Nonpoisonous Trees

Flowering Dogwood

• The flowering dogwood (Cornus florida L.) is also known as the Virginia dogwood. Native to the United States, this deciduous tree is found in eastern North America. Ranging in height from 20 to 40 feet, the flowering dogwood has long-lasting white or pink spring blooms with red fruit and foliage. Birds, mammals and deer eat the fruit. Native Americans used the roots and aromatic bark as a quinine substitute to treat malaria and make red dye.

Eastern Redbud

• Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis L.), also known as redbud, is native to the United States and is found along the Atlantic Coast and central Texas. Ranging in height from 15 to 30 feet, the deciduous tree has tightly-clustered pink flowers. Other redbud varieties include the Texas redbud found in Oklahoma and throughout central Texas, the Mexican redbud found in west Texas near Mexico, and the Western redbud found in Arizona and California. High in vitamin C, the flowers and flower buds can be added to breads and eaten raw in salads.

Hop Tree

• The hop tree (Ptelea trifoliata L.), is also known as the water ash and the common hop tree. Native to the United States, the deciduous hop tree ranges in height from 12 to 36 feet. The fruit has been used in beer in place of hops, which gives the tree its name. Home remedies have been made from the aromatic bark. Hop trees provide shelter and food for mammals, birds and butterflies.

Winged Sumac

• The winged sumac (Rhus copallina), also known as the shining sumac, is native to the Allegheny Plateau areas of Ohio. Rarely more than 15 feet in height, the deciduous winged sumac has crimson fruit that ripens in September or October.

Staghorn Sumac

• The staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) is a colorful deciduous tree found all over the Appalachians, Minnesota, Alabama, Georgia and most regions in Ohio. The densely-hairy fruit and stems resemble the velvet on a stag's antlers. Largest of the native sumacs, the tree can reach 35 feet. Leaves are dark crimson and sometimes orange to yellow.

Smooth Sumac

• The smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) is closely related to the staghorn sumac. The smaller, smooth sumac is the most commonly found sumac in Ohio. Fruit of the deciduous tree is scarlet and generally ripens in August or September.

Exception

• One sumac is toxic and should not be confused with the other sumacs. The poison sumac (Rhus vermix), also known as the swamp sumac, is one of the most poisonous of plants and is closely related to poison ivy, according to The Ohio State University.