You’ve probably heard about wildlife sanctuaries, which are swaths of land dedicated to providing habitat for certain species of wildlife. Lesser known, however, are plant sanctuaries. These sanctuaries serve the same purpose, but on a more foundational scale.

Let’s take a look at what a plant sanctuary is, how it benefits conservation efforts and global security, as well as local plant sanctuaries you can visit in New England.

What Is a Plant Sanctuary?

A plant sanctuary is a protected area that is dedicated to preserving and protecting plant species, often those that are rare, endangered, or threatened.

Plant sanctuaries, when opened to the public, often take the form of botanical gardens, nature reserves, national parks, and arboretums. These spaces not only perform the important role of preserving acreage of natural land, but they also raise awareness about the importance of plant conservation and the value of biodiversity.

In addition to the opportunity to educate the public about plants and regional conservation efforts, these sanctuaries may also serve as living laboratories for researchers, who study and learn about the plants that grow there, their ecological relationships, and the threats that they face.

What is the Purpose of Plant Conservation?

Plants are an essential component of global biodiversity, providing provide important ecosystem services such as oxygen production, carbon sequestration, and soil stabilization.

A healthy, diverse range of plants contributes to global security, as plants are a critical source of food, medicine, and other resources for both humans and wildlife alike. Conservation work is essential for ensuring the long-term health and resilience of both natural ecosystems and human societies, however, this space is critically under-funded.

Plant sanctuaries are particularly important for protecting native plants, which are species that naturally occur in a particular region and have adapted to the local climate, soil, and other environmental conditions.

Many native plant species are at risk because of threats like habitat destruction, invasive species, and instability in the changing climate. Plant sanctuaries help preserve and protect these native species, as well as the biodiversity in these communities, by providing a safe haven for thriving, unfragmented growth.

This can be especially important for rare or endangered native plants, which may have small populations and are particularly vulnerable.

Why Native Plants and Not Others?

While non-native plants may have their own benefits, there are many good reasons to prioritize the awareness and use of native plant species. 

Native plants are often well-suited to the local ecosystem and play important roles in providing food, shelter, and habitat for wildlife. Native plants also play a critical role in stabilizing the habitat, maintaining basic ecosystem functions like nutrient cycling and soil stabilization.

By showcasing the beauty and value of native plants in a sanctuary setting, plant sanctuaries can also help encourage the use of native plants in home landscaping and other outdoor spaces, re-wilding our urban world for greater biodiversity and ecosystem stability.

Plant Sanctuary Locations Across New England

There are many plant sanctuaries located throughout New England that offer a variety of unique experiences for visitors and plant enthusiasts. These plant sanctuaries are not just places for plant lovers to indulge their passion, but also serve as vital habitats for endangered species and as educational resources for the public.

Some of sanctuaries across New England have gardens, trails, sculptures, and conservatories, making them a perfect destination for a relaxing, family-friendly educational visit. Other sanctuaries are more akin to hiking trails, where visitors are encouraged to go on self-guided tours and explore the habitat without disturbing it.

Maine: Robert P. Tristram Coffin Wildflower Reservation 

Located in Woolwich, ME, this reservation is open to the public and showcases natural ecosystem at work.

Springtime visitors can expect to see trilliums, violets, and a variety of orchids, while summer and fall bring an array of colorful blooms such as goldenrod, aster, and Joe-Pye weed. Outside of the plant kingdom, there is also the possibility to spot wintering sea ducks and migratory waterfowl, depending on the time of year.

One of the highlights of the Robert P. Tristram Coffin Wildflower Reservation gives it its namesake. You guessed it: the extensive collection of wildflowers, which is estimated to exceed over 100 wildflower species across the site’s 177 acres.

From swamp to sandy shore, this reservation is also home to an increasingly rare natural habitat known as a freshwater tidal marsh. According to Native Plant Trust, many unusual plant species grow here owing to the diverse habitats present.

New Hampshire: Hobbs Fern Sanctuary

The Hobbs Fern sanctuary in New Hampshire is a 250-acre native plant sanctuary where visitors can see over forty varieties of native ferns, several species of which are considered rare in the area according to Native Plant Trust.

The habitat primarily consists of a mixed boreal spuce-fir forest and mesic deciduous forests rich with sugar maples, dotted with wood fern swampland, showcasing a wonderfully diverse mixture of species as you explore.

Visitors can explore the winding trails through the forest and marvel at the different types of ferns, including royal ferns, cinnamon ferns, and lady ferns. These ferns grow in dense clusters and create a lush and vibrant landscape, especially during the spring and summer months. Other well-known plant species are also featured here, such as bloodroot, claytonia, and hepatica.

Vermont: Eshqua Bog Sanctuary

This is one of several plant sanctuaries across New England owned or managed by Native Plant Trust and The Nature Conservancy of Vermont.

Eshqua Bog is home to a diverse range native plant species. Located in Hartland, VT, the 41-acre site contains a bog system that Boardwalk access allows the public to park and visit the park without harming the ecosystem. (1)

The landscape features an array of wetland bog and fen plants, including bog orchids and carnivorous plants. A notable highlight offered by the Nature Conservancy is that the area is home to several species of dragonflies in the warmer months.

Massachusetts: Garden in the Woods

Located in Framingham, MA, this is perhaps one of the most central plant sanctuaries across New England. Visitors are greeted warmly by the accessible parking lot and quaint gift shop.

From here, visitors can explore the various habitats at Garden in the Woods, including a wetland garden, woodland garden, meadow garden, and more. These neat, botanical garden-like habitats provide visitors with a glimpse into the different ecosystems found in New England. Each habitat offers visitors the opportunity to explore the natural world and learn about the importance of conservation efforts to protect these plants and the ecosystems they support.

The sanctuary also offers educational programs and workshops for both adults and children. These programs focus on a variety of topics, including plant identification, ecological restoration, and sustainable gardening practices.

Creating a Sanctuary in Your Own Backyard

A native plant sanctuary in your own backyard can be a great way to support the local ecosystem and promote biodiversity. Not only does re-wilding urban land help restore many of the ecosystem connections and relationships that are lost between wild communities, but it improves the balance and health of the ecosystem, alleviating the need for significant measures of control such as weeding or pesticide use.

By selecting native plant species, you are more likely to get species that are already well-suited to your local climate, soil type, and environmental conditions.

It is beneficial to be mindful about which species you select, looking at the conditions in which they thrive and survive to select species that will suit your space best.

Re-wilding an urban space is giving the plants a blank canvas, which some species will overtake given the opportunity, while others will prefer to stick to where they are planted.

It is all about matching the right plant to your goal and watching the ecosystem recover from there.