Plants and Animals
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Plants
Large American beech trees are common, along with some oaks and sweet birch. Eastern hemlock, formerly abundant, has been almost eliminated by an invasive insect called the hemlock woolly adelgid. (See Ecological Threats for more.) Tall snags with snapped off limbs all up and down the trunk, and decomposing logs are all that’s left of the large specimens, although there are still young eastern hemlocks in the understory.
There aren’t many shrubs, but American witch-hazel is one that thrives here. In areas where eastern hemlocks have died and fallen, the canopy gaps let in sunlight that fosters the growth of more shrubs. Growth on the forest floor is not particularly lush. Look for species that can tolerate shade and acidic soil.
Canopy Trees
The trees whose crowns intercept most of the sunlight in a forest stand. The uppermost layer of a forest.
- American beech
- chestnut oak (occasional)
- northern red oak (occasional)
- sweet birch (occasional)
Understory Trees
Small trees and young specimens of large trees growing beneath the canopy trees. Also called the subcanopy.
- eastern hemlock
- blackgum (occasional)
- common serviceberry (occasional)
- red maple (occasional)
Shrubs, Saplings, and Vines
Shrubs, juvenile trees and vines at the right height to give birds and others a perch up off the ground but below the trees.
- American witch-hazel
- hillside blueberry (occasional)
- mapleleaf viburnum (occasional)
- mountain laurel (occasional)
Low Plants (Field Layer)
Plants growing low to the ground. This includes small shrubs and tree seedlings.
- Christmas fern
- Indian cucumber
- partridgeberry
- slender woodland sedge
- white wood-aster
Non-Native Invasive Plant Species
Like many of the forested natural communities in Harpers Ferry NHP, this one has been invaded by tree-of-heaven and Japanese stiltgrass. See Ecological Threats for more.
Notable Variations
Despite the name, don't expect to see much eastern hemlock—though if you do, hooray! We can hope that a few young specimens will survive the outbreak of the sap-sucking hemlock woolly adelgid and replenish these slopes.
Animals
Even though natural communities aren’t named after animals, animals do play a crucial role in maintaining natural communities. Plants and animals need each other. To name just a few examples, plants provide food and habitat for animals, and animals help plants reproduce by spreading pollen and seeds. To learn more, see The Role of Animals in Natural Communities in Ecology Basics.
Check out iNaturalist to see photos of animals (and plants!) that people have seen in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.