The
Pine Barrens, also known as the
Pinelands or simply the
Pines, is a heavily forested area of
coastal plain stretching across more than seven counties of
southern New Jersey. The name "
pine barrens" refers to the area's sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil. Although European settlers could not cultivate their familiar crops there, the unique ecology of the Pine Barrens supports a diverse spectrum of plant life, including
orchids and
carnivorous plants. The area is also notable for its populations of rare pygmy
Pitch Pines and other plant species that depend on the frequent fires of the Pine Barrens to reproduce. The sand that composes much of the area's soil is referred to by the locals as
sugar sand.