Washington Valley Park Native Plants

General Information

Native plants are, in a word, local. They are plants that have been growing in a particular habitat and region, typically for thousands of years or longer so they are well adapted to the climate, light, and soil conditions that characterize their ecosystem. In New Jersey, we consider all the plants that grew here prior to European colonization to be native. They evolved slowly over time with relatively little interference from humans and were an important part of Native American life. These plants were present prior to the introduction of non-native plants from other continents.

While hiking in the park, take the time to appreciate the many native ferns and wildflowers along the way which have been cataloged and researched by the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Somerset County in 2022.

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