Semi-Natural Communities
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Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (NHP) has many acres of semi-natural communities, which are plant communities growing in areas where the soil and/or vegetation was substantially disturbed in the past by a severe natural disturbance, or human activities such as plowing, logging, or quarrying.
Because semi-natural communities are an integral component of the Harpers Ferry NHP landscape, they are included in the interactive map of Harpers Ferry NHP, and are briefly described here. The vegetation in these areas is relatively young and is giving way (or succeeding) to other, more natural communities. Ecobit: Forest Succession—Clues to the Past As vegetation in a semi-natural (or successional) community changes over time, there is a turnover in the wildlife that use the area. For instance, grassland birds in an abandoned field eventually give way to woodland birds as the field succeeds to forest.
The first four semi-natural communities on the list below have official names and codes because they are familiar patterns across the Mid-Atlantic and are part of an official classification called the U.S. National Vegetation Classification (USNVC). The last five are really just broad categories that help describe what is found at Harpers Ferry NHP. They have not been sub-divided into individual semi-natural communities.
Official Semi-Natural Communities at Harpers Ferry NHP
Successional Box-elder Floodplain Forest
In Harpers Ferry NHP, the Successional Box-elder Floodplain Forest can be found on floodplains of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers and their tributaries, in areas that have been previously cleared or modified. Water may flow into this community when the river is high. By far the most abundant tree in this semi-natural community is box-elder. In the understory, look for pawpaw, northern spicebush, and vines such as Virginia creeper, eastern poison-ivy, and roundleaf greenbrier.
Map tip: To see where this occurs, go to the interactive map of Harpers Ferry NHP and search for "box-elder."
Abbreviated Common Name: Successional Box-elder Floodplain Forest
Scientific Name: Acer negundo Ruderal Floodplain Forest
Scientific Name Translated: Box-elder Ruderal Floodplain Forest
Classification Code: CEGL005033
Successional Red-cedar Forest
The Successional Red-cedar Forest springs up on abandoned fields. Some stands are almost purely eastern red-cedar, while other stands contain some mature Virginia pine or hardwoods. In either case, the understory may contain young white ash, oak trees, eastern redbud, and common hackberry. Eventually the hardwoods will mature and the eastern red-cedar will die off. In Harpers Ferry NHP, there are some stands of this semi-natural community near the Visitor Center and near Millville.
Map tip: To see where this occurs, go to the interactive map of Harpers Ferry NHP and search for "red-cedar."
Abbreviated Common Name: Successional Red-cedar Forest
Scientific Name: Juniperus virginiana Ruderal Forest
Scientific Name Translated: Eastern Red-cedar Ruderal Forest
Classification Code: CEGL006024
Successional Tuliptree Forest (Rich Type)
In Harpers Ferry NHP, the Successional Tuliptree Forest (Rich Type) typically grows on old fields and clearings abandoned in the early 1900s. Now, tuliptrees tower overhead. Beneath them grow pawpaw, northern spicebush, Virginia creeper, and eastern poison-ivy. Over time, this semi-natural community may eventually become a natural community similar to the Rich Cove Forest. The Successional Tuliptree Forest (Rich Type) is common in Harpers Ferry NHP. There are stands on Maryland Heights and Loudoun Heights.
Map tip: To see where this occurs, go to the interactive map of Harpers Ferry NHP and search for "tuliptree." Look at the Natural Communities (All Locations) layer results.
Abbreviated Common Name: Successional Tuliptree Forest (Rich Type)
Scientific Name: Liriodendron tulipifera / (Cercis canadensis) / (Lindera benzoin) Ruderal Forest
Scientific Name Translated: Tuliptree / (Eastern Redbud) / (Northern Spicebush) Ruderal Forest
Classification Code: CEGL007220
Successional Black Walnut Forest
The Successional Black Walnut Forest occurs in Harpers Ferry NHP at a site next to the railroad tracks near Millville that was likely cleared sometime in the early to mid-1900s. This semi-natural community is a nearly pure grove of black walnut, with an understory of native and non-native shrubs, vines, and low plants. Eastern bottlebrush grass and wingstem are common on the forest floor.
Map tip: To see where this occurs, go to the interactive map of Harpers Ferry NHP and search for "walnut."
Abbreviated Common Name: Successional Black Walnut Forest
Scientific Name: Juglans nigra / Verbesina alternifolia Ruderal Forest
Scientific Name Translated: Black Walnut / Wingstem Ruderal Forest
Classification Code: CEGL007879
Other Broad Categories of Vegetation
Successional Herbaceous Wetlands
In Harpers Ferry NHP, Successional Herbaceous Wetlands are found in wet meadows and former canals. Trees are absent or sparse. Vegetation may include broadleaf cattail, reed canarygrass, whitegrass, orange jewelweed, and non-native barnyard grass*. Small, scattered black willow or box-elder are possible. Successional Herbaceous Wetlands are not common in Harpers Ferry NHP—they are found in only a couple of small areas. Two semi-natural communities are mapped as part of the Successional Herbaceous Wetlands: Cattail Marsh (Classification Code: CEGL006153) and Successional Reed Canarygrass Marsh (Classification Code: CEGL006044). Many others remain undescribed.
Map tip: To see where this occurs, go to the interactive map of Harpers Ferry NHP and search for "herbaceous." Look at the Natural Communities (All Locations) layer results.
Successional Mixed Deciduous Forests
Successional Mixed Deciduous Forests represent a diversity of upland successional forests of variable composition and age. Many of these stands are a mix of native and non-native sun-loving, fast-growing “weedy” tree species that sprout and grow quickly on disturbed ground. Look for tuliptree, black locust, and various cherry species, as well as the non-native tree-of-heaven*. Non-natives are common in the understory, including honeysuckles*, multiflora rose*, and English ivy*. Successional Mixed Deciduous Forests are fairly widespread in Harpers Ferry NHP. A semi-natural community that's included in Successional Mixed Deciduous Forests is the Northeastern Modified Successional Forest (Classification code: CEGL006599). Many others remain undescribed.
Map tip: To see where this occurs, go to the interactive map of Harpers Ferry NHP and search for "mixed." Look at the Natural Communities (All Locations) layer results.
Successional Meadows / Grasslands
In Harpers Ferry NHP, Successional Meadows / Grasslands can be found in old fields, powerline rights-of-way, and clearings near railroads. Sun-loving grasses and other low plants may include Indian-hemp, beaked panicgrass, tall goldenrod, broomsedge bluestem, and the familiar but non-native Queen Anne’s-lace*. Some stands may have more shrubs than others, depending on how long it’s been since the area was cleared or mowed. If shrubs or saplings are present, they may include sumacs, blackberries, eastern red-cedar, tuliptree, black walnut, and red maple. There are some patches of Successional Meadows / Grasslands on Schoolhouse Ridge North, near hay fields.
Map tip: To see where this occurs, go to the interactive map of Harpers Ferry NHP and search for "meadows."
Successional Vine - Shrublands
In Harpers Ferry NHP, Successional Vine - Shrublands occupy old building sites, quarries, and steep clearings where the original soil has been removed or altered. There are a few small patches of this semi-natural community near more developed areas of the park. The vegetation consists of a thick tangle of vines, including eastern poison-ivy and non-native invasive vines such as porcelain-berry*, Japanese wisteria*, oriental bittersweet*, and mile-a-minute weed*. Trees, if present, may be completely covered in vines. Shrubs are typically non-native species: privets*, bush honeysuckles*, wine raspberry*, and multiflora rose*.
Map tip: To see where this occurs, go to the interactive map of Harpers Ferry NHP and search for "vine."
Successional Woody Wetlands
In Harpers Ferry NHP, Successional Woody Wetlands occur along the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers where the forest has been modified by beavers or other disturbance. Woody vegetation makes up more than 30% of the vegetation cover. River birch, red maple, and black willow are common. Shrubs often include hazel alder, common buttonbush, and northern spicebush. There may be dense tangles of roundleaf greenbrier. Successional Woody Wetlands are not common in Harpers Ferry NHP.
Map tip: To see where this occurs, go to the interactive map of Harpers Ferry NHP and search for "woody." Look at the Natural Communities (All Locations) layer results.
*Asterisk denotes that a plant is non-native.