Plants Outside the Aquarium: Waterfront Park

The National Aquarium's exhibits are home to thousands of plants, but there's so much to explore outside our doors. Visit our Waterfront Park, located opposite our Main Entrance, and help us catalog biodiversity.

  • Conservation

Guests can see plants from all over the world inside the National Aquarium—but there's so much to see outside our buildings, too. Located across the way from our Main Entrance, the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Waterfront Park highlights the biodiversity found in Maryland with plants from three regions of the Chesapeake Bay watershed: Appalachian Highlands, Piedmont Plateau and Atlantic Coastal Plain.

Cataloging Local Biodiversity

At the Aquarium, we catalog our campus' biodiversity with techniques like analyzing biofilm, but did you know that you can help us, too? One way you can catalog biodiversity is through databases like iNaturalist. This free app lets anyone take a picture of a living thing and upload it to a database for scientists to use in research. The Aquarium even has a specific iNaturalist Waterfront Park project, so guests can upload pictures of the exhibit's plants and the animals that visit them all in one place!

Close-up of a Hand Taking a Picture of a Plant With Berries on a Cell Phone

Our Waterfront Park has evergreen and deciduous plants, meaning there's always something to see any time of year—especially in the warmer months. Most plants bloom during spring and summer, making this exhibit a goldmine for iNaturalist users, especially during springtime events like the City Nature Challenge. This annual four-day event lets regions worldwide compete to catalog the most species of plants and animals. The National Aquarium is the coordinator for the Baltimore metropolitan area, so be on the lookout in the spring for BioBlitz events from local organizations. While you don't have to know the name of every plant and animal you see to use iNaturalist or participate in the City Nature Challenge, it's helpful to learn how to recognize some. Let's explore some tips for identifying plants in our Waterfront Park so you can take your identification skills all over Maryland!

Appalachian Highlands

Filled with mountain ranges, streams and lush forests, the Appalachian Highlands are found in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York and West Virginia. In Western Maryland, the Appalachian Highlands mark the beginning of the Chesapeake watershed that flows into the Piedmont Plateau and the Atlantic Coastal Plain.

Large Grouping of Mayapple in a Forest with Green Leaves Curved Like an Umbrella
Clusters of Purple and Pink Berries Amid Green Leaves on Shadbush
Cluster of Green Acorns Nestled in Green Leaves with Rounded Lobes on White Oak

Piedmont Plateau

Home to a variety of wildlife, the Piedmont Plateau is characterized by its rolling hills, farmland and rivers. During the spring and summer seasons, this area is full of pollinators and birds attracted to freshly bloomed flowers. This division spans Pennsylvania, Maryland, D.C. and Virginia.

Spiky White Flower Resembling a Pincushion with a Bee on Top Among Smaller Green Balls and Pointy Long Green Leaves on a Buttonbush
Trilobed and Unlobed Green Leaves on Sassafras Tree
Virginia Bluebells Plant with Blue Flowers Resembling Bells Pointing Toward Ground with Green Pointy Leaves

Atlantic Coastal Plain

Known for its mild climate, the Atlantic Coastal Plain includes the land encompassing the Chesapeake Bay, the land meeting the Atlantic Ocean and various swamp and marsh areas across Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. Much of the shoreline is often underwater, depending on the tides, making tall, reedy plants a regional staple.

Numerous Clusters of Red Berries in the Center of Tough Pointy Green Leaves on Winterberry
Brown Pinecones Among Green Pine Needles and Thin Branches on Loblolly Pine
Turtlehead Plant with White and Wilted Brown Flowers Resembling the Head of a Turtle Above Sharp Green Leaves
Cluster of Black Eyed Susans with Slim Yellow Petals and Black Centers on Skinny Green Stems

Foster Biodiversity at Home

Invite native plants and animals to your neighborhood by planting native species in your yard or community green space to start creating a habitat for wildlife. These plants will attract local animals that will help your garden and the environment thrive. You can even certify your native garden as part of the Garden for Wildlife program—just like our Waterfront Park! Protecting biodiversity starts with you. By participating in events like the City Nature Challenge and using iNaturalist, you can help scientists understand and protect our natural world.

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