A boost for New Jersey native plants

January 21, 2022| Environment

By: Holly Odgers

New Jersey native plants will soon take center stage at garden centers and nurseries across the state, thanks to a new bill, signed by Governor Murphy this month.

The legislation calls for the establishment of a “Jersey Native Plants Program” to increase consumer awareness of the important role of native plants in the ecosystem through informational campaigns and a labeling program to identify native plants as “Jersey Natives,” similar to the “Jersey Fresh” and “Jersey Grown” programs.

A small but diverse state

Despite its small size and dense population, New Jersey is an incredibly biodiverse state. According to the bill’s text, the Garden State hosts approximately 2,100 native plant species, including 19 globally rare plants that have their largest or most viable populations here, and nine that are thought to exist nowhere else on Earth.

This incredible plant diversity is a product of New Jersey’s unique and varied geography. Though it only takes about three hours to drive from the northern corner to the southern tip of the state, in between you will find the mountainous Highlands, the sandy pine barrens, the rich Delaware River Valley, the salt marshes of the Atlantic coast, and more.

Why are native plants important?

Native plants play an integral part in the world's ecosystem and are important for the healthy populations of birds, native bees, butterflies, bats, and many mammals.  They provide significant support for many pollinators, such as the Monarch Butterfly, whose populations are under stress. Pollinators play a crucial role in the production of fruits and vegetables, as well as the health of plant and wildlife communities. 

Natives can even improve water quality. With deeper root systems, native plants effectively hold soil in place and help filter out pollution from stormwater runoff. allowing heavy rainwater to be absorbed into soils rather than overflowing into storm drainage systems, protecting our waterways and reducing flooding.

Looking to add some native plants to your yard? 

Each spring, we hold our annual native plant sale, providing the Lake Hopatcong Community with an opportunity to purchase New Jersey native plants for spring planting that’s good for our lake and the environment. Online ordering for our 2022 native plant sale will be available from April 28 through May 5. Pickup for online purchases, as well as an in-person sale for remaining plants, will take place on Saturday, May 7, at the Lake Hopatcong Foundation Environmental & Cultural Center.

We hope to see you there!