Go to list of Registry Sites
The primary requirement for eligibility is that the site have regional or state significance because of its native plants. Significant sites may exhibit an exemplary occurrence of a habitat, a plant community, or a plant species. Sites may include an unusual, persisting variation of a plant species, or an assemblage of species. Or the site may exhibit some quality with the unique potential to inspire community awareness.
No financial reward accompanies site registry. Landowners receive a plaque recognizing the valued effort of each participant in the Virginia Native Plant Registry. By registering special plant sites, participants stake a claim in Virginia's own natural resources and take the first step towards ensuring their protection. The benefits from the program are derived from a landowner's direct involvement in the protection of community resources. Along with the pride inspired by such an effort, landowners provide botanists with information that might otherwise have been overlooked and that could lead to better protection for native plants.
A landowner forfeits no rights by voluntarily registering property as a Virginia Native Plant Site. A landowner who later wishes to sell registered land or alter its land use is asked only to share these plans with the VNPS. A landowner agrees to allow field botanists to visit the property on mutually agreeable occasions. The landowner continues to manage the site, but can benefit from the experience and expert knowledge available through the VNPS. The exact location of registry sites is confidential and access without notice or permission is restricted. Some sites, such as publicly-owned land, can be opened to the public if the landowner so desires.
The Virginia Native Plant Society directs this registry, working in conjunction with the Virginia Field Office of the Nature Conservancy and the Virginia Natural Heritage Program. A committee headed by the VNPS Botany Chair reviews applications for registry sites.
Registry Sites
- Rosebay Rhododendron Community
- Altavista, Campbell County - Blue Ridge Wildflower Society
- This unique ecological area at an elevation of 580 to 620 feet contains a microclimate that has provided suitable growing conditions for several species of native plants that are not usually found in this part of the state. Century-old shrubs of Rhododendron maximum, Rosebay Rhododendron, which are usually found in the mountains, grow here along a creek. A proposed sewer line in Altavista would have destroyed much of the Rhododendron site, but recognition as a Registry Site led to the choice of an alternate route. Among the disjunct species here are Woodwardia aerolata, netted chain fern, which is common on the coastal plain, and Stenanthium gramineum, featherbells, which is indigenous to the Alleghenies.
- Cahas Mountain
- Boones Mill, Franklin County - Blue Ridge Wildflower Society
- Located on the highest mountain in Franklin County, these 100-plus forested acres contain a rich diversity of plants, including a number of state-rare plants and plants that are disjunct from their normal range. Acres of early spring flora provide an outstanding display.
- Buffalo Creek Nature Area
- Campbell and Bedford Counties - Blue Ridge Wildflower Society
- Along Buffalo Creek, the Westvaco Corp. has preserved a unique hemlock forest, which does not usually occur at such a low elevation. In the spring a showy display of flora greets visitors to the nature trails, and an abundant variety of wildflowers can be seen throughout the year. The four trails that are open to visitors pass through six different plant communities.
- Bear Garden
- Buckingham County - Jefferson Chapter
- This family property includes a variety of habitats: alluvial woods and fields and bluffs with rock outcrops along the James River and Bear Garden Creek; floodplains, oak-hickory-pine woodlands, riparian wetlands, old fields in many stages of succession and a large pond. Once an active farm, it is now enjoyed for it's rich diversity of plant life.
- Greenhaven
- James City County - John Clayton Chapter
- Located in the York River watershed, this site with its deep ravine and buffering slopes is an example of calcareous ravine communities of the coastal plain of Virginia. The soils in these areas are high in calcium and other nutrients derived from the fossil shells in the substrate. This condition provides habitat for mountain/coastal disjuncts, plants that are primarily found in the western Piedmont and mountain regions. The site is on private property and is not open to the public
- Grove Creek Natural Area
- James City County - John Clayton Chapter
- Located in Williamsburg, adjoining Busch Gardens, this site is in an area of ravines and ridges formed by Grove Creek cutting down into the Yorktown Formation. Pliocene marine deposits are found underlying the typical noncalcareous Coastal Plain sediments. It is the home of several rare plants and species at or near their northern limit or disjunct from their primary range. This habitat is threatened by the expansion of Busch Gardens and development.
- Calmes Neck Bluffs
- Clarke County - Piedmont Chapter
- This site is the first listing with multiple ownership. It features bluffs, slopes and ravines along the Shenandoah River. The rich messic forest is home to a spectacular diversity of spring wildflowers such as Virginia Bluebells, Mertensia virginica, which carpet the forest floor. Throughout the season several rare and unusual plant species can be seen.
- Carter Run Wetland
- Fauquier County - Piedmont Chapter
- This extensive wetland with areas that are swampy year-round contains a rich and diverse wetland flora dominated by native plants. Such areas are becoming rare as development increases. Registry emphasizes its value to the citizens of the county and affords them an ideal site for educational purposes.
- G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area
- Fauquier County - Piedmont Chapter
- A portion of this area, which is managed for wildlife by the Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, contains an exceptional diversity of valuable native plants. A population of Trillium grandiflorum, Large-flowered White Trillium, is recognized as the most outstanding in Virginia. The state endangered Trillium cernum, Nodding Trillium, is also found here.
- Huntley Meadows, Riverbend Park, Scott's Run Nature Preserve
- Fairfax County - Potowmack Chapter
- These three highly visible sites are owned by the Fairfax County Park Authority. Their location in a highly populated area insures frequent visitation and threats from development, highway construction and commercial interests. Site Registry promotes an awareness of the rich natural resources of the area.
- Runnymede Park
- Town of Herndon - Potowmack Chapter
- This public park preserves and displays a diverse diabase community in the Triassic Basin of northern Virginia. Such communities are now rare in the area and, therefore, in need of conservation. Within its relatively small area, the park contains a remarkable variety of habitats with an unusually rich, intact and diverse flora which is representative of diabasae soils.
- James Long Park
- Prince William County - Prince William Wildflower Society
- This county-owned park covers both wet meadow and upland forest plant communities. The area remains undeveloped and acts as a buffer to Catharpin Creek. Site registry emphasizes the importance of the area and encourages protection as encroaching development threatens habitat changes.
- Manassas National Battlefield Park
- Prince William County - Prince William Wildflower Society
- The meadows and the floodplain provide a diverse display of native plants. Protection of this flora is dependent upon proper management of the area. Recognition as a VNPS Registry Site emphasizes the importance of protecting these species, many of which were present at the time of the Civil War Battles. Thus, there is human as well as natural history significance to this site.
- Mueller Marsh / Folly Mills Creek Fen Natural Area
- Augusta County - Shenandoah Chapter
- Mueller Marsh is a privately owned property supports several acres of marsh and calcareous fen. It is the location of one of only two communities of Menyanthes trifoliata in Virginia. This and other disjunct and rare species have led to recognition of this area by the Virginia Natural Heritage Program. It is now part of the State system of Natural Area Preserves and has been renamed Folly Mills Creek Fen Natural Area.