Non-Native Invasive Plants

The Rich Floodplain Forest is particularly vulnerable to non-native invasive plants because the soil is fertile and because occasional floods can bring in seeds, roots, or other parts of non-native plants from upstream. Here are some of the non-native invasive plants in this community:

• beefsteak plant* (low plant)
• common chickweed* (low plant)
• garlic mustard* (low plant)
• ground-ivy* (low plant)
• ivyleaf speedwell* (low plant)
• Japanese stiltgrass* (low plant)
• Kenilworth ivy* (low plant)
• oriental bittersweet* (vine)
• poison hemlock* (low plant)
• princess-tree* (tree)
• stinging nettle* (low plant)
• tree-of-heaven* (tree)
• white mulberry* (tree)

If you visit the brick walls of the ruins, you will see some unusual wildflowers rooted in the mortar between the bricks: the vine-like wildflower Kenilworth ivy* (a non-native invasive plant) will only be found in these kinds of places.

Diseases, Pests, and Other Threats

Learn more about some of the ecological threats to the natural communities of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.

See Making a Difference to learn about some of the ways park staff are addressing these threats—and ways you can help, too.