nrg-native-species-planting-guide-091714

(vip2019) #1

A. Coastal Communities: Maritime and Wetland Communities


Coastal regions are characterized by dynamic landforms and processes because they are the


juncture between the lands, oceans, and atmosphere. Features such as dunes and wetlands


constantly undergo change due to driving processes such as storms, sediment supply, and sea-


level change (Titus 2009). Urban coastal regions are even more significantly changed in the


name of development and a high-density human population. The effects of hurricanes and


other major storms combined with higher sea levels are putting New York City‟s low-lying


coastlines at risk. Restoration of our coastal plant communities and an attempt to design with


nature will determine the long-term success and protection of coastal property and economic


investment.


MARITIME


Maritime beach/dune communities are dominated by salt-tolerant grasses and herbs. The sand


is relatively unstable at the ocean-fronting beach and only a few plant species can survive in


these harsh conditions. Stabilized back dunes transition into maritime grasslands and


shrublands. These low-lying areas near the coast are subject to off-shore winds and occasional


salt spray. These conditions will naturally stunt trees and support the shrubland community that


will inhabit the dry, rolling outwash plains and moraine of the Atlantic coastal plain. The plant


community lines naturally overlap in this maritime setting and can be of extraordinary floristic


diversity. Diversity will decrease in areas that occur on coastal landfill sites where dredged


sand was used as fill.


MARITIME BEACH/DUNE


Examples Include: Plumb Beach (BK), Far Rockaway (QU), and Conference House (SI).


Recommended Plants:


Graminoids


Ammophila breviligulata Beach grass


Cenchrus longispinus Common sandbur


Cenchrus tribuloides Dune sandbur


Cyperus grayi Gray‟s flatsedge


Eragrostis spectabilis Purple lovegrass


Panicum virgatum Switchgrass


Forbs


Atriplex mucronata Sea-beach orach


Cakile edentula American searocket


Chamaesyce polygonifolia Seaside sandmat


Krigia virginica Virginia dwarfdandelion


Lechea maritima Beach pinweed


Polygonella articulata Jointweed

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