Native plants in the wild.
Being one the most populous states per acre, NJ does not have much 'wild'. Despite being the most populous state, if one considers the east coast from Boston to Washington DC, NJ has the largest coastal wilderness area. Conservationists have worked hard to preserve pockets of land where native plants can find sanctuary. NJ has a supprisingly diverse plant population because it has the pine barrens as well as piedmont and highlands. Here I hope to provide information about preserves and parks for native plant lovers. Also I will give trip logs with plant lists of what was observed. Plants vulnerable to picking are omitted. Please love our native plants and not pick or trample them.
We go on many hikes but unfortunately don't generate many trip logs:
- Spring: Musconetcong Gorge Preserve, Hunterdon County, NJ Click Here
- Fall: River Road Park, Bedminster Township, Somerset County, NJ Click Here
Lists of plants observed in various parks and preserves- origninal website nynjctbotany.org. Now it is in archives and still available: Archived site - Click here
In addition to state and local municipality parks and preserves, many conservation organizations have preserves in NJ that are great for hiking and seeing native plants. I have listed some of these organizations:
- The Nature Conservancy: Here is a list of preserves it has in NJ. Click here In addition to the preserves mentioned in the link, there are a few others: Click Here
- Ridge & Valley Conservancy preserves: Click here
- D&R Greenway Land Trust: Click here
- New Jersey Conservation Foundation Preserves:Click here
- Raritan Headwaters Preserves: Click here
- Schiff Natural Lands Trust has 4 nature preserves: Click here