Hi, I’m a horticultural consultant, and here I want to show you how to identify the most common fruit trees in Ohio. So, for Ohio fruit tree identification, keep reading.
Regions like Ohio, which have temperate climates, are suitable for growing a variety of fruit trees. In this post, I want to share with you my knowledge and experiences in identifying the Ohio fruit trees. First, I will provide you with Images of the most common fruit trees in Ohio that are OK with growing in the four seasons of icy winters and warm summers of Ohio.
After that, I will introduce one of the best Plant identifiers that will help you with this issue. If you are ready, let’s get going.
➡ You can also hear the audio version of this article.
Ohio Fruit Tree Identification with their Images
Here, I also tried to tell you some points about the appearance and varieties of every fruit tree. If you are interested in identifying fruit trees in more detail, I recommend reading my other post about “Identifying fruit trees with images”.
Apple Trees
Scientific name: Malus domestica
If you ask me, Apples are the most popular deciduous fruit tree in Ohio. Many varieties of apples adapted to its climate, such as Honeycrisp, Gala, Jonagold, and Granny Smith, are very popular among gardeners in this state.
Most apple trees in Ohio are medium-sized trees between 10 to 30 feet tall. You will find them in a rounded shape with spreading branches.
The leaves:
- oval-shaped
- Serrated
- dark green.
The Flowers:
- Flowering is in spring.
- Blooms are fragrant
- Come in colours white or pink
Peach Trees
Scientific name: Prunus persica
You will find Peach trees, especially in the southern parts of Ohio, however, they can thrive in most of Ohio’s climates. I think the Popular varieties of Peach trees in this state are Red Haven, Cresthaven, and Contender.
Peach trees are deciduous trees that are small to medium-sized (15 to 25 feet in height). As you can see in the image, their canopy is often rounded or vase-shaped, with branches that spread widely.
The leaves:
lance-shaped
serrated
glossy dark green colour
The flowers:
- The peach tree flowers in early spring
- Its beautiful blooms are pink or pale pink.
Pear Trees
Scientific name: Pyrus communis
Another deciduous fruit tree that is well-suited to Ohio’s climate is the Pear. Varieties commonly cultivated include Bartlett, Anjou, and Comice.
The Pear trees grow up to 40 feet tall, So, we can consider them medium-sized deciduous trees. Their habit growth is upright with a pyramid-shaped crown and dense branching.
The leaves:
- Oval-shaped
- Glossy and dark green
The Flowers:
- Blooming is in early spring.
- The flowers are in clusters.
- They come in white or cream colours
Cherry Trees
Scientific name: Prunus avium and Prunus cerasus
Both species of Tart cherry trees (Prunus cerasus) and Sweet cherry trees (Prunus avium) can thrive in Ohio’s climate. The most common variety of Tart cherry trees in this state is Montmorency. Please note that Sweet cherry trees are more sensitive to disease and pest problems than Tart cherry trees, so they require careful attention.
You may find Cherry trees in various sizes, depending on the cultivar,r from small to medium. These deciduous trees have a rounded to spreading canopy and their branches are often horizontal however, you may find them in various forms based on their pruning manner.
The leaves:
- Oval-shaped
- Serrated
The flowers:
- Its Blooming is often in early spring.
- Flowers appear in clusters.
- You may find the blooms in white, pink, or light pink hues depending on the species and varieties.
Plum Trees
Scientific name: Prunus domestica
If you are interested in growing Plum trees in your garden, I recommend European varieties such as Stanley and Italian or Japanese plum hybrids such as Methley and Shiro. They can thrive well in Ohio’s climate.
Plum trees are deciduous trees that you can find in medium (15 to 20 feet tall). You will see them with a spreading crown and their branches often arch downwards.
The leaves:
- Oval-shaped
- Serrated
- Dark green
The Flowering:
- Its blooming is in early spring.
- You can find its flowers in clusters.
- The blooms are fragrant.
- It is a tree with white flowers, but they can also be pink. I recommend reading my other post, ” Fruit Tree Identification by Flowers.”
Apricot Trees
Scientific name: Prunus armeniaca
Although Apricot trees require a specific set of conditions to grow in Ohio, you can still successfully grow them. I recommend varieties such as Goldcot and Moorpark for this state.
You will find the Apricot trees in small to medium sizes (10 to 20 feet tall) with a rounded crown and spreading branches.
The leaves:
- Oval-shaped (plants Identification by leaf“
- Serrated
- A medium green colour
The Flowers:
- Bearing is in early spring.
- Blooms are pale pink or white.
Persimmon Trees
Scientific name: Diospyros kaki and Diospyros virginiana
There are two species of Persimmons with a lot of cultivars. The Diospyros virginiana is native to the USA and can grow well in Ohio’s climate. However, the Asian variety (Diospyros kaki) and the Fuyu and Hachiya varieties are also popular choices.
Persimmon is a deciduous tree that can grow between 15 to 60 feet tall, so we can consider it a medium-sized tree. Its Canopy is upright or spreading with strong branches.
The leaves:
- Oval-shaped
- glossy green
The flowers:
- Its blooming is in late spring or early summer.
- The blooms are small and bell-shaped.
- You will find them in cream hues.
Please read my other post, “Tropical fruit tree identification“.
Pawpaw Trees
Scientific name: Asimina triloba
Pawpaw trees have been grown for more than 30000 years in the Ohio River Valley region and are native fruit trees to this state and surrounding areas, with unique and tasty fruits that are in popularity.
These small to medium-sized deciduous trees can grow to 15 to 30 feet tall, and their crown is rounded or conical.
The leaves:
- Large
- oval-shaped
- dark green
The Flowers:
The Blooms are distinctive.
They come in maroon or purple hues.
They have a strong odour
The Blooming is in early spring.
Grapevines
Scientific name: Vitis vinifera
You can find the Grapes in Ohio, particularly in its southern parts. I think the popular varieties are Concord, Catawba, and Niagara.
Identification of Grapevines is very easy due to they are climbing woody vines. Grapevines have a twisting and coiling growth habit and can grow very long, so you must support them with a structure or trellis.
The leaves:
- Large
- Palmately lobed
- dark green colour
The Flowering:
Its small greenish flowers appear in spring; however, they are not very showy.
Conclusion
Here, I tried to help you with Ohio fruit tree identification by providing a collection of the most common fruit trees in this state. I strongly recommend that before selecting a fruit tree for planting in Ohio, you consider the specific climate of your area, especially its winter hardiness and summer heat, by asking Local nurseries.
Did you identify your intended fruit tree? What was its name? Have you ever identified a plant with a tool? Do you think working with plant identifiers is easy and trustworthy? Please share your experiences and ideas with our readers below this page.
Elahe Rabiei
Hi, I’m Elaheh. My Academic major is plant protection, and houseplants are my expertise. As a houseplant lover, my house is full of indoor plants and it is my passion to take care of them. Hence, I’m here to share my knowledge and experience about growing healthy houseplants. I am also a plant protection advisor, so feel free to ask me any questions you may have.