1962.