Plants on Display
The Jersey Pine or Virginai Pine is indicative of the New Jersey Pine Barrens.
(Plants often have several names. Refer to plant guides and online databases).
American Bladdernut - Staphylea trifolia - Bladdernut Family
Atlantic Ninebark - Physocarpus opulifolius - Rose Family
Eastern Hemlock - Tsuga canadensis - Pine Family
Black Chokeberry - Aronia melanocarpa - Rose Family
Speckled Alder - Alnus incana - Birch Family
Sweet Pepperbush - Clethra alnifolia - White Alder Family
Eastern Red Cedar - Juniperus virginiana - Cypress Family
Black Cherry - Prunus serotina -Rose Family
There are 24 native species in the Rose Family collection including cherry, chokeberry, and crabapple.
Red Spruce - Picea rubens - Pine Family
Red Mulberry - Morus rubra - Mulberry Family
Honeylocust - Gliditsia triancothus -Pea Family
Witherod or Wild Raisin - Viburnum cassinoides - Honeysuckle Family
Pohatcong Native Arboretum is predominantly a labelled native woody plant collection. There are also some herbaceous plants including wildflowers, grasses, ferns, sedges, and rushes.
Queen of the Meadow
Photos by Tom Drake
New England Aster
Photo by Florafinder
Giant Goldenrod
The guidelines for selecting the common plant names at Pohatcong Native Arboretum are as follows:
(The plant identification plaques are designed with one space for the common name).
• Selection of the most widely used common plant names in the profession for New Jersey
• Consistency within the plant's genus. Example: Sugar Maple, Red Maple, Silver Maple, Boxelder Maple, Striped Maple
• Avoiding redundancy between the botanical name and the common name. Example: Cornus alternifolia - Pagoda Dogwood, Juniperus communis - Mountain Juniper
• The name most descriptive of the plant's characteristics
• The name most indicative of the plant's geographic range
• Capitalization of proper names
There are many amazingly, wonderful plant names. And we have our favorites! This system evolved over the years at the arboretum. So keep indulging in and exploring the many wildly, fascinating plant names.
Pohatcong Native Arboretum - Collection Statistics and Plant Records
Compiled December 16, 2019 and April 25, 2020
Total - Trees, shrubs, and vines in the whole collection - 257 woody plants
Total - Native trees, shrubs, and vines in the collection - 247 native woody plants
Total - Out of range woody plants - 10 woody plants
Total number of native woody plants in the primary native plant collection - 170 species of native woody plants
Total number of native woody plants in Original planting, Fall 2002 - 54 species of native woody plants
Total - Native woody plants from nurseries labelled in the native plant collection- 103 native woody species
Total - Out of range plants from nurseries - 6 plants
Total - Native woody plants from nurseries including out of range and secondary plants- 164 native woody plants
Total - Native woody Plants already present on site then labelled in the native plant collection- 29 woody plants
Total number of installed (planted) native woody plants in the primary native plant collection - 141 native woody plants
Total number of native woody plants already on site in the primary native plant collection - 29 native woody plants
Ratio - 4.17 installed native woody plants to every 1 native woody plant already on site
Total - Native woody plants already present on site not labelled - 39 woody plants
Total number of installed (planted) woody plants in the whole collection - 186 woody plants
Total number of woody plants already present on site in the whole collection - 72 woody plants
Ratio - 2.26 woody plants installed to every 1 woody plant already present on site
Total - Transplants from the wild native woody plants labelled in the native plant collection- 16 plants
Total - Transplants from the wild native woody plants not labelled - 7 plants
Native plants were acquired from 25 different nurseries in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Select native plants were found and collected in the wild using Native American sensibilities in a ceremonial way.
Total number of native woody plants labelled in the primary native plant collection - 146 species of native woody plants +2
Total number of plants mortality labelled (empty ID plaques) - 14 native woody plants + 1 * (subtract from living)
Total number of unlabelled plants in the collection - 54 *
Total - Native woody plants from nurseries in the secondary collection labelled -4 plants
Total - Native woody plants in the secondary collection already present on site then labelled - 15 plants
Total - Transplants from the wild native woody plants in the secondary collection labelled - 3 plants
Total - Secondary plants labelled - 22 plants
Total - Out of range woody plants labelled - 10 woody plants
Total number of IDENTICATION LABELS at Pohatcong Native Arboretum - 198 LABELS
Total of 198 labels minus 14 mortality labelled (empty or loose) = 184 labelled plants alive +
54 unlabelled plants+ 13 new unlabelled plants* = 257 (251) woody plants in the Living Collection
MAJOR PLANTINGS: Fall 2002, Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013
Trees, Shrubs, and Vines already present on site then labelled (local genotypes)
~Denotes plants not in the primary collection
Acer negundo - Boxelder Maple
Acer rubrum - Red Maple - 2
Amelanchier canadensis - Shadbush ~
Betula allegheniensis - Yellow Birch ~ - 2
Carpinus caroliniana - Ironwood ~
Carya ovata - Shagbark Hickory
Celastrus scandens - American Bittersweet - (not labelled)
Chimaphila maculata - Striped Wintergreen
Clematis virginiana - Virgins Bower
Cornus amomum - Silky Dogwood
Corylus cornuta - Beaked Hazelnut ~
Fraxinus nigra - Black Ash
Fraxinus pennsylvanica - Green Ash - 2
Gladitsia triancanthos - Honeylocust
Ilex verticillata - Winterberry Holly ~
Juglans nigra - Black Walnut
Liriodendron tulipifera - Tulip Tree
Malus coronaria - American Crabapple
Menispermum canadense - Moonseed
Mitchella ripens - Partridgeberry
Nysa sylvatica - Black Gum ~
Prunus pennsylvanica - Fire or Pin Cherry
Prunus serotina - Black Cherry
Quercus bicolor - Swamp White Oak ~
Quercus paulustris - Pin Oak
Rhus typhina - Staghorn Sumac
Salix nigra - Black Willow
Smilax glauca - Catbriar
Smilax rotundifolia - Greenbriar
Toxicodendron radicans - Poison Ivy
Vitis aestivalis - Summer Grape
Vitis labrusca - Fox Grape
Vitis riparia - Riverbank Grape
Vitis vulpina - Frost Grape
Ulmus americana - American Elm
Ulmus rubra - Slippery Elm
Viburnum dentatum - Arrowwood ~
Viburnum lentago - Nannyberry ~
Viburnum prunifolium - Blackhaw Viburnum ~
Trees, Shrubs, and Vines collected in the wild and transplanted to the arboretum grounds (local genotypes in addition to genotypes from nurseries)
+ Denotes Mortality
Acer pensylvanicum - Striped Maple
Alnus incana - Speckled Alder
Celtis occidentalis - Hackberry
Chamaecyparis thyoides - Atlantic White Cedar
Chimaphila maculata - Striped Wintergreen +
Cornus amomum - Silky Dogwood +
Corylus cornuta - Beaked Hazelnut - n/a
Gaultheria procumbens - Teaberry
Gaylussacia dumosa - Dwarf Huckleberry +
Gaylussacia frondosa - Dangleberry - n/a
Hydrangea arborescens - Wild Hydrangea +
Ilex laevigata - Smooth Winterberry
Juniperus virginiana - Eastern Red Cedar + - 2
Kalmia latifolia - Mountain Laurel +++
Kalmia angustifolia - Sheep Laurel +
Lindera benzoin - Spicebush
Mitchella repens -Patridgeberry
Ostrya virginiana - Hophornbeam + - 1
Picea pungens - Colorado Blue Spruce*
Picea rubens - Red Spruce - 2
Populus deltoides - Eastern Cottonwood
Prunus americana - Wild Plum - 2
Prunus avium - Sweet Cherry *
Prunus serotina - Black Cherry +
Rhododendron maximum - Rosebay Rhododendron +
Ribes americanum - Black Currant
Ribes glandulosum - Skunk Currant
Rubus canadensis - Smooth Blackberry +
Rubus ideaus - Wild Red Raspberry +
Rubus flagellaris - Prickly Dewberry +
Rubus hispdus - Bristly Dewberry +
Salix spp - Salix species
Salix spp - Salix species
Tilia americana - Basswood
Toxicodendron vernix - Swamp Poison Sumac + (lived for 4 years!)
Vaccinium stamineum - Deerberry
Viburnum acerifolium - Mapleleaf Viburnum +++
Total collected - 55 woody plants approximately. Total Survived - 29 woody plants (three plants removed later). Survival rate 53%, Mortality rate 47%
Of the above 34 species there are now 26 species in the collection after additional nursery planting and on site labeling (refer to master list under Native Plant Collection)
Plants from Original Planting in Fall, 2002 - Mortality (including over 18 year period)
Denotes - Survived until 2019~
Denotes - Replaced and Alive as of 12/19 ^
Acer spicatum - Mountain Maple
Chamaedaphne calycuata - Leatherleaf ~
Comptonia peregrina - Sweet Fern ~^
Cornus alternifolia - Pogada Dogwood ^
Cornus racemosa - Grey Dogwood ^
Hydrangea quercifolia - Oakleaf Hydrangea
Kalmia latitfolia - Moutain Laurel
Rhododendron periclymenoides - Pinxterbloom Azelea ^
Rosa paulustris - Swamp Rose ^
Spireae latifolia - Meadowsweet ^
Spireae tomentosa - Steeplebush ^
Vaccinium fuscatum - Black Highbush Blueberry
Viburnum acerifolium - Mapleleaf Viburnum
Viburnum trilobum - Cranberry Viburnum ~^
Number of plants to survive - 39 plants. Mortality - 15 plants (after 18 years)
Survival Rate - 72.3%. Mortality Rate - 27.3%
Number of plants to survive until 2019 - 42 plants - Survival Rate - 77%. Mortality Rate - 23%
Recent Planting Records by Year - Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2018, Summer 2019, Fall 2019
Fall 2014
Cercis canadensis - Red Bud
Chamaecyparis thyoides - Atlantic White Cedar
Chimaphila maculata - Striped Wintergreen +
Gautheria procumbens - Teaberry
Celtis occidentalis - Hackberry
Kalmia angustifolia - Sheep Laurel +
Vaccinium stamineum - Deerberry
Total - 7 Mortality - 2 28% Mortality Added - 5 Plants
ArchWild Nursery - Fall - 2014
Clethra acuminata - Mountain Sweet Pepperbush +
Cornus alternifolia - Pagoda Dogwood
Decumaria barbara - Woodvamp +
Euonymous atropurpureus - Eastern Wahoo
Hydrandea quercifolia - Oakleaf Hydrangea (sprayed)
Juniperus communis - Mountain Juniper
Morus rubra - Red Mulberry (N/A)
Quercus ilicifolia - Bear Oak
Pinus echinata - Shortleaf Pine (mower)
Sambucus racemosa - Red Elderberry +
Viburnum acerifolium - Mapleleaf Viburnum +
Xanthorhiza simplicissima - Yellowroot +
Total - 9 Mortality - 5 Added - 4 Plants (And they are beauties!)
Spring 2015
Picea mariana - Black Spruce
Populus tremuloides - Quaking Aspen
Thuja occidentalis - Northern White Cedar
Total - 3 Mortality - 0 100% Survival Added - 3 Plants
Summer 2018
Lonicera sempervirens - Trumpet Honeysuckle
Added - 1 Plant
Fall 2018 - Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve Nursery (BHWP)
Spireae tomentosa - Steeplebush
Gaylussacia demosa - Dwarf Huckleberry
Lyonia ligustrina - Maleberry
Rosa paulustris - Swamp Rose
Vaccinium macrocarpon - Cranberry +
Ribes rotundifolium - Appalachain Gooseberry (Toadshade Wildflower Farm)
Added - 5 Plants
Summer 2019 - Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve Nursery
Rhus aromatic - Fragrant Sumac
Ceonanthus americanus - New Jersey Tea
Crataegus mollis - Downy Hawthorn
Sprireae latifolia - Meadowsweet
Hypericum prolificum - Shrubby St. Johnswort
Hamamelis virginiana - Witch Hazel (Toadshade Wildflower Farm)
Added - 6 Plants
Fall 2019 - Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve Nursery
Cornus florida - Flowering Dogwood
Comptonia peregrina - Sweet Fern
Viburnum trilobum - Cranberry Viburnum
Rhododendron maximum - Rosebay Rhododendron
Gaylussacia angustifolium - Late Lowbush Blueberry
Calycanthus floridus - Carolina Allspice
Maclura pomifera - Osage Orange * (non-native)
Aronia prunifolia - Purple Chokeberry (Toadshade Wildflower Farm)
Added - 7 Natives Total - Plants from BHWP - 16 Native Woody Plants
Plants present on site then labelled added to the collection 2014 to 2019
Vitis vulpina - Frost Grape
Menispermum canadense - Moonseed
Smilax glauca - Catbriar
Added - 3 Plants
GRAND TOTAL - Native Woody Plants added to the collection 2014 to 2019 - 35 Plants
Number of plants added Summer 2018, Fall 2018, Summer 2019, and Fall 2019 - 23 Plants
Fall 2020 - Edge of the Woods Native Plant Nursery
Populus grandidentata - Bigtooth Aspen
Symphoricarpos albus - Snowberry
Cornus amomum - Silky Dogwood *
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus - Coralberry
Hydrangea quercifolia - Oakleaf Hydrangea
Sorbus americana - Mountain Ash
Salix discolor - Pussy Willow
Vaccinium macrocarpon - Cranberry
Ribes cynosboti - Eastern Prickly Gooseberry
Rhododendron arborescens - Smooth Azalea
Rhododendron viscosum - Swamp Azalea *
Pinus resinosa - Red Pine
Replaced - 6 Plants Total Added - 10 Plants
Fall 2020 - Archewild Native Nurseries
Kalmia latifolia - Mountain Laurel
Viburnum acerifolium - Mapleleaf Viburnum
Xanthorhiza simplicissima - Yellowroot
Castenea dentata - American Chestnut
Castenea pumila - Dwarf Chestnut
Replaced - 4 Plants Total Added - 5 Plants
Fall 2020 - Well-Sweep Herb Farm
Cornus canadensis - Bunchberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi - Bearberry
Ledum groenlandicum - Labrador Tea
Ceanathus americanus - New Jersey Tea
Celastrus scandens - American Bittersweat 'Indian Brave and Maiden'
Replace - 1 Plant Total Added - 5
Fall 2020 - Toadshade
Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus - Wild Red Raspberry
Aronia prunifolium - Purple Chokeberry
Rubus oderatus - Purple Flowering Raspberry
Rubus flagellaris - Northern Dewberry
Fall 2020 TOTAL ADDED - 25 TOTAL PLANTED - 27
Fall 2021 TOTAL ADDED - 23 approximately
Fall 2023 TOTAL ADDED - 16
Fall 2023 - Archwild Native Nurseries
Calycanthus floridus - Carolina Allspice
Carya illinoinensis - Pecan
Cornus alternifolia - Pagoda Dogwood
Magnolia tripetala - Umbrella Magnolia
Oxydendrum arboreum - Sourwood
Pinus taeda - Loblolly Pine
Populus deltoides - Eastern Cottonwood
Rhododendron periclymenoides - Pinxterbloom Azalea
Rhododendron viscosum - Swamp Azalea
Rhus aromatica - Fragrant Sumac
Rosa virginiana - Virginia Rose
Fall 2023 - Gino's Native Nursery
Betula lenta - Sweet Birch
Ceanothus americanus - New Jersey Tea
Rhododendron maximum - Rosebay Rhododendron
Viburnum acerifolium - Mapleleaf Viburnum
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi - Bearberry
Our experience of planting at Pohatcong Native Arboretum.
To give an idea of the persistence it has taken to build this native plant collection, from the arboretum's inception in 2002, with the initial planting of 54 species, until the present, April 2020, a total of over 77 trees, shrubs, and vines, mostly ones added, including some transplants, have been lost due to mortality.
From Spring 2015 to Spring 2020, approximately 33 plant species died from the primary native plant collection. Plant mortality has presented a constant challenge against stabilizing and increasing the native plant collection.
Drought, limited irrigation ability, unfavorable site conditions, disease, size, transplanting stress, accidents, and the fact that plants just die, have all contributed to mortality. Certain species have been planted multiple times, and in the case of the Mapleleaf Viburnum, still have not survived.
Between 2013 and 2017 we went all out to nurture the trees already planted. Applied seven rounds of fertilizers, dragged many a hoses, and even watered with buckets from the river. It's a small miracle we got all those plants to live!
159 species of native trees, shrubs, and vines organized into 42 families and 88 genera
The Native Woody Plant Collection - Pohatcong Native Arboretum
