© DCR-DNH, Irvine Wilson

Sweet Springs Natural Area Preserve

Long considered marginal land of little value, a series of hillsides with predominantly southwest exposures in southern Montgomery County supports some of Virginia's rarest plants and natural communities. Sweet Springs Natural Area Preserve protects two of these slopes as well as an intervening stream valley. The underlying bedrock, a formation known as Elbrook dolomite, has profoundly influenced the soils here by creating relatively high pH, calcium and magnesium levels. This unusual soil chemistry coupled with the shallow, rocky soils on dry southwest-facing slopes, results in the development of a rare natural community called a montane dry calcareous forest/woodland. Red cedar (Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana), redbud (Cercis canadensis var. canadensis), and several species of often stunted and gnarly oaks, are the principal trees. In spring the understory is awash with color from a diverse array of flowering herbs. These include shooting stars, Indian paintbrush (Castilleja coccinea), hoary puccoon (Lithospermum canescens), tall larkspur (Delphinium exaltatum), and several rare species. Perhaps most notable of these is Addison's leatherflower (Clematis addisonii), which has been found in only four Virginia counties and nowhere else in the world.

This 234 acre tract, which remains in private ownership, is protected by an open space easement and natural area dedication in cooperation with the New River Land Trust. The easement was purchased with a grant from the Virginia Land Conservation Fund and other state funds.

VISITATION:
This privately owned preserve has no public access facilities and is not open to the public. Guided field trips to the preserve may be arranged by contacting DCR.