Official Site of The State of New Jersey

New Jersey is home to many rare and endangered plant species. The conservation of these species and their habitats is essential, but questions abound about the best way to do this. The New Jersey Natural Heritage Program has recently released a report about the propagation and reintroduction of rare plant species.

This 2021 document addresses the need for a deeper understanding of the issue and provides a process for developing and reviewing rare plant reintroduction proposals. It includes a review of the scientific literature on rare plant reintroductions, with examples of both successful and unsuccessful reintroduction projects, key findings, and lessons learned.

Read Rare Plant Propagation Report

New Jersey has a rich diversity of native plant species. However, the Garden State is now suffering from an onslaught of nonindigenous plant species introduced from all parts of the globe. More than 1,000 of these nonindigenous species have become established in the state.

This 2004 report provides background on the numbers and origins of nonindigenous species in New Jersey, discusses problems caused by harmful invasive species, describes state and federal programs, and examines methods of control and prevention. Fact sheets on 27 of the most problematic invasive species are included to help guide management and control initiatives.

Read Invasive Plant Species Report

The native flora of New Jersey is an important component of its biological diversity. This diversity is diminished as species, populations, and habitats are lost from the state. Seventeen percent of New Jersey’s native flora, which comprises more than 2,100 species, is currently classified as endangered. In New Jersey, an endangered plant species is one whose survival within the State or nation is in jeopardy.

This report discusses the status of endangered plants in New Jersey and the greatest threats to their survival. These threats range from habitat loss and climate change to the impact of white-tailed deer and competition by invasive species. The report highlights trends using examples of several of the state’s rarest plant species.

Read Environmental Trends and Endangered Plants