The Greenbelt Native Plant Center (GNPC), a facility of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, is a 13–acre greenhouse, nursery, and seed bank complex located on Staten Island, NY.

Urban Disturbed Sites

The following species are suitable for reforestation and restoration on disturbed urban sites. These plants can thrive in areas with low nutrient levels, low permeability, a minimal amount of organic matter, and high salinity levels resulting from urban fill and runoff. The species-specific lists reflect open and forested areas.

Download the Urban Disturbed Species List (PDF, 39 KB)

Forested

Trees

  • Acer negundo– Box elder
  • Betula populifolia– Gray birch
  • Celtis occidentalis– Hackberry
  • Juglans nigra– Black walnut
  • Juniperus virginiana– Eastern red cedar
  • Populus deltoides– Eastern cottonwood
  • Populus grandidentata– Big tooth aster
  • Prunus serotina– Black cherry
  • Quercus palustris– Pin oak

Shrubs/Vines

  • Rubus allegheniensis– Allegheny blackberry
  • Viburnum dentatum– Southern arrowwood
  • Parthenocissus quinquefolia– Virginia creeper

Herbs

  • Collinsonia canadensis– Northern horse–balm
  • Eupatorium rugosum– White snake root
  • Eurybia divaricata– White wood aster
  • Geum canadense– White avens
  • Polygonum virginianum– Jumpseed
  • Solidago caesia– Blue–stemmed goldenrod
  • Symphyotrichum cordifolium– Blue wood aster

Graminoids

  • Danthonia compressa– Flattened oatgrass
  • Danthonia spicata– Poverty oatgrass
  • Juncus tenuis– Path rush

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Open Sites

Trees

  • Acer negundo– Box elder
  • Betula populifolia– Gray birch
  • Celtis occidentalis– Hackberry
  • Juglans nigra– Black walnut
  • Juniperus virginiana– Eastern red cedar
  • Populus deltoides– Cottonwood
  • Populus grandidentata– Big tooth aster
  • Prunus serotina– Black cherry
  • Quercus palustris– Pin oak

Shrubs

  • Baccaharis halmifolia– Groundsel bush
  • Cornus amomum– Silky dogwood
  • Cornus racemosa– Graydogwood
  • Rhus copallinum– Winged sumac
  • Rhus glabra– Smooth sumac
  • Rhus typhina– Staghorn sumac
  • Rubus allegheniensis– Allegheny blackberry
  • Rubus flagellaris– Northern dewberry
  • Viburnum dentatum– Southern arrowwood

Herbs

  • Asclepias syriaca– Common milkweed
  • Symphyotrichum pilosum– Hairy white old field aster
  • Eupatorium serotinum– Lateflowering thoroghwort
  • Euthamia graminifolia– Flat–top goldenrod
  • Solidago canadensis– Common goldenrod
  • Solidago juncea– Early goldenrod
  • Solidago nemoralis– Gray goldenrod
  • Solidago rugosa– Wrinkled goldenrod
  • Symphyotrichumn laeve– Smooth blue aster
  • Verbena urticifolia– White vervain seal

Graminoids

  • Andropogon virginicus– Broom sedge
  • Eragrostis spectabilis– Purple love grass
  • Juncus tenuis– Path rush
  • Tridens flavus– Tall purpletop
  • Panicum virgatum– Switch grass
  • Schizachyrium scoparium– Little bluestem

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