Plants in shenandoah national park
Over 1,400 species of vascular plants are found in Shenandoah National Park, though fewer than one hundred of these are the familiar trees and shrubs most noticeable to park visitors. The park's 70-mile length and 3,500-foot elevation range create numerous habitats that support a wide variety of forest cover types. The primary factors determining which plants grow are elevation, available moisture, bedrock geology, soil conditions, and the direction of slope exposure. Chestnut oak and red oak forests are most common in the park, but other forest types such tulip poplar, cove hardwood, and even small areas of spruce-fir forest, may also be found when exploring the park's hillsides, sheltered stream valleys, and peaks. Visitors to Big Meadows will find a diverse array of sun-loving wildflowers, shrubs, and grasses. However, there are some threats to the plants in Shenandoah national park. Threats include the spread of invasive exotic plants, insect pests, illegal plant collecting, excessive deer browsing, and changes brought about by climate change.
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Here are some examples of the plants found in shenandoah national park
Hover over any picture to view more information about each plant.