Pine Barrens Plants Database

Short-stalk Copperleaf, Slender threeseed mercury

This slender plant in the spurge family is found on the sandy, acidic soils in the Pine Barrens. It has linear oblong leaves and grows in sun or partial shade. It can tolerate dry or moist soils. …

Trident Red Maple, Trident Maple

This tree is a variety of the red maple (Acer rubrum) distinguished by its three lobed leaves and the hairy, white underside of the leaves. In autumn, the leaves are more likely to turn yellow than…

Smooth Agalinis, Purple False Foxglove, Purple Gerardia

Plant has purple flowers with hairless, grooved stems. They grow in both uplands and wetlands in acidic, sandy soils and flower from July to September. The flowers will tolerate all light conditions.

Ticklegrass, Winter Bentgrass

One to two foot tall plants that grow in dry to moist soils in uplands and wetlands. Flowers are small and off white colored, and appear in late spring through summer.

Autumn Bentgrass, Uplant Bentgrass

This plant is part of the grass family, Poaceae, and grows generally in uplands. Loam and clay soils are preferred, along with acidic, wet soils. Similar to Agrostis hyemalis, the flowers are small…

Colic-root, White Colicroot, Unicorn Root

A member of the Liliaceae family, this plant has flowering stalks that lack leaves and grow up to three feet tall. The flowers are small and bell shaped, and appear from early to late summer. These…

Smooth Alder, Hazel Alder, Brookside Alder

The tree grows with multiple trunks and up to 36 feet tall with an average spread of 11.5 feet. Trees are found in sunny areas of wetlands. Male flowers are a brownish-yellow and female flowers are…

Shadbush, Serviceberry, Juneberry

Small understory shrub that produces white blossoms and edible fruit. It is one of the earliest blooming plants in spring and is commonly referred to as Shadbush, because its flowering conincides…

Pursh’s Millet Grass, Blue Maidencane

This grass (family Poaceae) grows to a maximum of two and a half feet tall and is found in moist to wet areas with sandy soils. The sheaths and leaf blades are hairy and flowers appear in late summer…

Pearly Everlasting, Western Pearly Everlasting

Flowering plant that grow in clumps and give the plant a bushy appearance. Flower petals are white and surround a large yellow center. The stem is woolly. These flowers grow in uplands in sandy,…

Big Bluestem, Tall Bluestem

Common perrennial of open sites. 4 to 6 feet high. Upland, dry sites with acidic soils. Full sun to partial shade. Flowers mid August to late September.

Bushy Beard Grass, Bushy Bluestem, Brushy Bluestem

Another member of the Poaceae family reaching up to five feet in height. Grows in peaty, sandy swamps. The head clusters are yellowish and dry with flowers blooming in late summer.

Broomsedge, Broomsedge Bluestem, Yellowsedge Bluestem

This grass is clumping with erect green leaves which turn a golden shade during the fall and winter. Leaves are found all along the stems and the top most leaves enclose the flowers. This plant is…

Groundnut, Wild Potato, Indian Potato

A vine with velvety, maroon flowers. Flowers bloom during the summer. The plant is a legume and grows edible tubers and seeds. The fruit (tubers) ripens in the fall. The plant favors acidic to…

Spreading Dogbane, Bitterroot, Flytrap Dogbane

Relatives of the milkweeds, this plant produces small, bell shaped, pink flowers. The flowers are also fragrant (similar to a lilac). The base of the plant is sometimes woody. Similar to milkweeds,…

Indian Hemp, Prairie Dogbane, Hemp Dogbane

Similar to A. androsaemifolium. This plant has smaller, cream colored flowers and narrower leaves. Moths and bees are attracted to these flowers and pollinate them. The plant grows in similar…

Wild Sarsaparilla

Each plant has three parts and each has five ovalular leaflets. Another stalk holds ball shaped clusters of greenish-white flowers. The flowers appear in the spring, while the dark purple berries…

Bearberry, Kinnikinnick, Red Bearberry

The bearberry plant is an evergreen shrub that grows successfully dry sandy conditions. Leaves are round with a blunt tip and are shiny and small. Flowers white or pink and bell shaped found in…

Churchmouse Three-awn

This plant grows in small clusters with shallow roots. The stems are hairless. They are found in dry, sandy soils of sunny uplands. Flowers appear mid summer and persist through the fall.