Keystone Plants of the Mid-Atlantic
The Mid-Atlantic sits at a biodiversity crossroads — northern forest species overlap with southern Coastal Plain communities across the Appalachians, Piedmont, and tidal shores. Native oaks support more caterpillar species here than anywhere else on the continent.
States: PA, MD, DE, VA, WV, DC
Level III Ecoregions in this region
Top Keystone Trees
Ranked by caterpillar species supported (NWF / Tallamy data)
| Genus | Common name | Caterpillar spp. |
|---|---|---|
| Quercus | Oak | 436 |
| Prunus | Wild cherry / plum | 340 |
| Salix | Willow | 289 |
| Betula | Birch | 284 |
Top Keystone Perennials
Ranked by pollen specialist bee species supported (Fowler data)
| Genus | Common name | Specialist bees |
|---|---|---|
| Solidago | Goldenrod | 42 |
| Symphyotrichum | Aster | 33 |
| Helianthus | Native sunflower | 50 |
Native Plants in the Directory
3 plants listed
Data source: Keystone plant rankings based on NWF Keystone Plants by Ecoregion and Narango, Tallamy & Shropshire (2020), Nature Communications. Specialist bee data from Fowler (2016), USDA Forest Service.
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