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The use of native species at a school, in a park, or around your home can be beneficial in many ways. Wildlife use for food and shelter, while you benefit from the beauty these plants and wildlife add to the landscape. The native plants are readily accepted by wildlife but also are adapted to our environmental conditions. They are adapted to our soil conditions, resistant to pests and once established require less maintenance. This guide provides information for native plant species beneficial to wildlife of the Coastal Plain region of . These plants can be used to help establish wildlife habitat areas on your property. The plants are listed in the categories of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. In addition, environmental parameters for the use of these plants are identified in terms of soil moisture conditions, light preference and plant characteristics. Most of the plants in this guide are readily available from the nurseries and garden centers in this region.

Page 1 Several factors should be considered when designing your wildlife habitat improvement. The first factor to consider is what kind of habitat you want to create. Certain plants are better suited for a bog or rain garden, while others thrive in an upland forest setting. So match the native plant environmental preferences to the soil moisture conditions of your site. Choosing plants that are well-adapted to your site’s soil condition is important to their survival. An investigation of the soil on-site can be conducted first by using your County Soil Survey, and then by doing soil borings or soil pits. For aid in understanding the characteristics of soils, you may contact your Soil Conservation District. The amount of sunshine or shade that your project area receives will affect the species of trees or shrubs that will survive over the long term. Certain species of trees and shrubs have adapted to living under the canopy of other trees; they are called understory plants. Over the short term too much shade will affect the amount of flowering and ultimately the amount of fruit that a plant can provide for wildlife. Consider shade from existing trees, and shade from buildings. Also plan for shade that will be created when newly planted trees mature. Another major factor is how much space you have for your wildlife habitat improvement. You can expand the space for your wildlife habitat by layering canopy trees over understory trees over shrubs. This structured diversity will attract more species of wildlife. You should plan for the mature height and spread of a tree or shrub to avoid plants overcrowding. As with any landscape design, you want to design your site to create a terraced appearance, and to expand the habitat opportunities for wildlife by placing shrubs in front of trees and herbaceous plants in front of shrubs. Page 2 Native plants will flower various times of the year. You can choose plants that flower in your wildlife habitat area from March to September, attracting larger numbers of butterflies, pollinators and hummingbirds. Since plants flower at different times of the year, they bear fruit at different times of the year. Knowing when a plant will provide fruit will help you to provide wildlife food supply for a longer period during the year. Some plants will hold their berries or seeds that sustain migratory and overwintering species. Lastly, when creating your landscape plan for your wildlife habitat improvement you will want to choose plants that are readily available. Try to purchase locally grow plants - they are adapted to local weather and site conditions of the coastal plain region. When purchasing your plants, check the scientific name of the plant to ensure that you are purchasing a native species and not a non-native cultivar. This guides contains a list of plants that are adapted to the region, and are more pest tolerant, disease resistant and more drought tolerant than non-indigenous plants. It is not a complete list of the native plant species of New Jersey, but rather a list of those that may be best suited to help establish a wildlife habitat on your property. The information in this guide has been collected from various local, state, and federal government agencies, as well as private organizations. All photographs are from the US Fish & Wildlife Service, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Cape Atlantic Conservation District.

Page 3 Cape Atlantic Conservation District Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat Improvement in New Jersey's Coastal Plain

Soil Moisture Trees Name Conditions Light Height Spread Flower Fruit Fall Foliage

Atlantic White Cedar (Chamaecyparis March - April bluish, cone-like thyoides) Moist to Wet 60' - 80' 20' - 30' greenish-brown maturing in fall evergreen USDA NRCS

July - March Eastern Red Cedar March - April green to blue (Juniperus virginiana) Dry to Moist 40' - 50' 10' - 20' red to purple cone-like evergreen USDA NRCS

American Holly* May - June Oct - March (Ilex opaca) Moist to Wet 15' - 50' 18' - 40' small white red berry evergreen CACD

Eastern White Pine May August - Oct (Pinus strobus) Dry to Moist 75' - 100' 50' - 75' yellow light brown cone evergreen CACD

May Pitch Pine small red to brown cone () Dry to Wet 50' - 60' 40' - 50' purple maturing in fall evergreen USDA NRCS

reddish-brown Virginia Pine April cone maturing in (Pinus virginiana) Dry to Moist 30' - 40' 20' - 30' yellow two years in Oct evergreen USDA NRCS

*understory species Cape Atlantic Conservation District Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat Improvement in New Jersey's Coastal Plain Soil Moisture Trees Name Conditions Light Height Spread Flower Fruit Fall Foliage

Sept - Oct Black Gum April - June blue-black fleshy (Nyssa sylvatica) Dry to Wet 30' - 75' 20' - 50' greenish-white fruit red USDA NRCS

Sept - Dec Flowering Dogwood* April - May red to orange (Cornus florida) Dry to Moist 20' - 50' 20' - 50' large white berry scarlet red USDA NRCS

April - May Sept - Oct Gray Birch green to brown small winged (Betula populifolia) Dry to Moist 20' - 40' 15' - 30' catkin nutlet yellow USDA NRCS Sept - Nov yellowish to pale yellow-green Persimmon May - June orange large or reddish (Diospyros virginiana) Dry to Wet 30' - 60' 20' - 30' small yellow berry purple USDA NRCS March April Red Maple yellow tinted to red wing-shaped (Acer rubrum) bright red samara Dry to Wet 40' - 75' 25' - 50' orange to red USDA NRCS

Sept - Oct Sassafras April dark blue yellow to (Sassafras albidum) Dry to Moist 20' - 50' 20' - 30' yellow green berry-like crimson USDA NRCS Shadbush, Serviceberry* (Amelanchier April - May June - July canadensis) Moist to Wet 35' - 50' 35' - 50' small white red to purple orange to red USDA NRCS

yellow Sweetbay Magnolia* May - July Sept - Oct (semi- (Magnolia virginiana) Moist to Wet 12' - 30' 12' - 30' white to cream red berry evergreen) US F&WS

*understory species Cape Atlantic Conservation District Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat Improvement in New Jersey's Coastal Plain

Soil Moisture Trees Name Conditions Light Height Spread Flower Fruit Fall Foliage

Sept - Oct Chestnut Oak May - June yellow-green (Quercus prinus) Dry 40' - 80' 40' - 60' yellowish acorn yellow-orange USDA NRCS

May October Northern Red Oak light green green to brown red to (Quercus rubra) Dry to Moist 70' - 90' 40' - 50' catkins acorn reddish-brown USDA NRCS

October Southern Red Oak April - May orange brown (Quercus falcata) Dry to Moist 60' - 80' 50' yellowish-greem acorn orange brown USDA NRCS

October White Oak April - May chestnut brown brown to (Quercus alba) Dry to Moist 80' - 100' 80' - 100' yellow acorn reddish-brown USDA NRCS

Aug - Oct Willow Oak April - May greenish-brown yellow to (Quercus phellos) Moist to Wet 60' - 80' 40' - 60' yellow acorn orange-red USDA NRCS Cape Atlantic Conservation District Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat Improvement in New Jersey's Coastal Plain Soil Moisture Shrubs Name Conditions Light Height Spread Flower Fruit Fall Foliage

Sept - Nov Arrowood Viburmun May - June blue to black (Viburmun dentatum) Dry to Wet 10' - 15' 6' - 12' white berry reddish-purple US F&WS

American Cranberrybush early June September (Viburnum trilobum) Moist 8' - 12' 8' - 12' white red glossy red to purple USDA NRCS

Cranberry June - July Sept - Nov (Vaccinium macrocarpon) Wet .5" - 1" 3' - 3' white to pink red berry purple to red US F&WS

Highbush Blueberry April - June July - Aug (Vaccinium corymbosum) Dry to Wet 6' - 12' 6' - 12' white blue berry red Cape Atlantic Atlantic Cape Conservation District

Lowbush Blueberry May - June July - Aug (Vaccinium angustifolium) Dry to Moist 1' - 2' 1' - 2' white blue berry red US F&WS

Inkberry Holly May - June Sept - March (Ilex glabra) Dry to Wet 6' - 10' 6' - 10' small white black berry evergreen Cape Atlantic Conservation District

Oct - Dec yellow-green Winterberry Holly early June bright red with purple (Ilex verticillata) Moist to Wet 6' - 10 ' 4' - 6' small white and glossy tinges USDA NRCS Cape Atlantic Conservation District Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat Improvement in New Jersey's Coastal Plain Soil Moisture Shrubs Name Conditions Light Height Spread Flower Fruit Fall Foliage

Aug - Sept Dry to Moist, purplish-black to Beach Plum Sandy April - June red to yellow (Prunus martima) Salt Tolerant 4' - 7' 8' - 10' white fleshy yellow to gold USDA NRCS

Bearberry Dry April - May July - March (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) sandy 2" - 8" 2' - 6' white or pinkish bright red drupe evergreen RCE

Mountain Laurel May - July May - June (Kalmia latifolia) Dry to Wet 12' - 20' 12' - 20' white to pink brown capsules evergreen US F&WS

March - April Sept - April Northern Bayberry Dry to Wet small waxy bluish (Morella pensylvanica) Salt Tolerant 5' - 10' 5' - 10' yellow-green white berry bronze USDA NRCS

Silky Dogwood May - June August orange-red (Cornus amomum) Moist to Wet 6' - 12' 6' - 12' white blue berry to purple US F&WS

Swamp Azalea May - Aug Aug - March yellow-orange (Rhododendron viscosum) Moist to Wet 6' - 10' 6' - 12' white to pink brown capsules to purple US F&WS

July - Aug yellow-green Sweet Pepperbush numerous small Sept - Feb to golden (Clethra ainifolia) Moist to Wet 5' - 8' 4' - 6' white brown capsules brown US F&WS

Oct - Nov Witch-hazel Sept - Dec tan brown (Hamamelis virginiana) Dry to Moist 15' - 30' 20' - 30' small yellow capsules yellow US F&WS Cape Atlantic Conservation District Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat Improvement in New Jersey's Coastal Plain Herbaceous Soil Moisture Plants & Grasses Name Conditions Light Plant Size Flower Notes

Bee Balm July - Sept (Monarda didyma) Moist to Wet 2' - 5' red tuffs minty aroma USDA NRCS

June - Sept Big Bluestem red, blue, brown, & moderate salt (Andropogon gerardii) Dry to Moist 2' - 6.5' yellow tolerance USDA NRCS

June - Oct Black-eyed Susan yellow to orange with most common (Rudbeckia hirta) Dry to Moist 1' - 3.5' black eye American wildflower USDA NRCS

Aug - Oct Blue Lobelian blue to violet flowers crowded on (Lobelia siphilitica) Moist to Wet 1' - 5' fluffy appearance upper stem USDA NRCS

Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium July - Oct coelestinum) Dry to Wet 1' - 3.5' blue to purple can spread quickly USDA NRCS

Bluejoint Reedgrass June - Aug (Calamagrostis 1.5' - 5' purple/ tan to candensis) Moist to Wet 0.5'-1' spread blue/green attracts waterfowl USDA NRCS

Boneset July - Oct (Eupatorium white perfoliatum) Moist to Wet 1' - 5' small, fuzzy clusters popular herb USDA NRCS Cape Atlantic Conservation District Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat Improvement in New Jersey's Coastal Plain Herbaceous Soil Moisture Plants & Grasses Name Conditions Light Plant Size Flower Notes

Brachen Fern June - Aug reproduction by (Pteridium aquilinum) Dry to Wet 1.5' - 6' green spores USDA NRCS

Aug - Nov not recommended to Broom Sedge yellow to reddish mix with cool season (Andropogon virginicus) Dry to Wet 1' - 3' brown grasses USDA NRCS

transplant seedlings, not taproot Butterfly Weed May - July easy to grow from (Asclepias tuberosa) Dry to moist 1' - 3' yellow to orange seeds USDA NRCS

Cardinal Flower 2' - 4' July - Oct long bloom time but (Lobelia cardinalis) Moist to Wet 0.5'-1' spread red must be reseeded USDA NRCS

March - May Cinnamon Fern reddish brown produces separate (Osmunda cinnamomea) Moist to Wet 2' - 5' wooly appearance fertile & sterile fronds USDA NRCS

July - Sept Clematis 6' - 20' white (Clematis virginiana) Dry to Moist 0.5'-1' spread small flower fragrant flowers US F&WS

tubular flower with a Foxglove Beard Tongue June - Aug tuff of small hairs (Penstemon digitalis) Dry to moist 2' - 5' white to light purple along the stamen USDA NRCS Cape Atlantic Conservation District Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat Improvement in New Jersey's Coastal Plain Herbaceous Soil Moisture Plants & Grasses Name Conditions Light Plant Size Flower Notes

Fox Sedge June - Aug (Carex vulpinoidea) Wet 0.5' - 3.5' green high wildlife value USDA NRCS

June - Sept flowers close at night Fragrant Waterlilly white to pink needs a pond at least (Nymphaea odorata) Wet (Emergent) 1' - 4' floating plant 1 foot deep USDA NRCS

Golden Heather 4" - 8" May - July low growing, ( ericoides) Dry 3' spread yellow mat forming plant USDA NRCS

stem juice is a Jewelweed July - Oct remedy for poison (Impatiens capensis) Moist to Wet 3' - 5' yellow to orange ivy itching USDA NRCS

Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium June - Dec good ornamental scoparium) Dry 2' - 4' green to reddish tan grass USDA NRCS

New England Aster 1' - 6' Aug - Oct pinching may help (Aster novae-angliae) Moist 2'-3' spread white to purple keep plant compact USDA NRCS

New York Aster 1' - 4.5' July - Oct pinching may help (Aster novi-belgii) Moist to Wet 1'-2.5' spread blue to violet keep plant compact USDA NRCS Cape Atlantic Conservation District Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat Improvement in New Jersey's Coastal Plain Herbaceous Soil Moisture Plants & Grasses Name Conditions Light Plant Size Flower Notes

New York Ironweed Aug - Oct (Vernonia reddish-purple upright form adds noveboracesis) Moist to Wet 3.5' - 8' showy flower structure to garden USDA NRCS

Hairy Beard Tongue June - July trumpet shape flower (Penstemon hirsutus) Moist 1' - 3' pink to purple with white lips USDA NRCS

carnivorous Pitcher Plant May - Aug endangered- should (Sarracenia purpurea) Wet 0.5' - 2' red to purple not take from wild USDA NRCS

Poverty Grass May - July thrives in unfertile (Danthonia spicata) Dry to Moist 0.5' - 2' green soils US F&WS

Prickly Pear Cactus June - July (Opuntia humifusa) Dry 0.5' - 1' yellow edible fruit US F&WS

Purple Coneflower April - Sept popular herb (Echinacea purpurea) Dry to Moist 2' - 5' lavender to purple good butterfly plant USDA NRCS

deer resistant - needs Rose coreopsis 1' - 2' July - Sept deadheading to (Coreopsis rosea) Dry to Moist 4' spread white to pink maintain growth USDA NRCS Cape Atlantic Conservation District Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat Improvement in New Jersey's Coastal Plain Herbaceous Soil Moisture Plants & Grasses Name Conditions Light Plant Size Flower Notes

Seaside Goldenrod July - Nov thrives in coastal (Solidago sempervirens) 1' - 6.5' yellow regions Dry to Moist US F&WS

reproduction by Sensitive Fern May spores easily (Onoclea sensibilis) Moist to Wet 1' - 3.5' green transplanted USDA NRCS

seeds have Shallow Sedge May - Oct interesting (Carex lurida) Wet 1' - 3.5' light green appearance USDA NRCS

flower color great Slender Blue Flag May - June contrast to greens (Iris prismatica) Moist to Wet 1' - 3' blue to purple and yellows USDA NRCS

Soft Rush June - Sept can be found in fresh (Juncus effusus) Moist to Wet 1' - 4' greenish brown & saltwater areas US F&WS

Spotted Joe-Pye-Weed 2' - 6.5' July - Sept (Eupatorium maculatum) Moist` 3' spread pale to dark purple purple spotted stem USDA NRCS

Spotted Horsemint June - Oct (Monarda punctata) Dry 0.5' - 3.5' yellow to purple minty aroma USDA NRCS Cape Atlantic Conservation District Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat Improvement in New Jersey's Coastal Plain Herbaceous Soil Moisture Plants & Grasses Name Conditions Light Plant Size Flower Notes

carnivorous Sundew June - Sept endangered- should (Drosera filiformis) Wet 3" - 10" lavender to rose not take from wild USDA NRCS

Swamp Milkweed 4' - 5' May - June primary species for (Asclepias incarnata) Moist to Wet 2'-3' spread pink to red monarch butterflies USDA NRCS

July - Oct Switchgrass green to brown to (Panicum virgatum) Dry to Wet 3' - 6' rose good erosion control US F&WS

Tall Coneflower July - Sept large spacing (Rudbeckia laciniata) Moist to Wet 1.5' - 10' yellow with green eye between petals USDA NRCS

Wild Bergmont June - Sept (Monarda fistulosa) Dry to Moist 1.5' - 5' pink to purple minty aroma USDA NRCS

Wild Columbine April - July (Aquilegia canadensis) Dry to Moist 0.5' - 3' red to yellow showy flowers USDA NRCS

Woolgrass Aug - Sept (Scirpus cyperinus) Moist to Wet 4' - 5' green to brown high wildlife value US F&WS

May - Oct Yellow Spatterdock yellow common for show in (Nuphar lutea) Wet (Emergent) 1' - 1.5' floating plant water gardens US F&WS For more information about our Wildlife Habitat Improvements Program, or other District programs please contact us at:

6260 Old Harding Highway Mays Landing, New Jersey 08330

Phone: (609) 625-3144 Fax: (609) 625-7360 Education Line: (609) 625-1517

Or visit our website: www.capeatlantic.org