Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat Improvement in New Jersey’s Coastal Plain Region

1. Cape Atlantic Conservation District
Native Plants for
Wildlife Habitat
Improvement in
New Jersey’s
Coastal Plain
Region

2. Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat
Improvement in New Jersey’s
Coastal Plain Region
The use of native plant species at a school, in a park, or
around your home can be beneficial in many ways. Wildlife use
plants 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 New Jersey.
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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Cape Atlantic Conservation District Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat Improvement in New Jersey's Coastal Plain
Trees
Soil Moisture
Name Conditions Light Height Spread Flower Fruit Fall Foliage
USDA NRCS
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
American Holly* May - June Oct - March
CACD
(Ilex opaca) Moist to Wet 15' - 50' 18' - 40' small white red berry evergreen
Eastern White Pine May August - Oct
CACD
(Pinus strobus) Dry to Moist 75' - 100' 50' - 75' yellow light brown cone evergreen
USDA NRCS
May
Pitch Pine small red to brown cone
(Pinus rigida) 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
*understory species

6. Cape Atlantic Conservation District Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat Improvement in New Jersey's Coastal Plain
Trees
Soil Moisture
Name Conditions Light Height Spread Flower Fruit Fall Foliage
USDA NRCS 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
Sept - Nov
USDA NRCS
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
March April
USDA NRCS
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
Shadbush,
USDA NRCS
Serviceberry*
(Amelanchier April - May June - July
canadensis) Moist to Wet 35' - 50' 35' - 50' small white red to purple orange to red
yellow
US F&WS
Sweetbay Magnolia* May - July Sept - Oct (semi-
(Magnolia virginiana) Moist to Wet 12' - 30' 12' - 30' white to cream red berry evergreen)
*understory species

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

8. Cape Atlantic Conservation District Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat Improvement in New Jersey's Coastal Plain
Shrubs
Soil Moisture
Name Conditions Light Height Spread Flower Fruit Fall Foliage
US F&WS Sept - Nov
Arrowood Viburmun May - June blue to black
(Viburmun dentatum) Dry to Wet 10' - 15' 6' - 12' white berry reddish-purple
USDA NRCS
American Cranberrybush early June September
(Viburnum trilobum) Moist 8' - 12' 8' - 12' white red glossy red to purple
US F&WS
Cranberry June - July Sept - Nov
(Vaccinium macrocarpon) Wet .5" - 1" 3' - 3' white to pink red berry purple to red
Cape Atlantic
Conservation
Highbush Blueberry April - June July - Aug
District
(Vaccinium corymbosum) Dry to Wet 6' - 12' 6' - 12' white blue berry red
US F&WS
Lowbush Blueberry May - June July - Aug
(Vaccinium angustifolium) Dry to Moist 1' - 2' 1' - 2' white blue berry red
Cape Atlantic
Conservation
Inkberry Holly May - June Sept - March
District
(Ilex glabra) Dry to Wet 6' - 10' 6' - 10' small white black berry evergreen
USDA NRCS
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

9. Cape Atlantic Conservation District Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat Improvement in New Jersey's Coastal Plain
Shrubs
Soil Moisture
Name Conditions Light Height Spread Flower Fruit Fall Foliage
Aug - Sept
USDA NRCS 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
Bearberry Dry April - May July - March
RCE
(Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) sandy 2" - 8" 2' - 6' white or pinkish bright red drupe evergreen
US F&WS
Mountain Laurel May - July May - June
(Kalmia latifolia) Dry to Wet 12' - 20' 12' - 20' white to pink brown capsules evergreen
USDA NRCS
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
US F&WS
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
July - Aug yellow-green
US F&WS
Sweet Pepperbush numerous small Sept - Feb to golden
(Clethra ainifolia) Moist to Wet 5' - 8' 4' - 6' white brown capsules brown
Oct - Nov
US F&WS
Witch-hazel Sept - Dec tan brown
(Hamamelis virginiana) Dry to Moist 15' - 30' 20' - 30' small yellow capsules yellow

10. 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
USDA NRCS
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

11. 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
USDA NRCS
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
transplant seedlings,
USDA NRCS
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
July - Sept
US F&WS
Clematis 6' - 20' white
(Clematis virginiana) Dry to Moist 0.5'-1' spread small flower fragrant flowers
USDA NRCS
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

12. 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
USDA NRCS
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,
(Hudsonia 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

13. 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
USDA NRCS
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
US F&WS
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
USDA NRCS
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

14. 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
US F&WS
(Solidago sempervirens) 1' - 6.5' yellow regions
Dry to Moist
USDA NRCS
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
US F&WS
Soft Rush June - Sept can be found in fresh
(Juncus effusus) Moist to Wet 1' - 4' greenish brown & saltwater areas
USDA NRCS
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

15. 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
USDA NRCS
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
July - Oct
US F&WS
Switchgrass green to brown to
(Panicum virgatum) Dry to Wet 3' - 6' rose good erosion control
USDA NRCS
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
US F&WS
Woolgrass Aug - Sept
(Scirpus cyperinus) Moist to Wet 4' - 5' green to brown high wildlife value
May - Oct
US F&WS
Yellow Spatterdock yellow common for show in
(Nuphar lutea) Wet (Emergent) 1' - 1.5' floating plant water gardens

16. 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