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Plants of New River Gorge National Park

The plants most often spotted in New River Gorge, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

6,909
recent observations
50
species listed
50
plants

Naturalists have logged 6,909 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in New River Gorge. The most frequently seen is the Great Rhododendron, with 381 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed in New River Gorge include Spotted Wintergreen and American Chestnut - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Spotted WintergreenAmerican Chestnut

Most-observed plants in New River Gorge

Great Rhododendron
Rhododendron maximum
381 observations
Mountain Laurel
Kalmia latifolia
304 observations
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
261 observations
Ghost Pipe
Monotropa uniflora
249 observations
Downy Rattlesnake Plantain
Goodyera pubescens
241 observations
Partridgeberry
Mitchella repens
224 observations
Fan Clubmoss
Diphasiastrum digitatum
207 observations
American Holly
Ilex opaca
202 observations
American Tuliptree
Liriodendron tulipifera
193 observations
American Cancer-root
Conopholis americana
191 observations
Eastern Hemlock
Tsuga canadensis
188 observations
American Beech
Fagus grandifolia
175 observations
Sassafras
Sassafras albidum
168 observations
Sourwood
Oxydendrum arboreum
168 observations
Common Jewelweed
Impatiens capensis
167 observations
Striped Wintergreen
Chimaphila maculata
158 observations
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
147 observations
Multiflora Rose
Rosa multiflora
143 observations
Intermediate Wood Fern
Dryopteris intermedia
138 observations · iNaturalist
Princess Tree
Paulownia tomentosa
135 observations · iNaturalist
Eastern Teaberry
Gaultheria procumbens
128 observations
Virginia Pine
Pinus virginiana
124 observations
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
122 observations
Wineberry
Rubus phoenicolasius
122 observations
Red Maple
Acer rubrum
119 observations
New York Fern
Amauropelta noveboracensis
119 observations · iNaturalist
Fraser Magnolia
Magnolia fraseri
113 observations
Striped Maple
Acer pensylvanicum
105 observations
Crane-fly Orchid
Tipularia discolor
102 observations · iNaturalist
Colt's-foot
Tussilago farfara
101 observations · iNaturalist
Halberd-leaved Violet
Viola hastata
98 observations · iNaturalist
Red Clover
Trifolium pratense
97 observations
Woodland Stonecrop
Sedum ternatum
97 observations
Cucumber Root
Medeola virginiana
94 observations
Japanese Knotweed
Reynoutria japonica
94 observations
Leafcup
Polymnia canadensis
93 observations · iNaturalist
Purple-flowered Raspberry
Rubus odoratus
92 observations
Galax
Galax urceolata
91 observations · iNaturalist
Red Trillium
Trillium erectum
89 observations
Ground-ivy
Glechoma hederacea
88 observations · iNaturalist
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
87 observations
American Sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
85 observations
Catawba Rhododendron
Rhododendron catawbiense
79 observations
Virginia Creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
79 observations
Common Selfheal
Prunella vulgaris
79 observations · iNaturalist
Common Pawpaw
Asimina triloba
76 observations
Eastern Poison Ivy
Toxicodendron radicans
75 observations
Golden Ragwort
Packera aurea
75 observations
American Chestnut
Castanea dentata
73 observations
Wild Carrot
Daucus carota
73 observations

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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