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| Sandy Hook has about 270 species of plants. Many have attractive flowers and visitors are tempted to pick them. Plants must have some mechanism to reach Sandy Hook. Some plants, like the sunflower and Jerusalem artichoke (above) probably have been brought by people. Other plants have seeds that drift in the water like this "sea bean" that may have come from some far off tropical locale. |
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 New plants arrive at Sandy Hook all the time. This orchid was found near the fort area in 2000. |
 Some, like Helleborine (Epipactis helleborine) are non-natives that have tiny, wind-blown seeds. |
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(Above) Other plants like asters, goldenrod, native grasses, mushrooms and other fungi can be spread by the wind. (Below) Grasslands at Sandy Hook look prairie-like with panic grasses and bluestem grass (Left). Non-native grasses have been introduced along roadsides to stabilize soft shoulders that may trap cars (Right). |
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| A large percentage of plants arive at Sandy Hook by way of birds. Pokeweed (Right) and beachplum fruits (Below) are eaten by birds and the seeds are carried to Sandy Hook in their guts. |
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The climax forest tree on Sandy Hook is the American holly (Ilex opaca). Many winter birds like robins and cedar waxwings, eat the holly berries and may be responsible for spreading them to Sandy Hook. (Below) Prickly pear cactus is edible and the "Indian pears" can be harvested for jam. Some people speculate that Native Americans spread prickly pear to islands and beach areas like Sandy Hook. |
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 The sand dunes are off limits, except to the encroaching ocean. |
 Many of the most interesting plants, like this tiny moss, are overlooked or trampled on paths to the beach. |
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Picking flowers is not permitted on Sandy Hook. This park visitor won't be smiling tomorrow morning when she realizes that she has also picked poison ivy as part of her bouquet. If you have any questions about Sandy Hook's plant life, or regulations on harvesting beach plums or other edible plants, you should check with the National Park Visitor's Center. |
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Can you identify these beautiful red leaves? "Leaves of three, leave it be." "Fuzzy stump, don't be a chump." Rhus radicans - The species name refers to the hairy air-roots of Poison Ivy |
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 Blue-eyed grass. A wild iris. |
 Cinquefoil |