Trees and Shrubs
Redbud blooming in springtime at Gettysburg.
(C. Davis, National Park Service)
Settlers cleared most of the original forest of the Gettysburg area for farming in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today wooded areas are in patches scattered across agricultural land. Penn State University surveyed six woodlots for species composition and community structure.Typical tree species of the forest include oaks, hickory, and poplar, which are common to the Appalachian area. The predominant overstory species of the wooded areas are white oak, white ash, and northern red oak. Common seedlings and saplings include spicebush, black cherry, and white ash. Also the state endangered shrub, the Missouri gooseberry, occurs through the northern section of the park. |
Did You Know?
John Burns, a 72 year old veteran of the War of 1812 and resident of Gettysburg, fought side by side with Union soldiers on the first day of the battle of Gettysburg. His service is commemorated by a battlefield statue at Gettysburg National Military Park.