Discovering Hidden Treasures: A Rare Plant Inventory at Cuyahoga Valley National Park

January 2025

At Cuyahoga Valley National Park (NP), a rare plant inventory is helping park managers understand and protect the park’s hidden ecological gems.

Yellow lady’s slipper, Cypripedium parviflorum (left), toothed spurge, Euphorbia dentata (top right), twisted sedge, Carex torta (bottom right). NPS

Why a Rare Plant Inventory?

Cuyahoga Valley NP spans nearly 33,000 acres and is home to a diverse array of plant species, many of which face growing threats from invasive species, human activity, and habitat changes. Rare plants, in particular, are highly sensitive to environmental disruptions and show significant declines in some of the park’s most visited areas.

Recognizing this, park managers needed updated information to guide conservation strategies and protect these plants from further harm. The last comprehensive survey of rare plants was decades old, making a fresh look essential for effective conservation.

Mapping a Path to Conservation

In response, staff from the National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring Program arranged for a rare plant inventory to assess which rare species are in the park and where they’re located. Botanists carefully explored the park along planned paths and within high-priority spots, ultimately covering about 1,443 acres. In doing so, they identified 98 rare species across 675 locations. The rare species included those officially recognized by the state as threatened or endangered, species that are uncommon in the region, and others of particular ecological interest.

The study revealed that many rare plants coexist with invasive species like garlic mustard, Japanese knotweed, autumn olive, and common reed. Although they are coexisting now, the rare plants may eventually be edged out by the invasives. The plants also face excessive disturbances from deer, invasive earthworms, and soil erosion, which are common in the valley.

Many rare plant species thrive in naturally disturbed areas. But heavier disturbances that compact or remove topsoil can damage native seeds and tend to promote the more resilient invasive plant species.

Where this belongs

• Cuyahoga Valley National Park

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