Native Species Planting Guide for New York City

Other Stormwater Tolerant Plants

There are situations and locations where, despite the best of intentions, a native plant will not be

the right plant for the site. In other instances, a mixture of native and non-native species allows

for a wider array of aesthetic options and diversity of plants. The list that follows is of plants that

perform well, particularly in the right of way, but the majority are not native to New York City or

the surrounding region. Included on this list are ornamental cultivars of some native plants.

These cultivars do not occur naturally in the region, and are not suited for planting in natural

ecosystems. However, due to concerns about visibility and sight lines, as well as urban

tolerance and aesthetic considerations, they merit consideration in right of way stormwater

plantings.

SCIENTIFIC NAME COMMON NAME

PLANTS THAT TOLERATE PERIODS OF INUNDATION

TREES

Amelanchier lamarkii Juneberry

Amelanchier x grandiflora Apple Serviceberry

Carpinus betulus European Hornbeam

Chionanthus retusus Chinese Fringetree

Chioanthus virginicus White Fringetree

Platanus x acerifolia London Planetree

Quercus acutissima Sawtooth Oak

Taxodium distichum Common Baldcypress

SHRUBS

Itea virginica Sweetspire

PERENNIALS

Monarda didyama Bee Balm

GRASSES

Carex elata Golden Sedge

Carex glauca Blue Sedge

Hakonechloa macra Japanese Forest Grass

PLANTS FOR SLOPES OF SWALES - MOIST TO DRY SOILS

TREES

Cornus kousa Kousa Dogwood

Cornus mas Cornelian cherry Dogwood

Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis Thornless Common Honeylocust

Gymnocladus dioicus Kentucky Coffeetree

Hamamelis x intermedia Witchhazel

Koelreuteria paniculata Panicled Goldenraintree

Metasequoia glyptostroboides Dawn Redwood