OAK OPENING
These communities were originally characterized as openings that occurred as gaps within
extensive oak-hickory forests. A grass-savanna community would flourish on these very well-
drained sites, on knobs or hilltops with shallow soil over rock outcrops or sandy to gravelly soils.
Fragmentation throughout New York City‟s remaining forests restricts areas where this plant
community still naturally occurs. Woody species will continue to creep in from the surrounding
tree and shrub lines, unless maintained to keep a meadow-like open character.
Examples Include: Pelham Bay-Orchard Beach Meadow (BX), Central Park-North Woods (MN),
Clove Lakes (SI).
Recommended Plants:
Ferns
Dennstaedtia punctilobula Hay-scented fern
Thelypteris novaboracensis New York fern
Graminoids
Agrostis perennans Autumn bent-grass
Andropogon gerardii Big bluestem
Aristida oligantha Prarie threeawn
Aristida purpurascens Arrowfeather threeawn
Carex pensylvanica Pennsylvania sedge
Dichanthelium clandestinum Deertongue
Elymus hystix Bottlebrush grass
Eragrostis spectabilis Purple lovegrass
Panicum virgatum Switchgrass
Schizachyrium scoparium Little bluestem
Sorghastrum nutans Indiangrass
Tridens flavus Purpletop tridens
Tripsacum dactyloides Eastern gamagrass
Forbs
Allium canadense Wild garlic
Asclepias syriaca Common milkweed
Ascelpias tuberosa Butterfly weed
Desmodium canadense Showy tick-trefoil
Doellingeria umbellata Flat top aster
Eupatorium hyssopifolium Hyssop-leaved boneset
Eupatorium serotinum Late eupatorium
Euthamia graminifolia Lance-leaved goldenrod
Eutrochium purpureum Sweet Joe-pye weed
Geranium maculatum Wild geranium
Helianthus decapetalus Thin-leaved sunflower
Helianthus divaricatus Woodland sunflower