o In openings in the established canopy that are being expanded into planting
beds, the species of the Oak Opening community would be appropriate and
most beneficial to the fauna traveling in between the fragmented forest.
o In areas within the established canopy, the species of Rich Mesophytic Forest,
Oak-Tulip Tree Forest and Chesnut Oak Forest are well suited to topsoil
specified in Parks projects and provide a wide range of understory and
herbaceous diversity.
o For areas with greater salt exposure, species from Maritime Oak Forest and
Successional Maritime Oak Forest may be well suited, though this community is
dominated by a shrub layer and offers few herbaceous selections.
o For greater drought tolerance, Mixed Oak-Hickory Forest species have adapted
well to shallow soils, low water and exposure.
Green Infrastructure :
Green Infrastructure sites place specific demands on the species used within them. A
tolerance of large volumes of water is an obvious one, but this is coupled with periods of
drought amplified by the well-draining sandy soil used in these installations. Sediment and
road salt are found within the runoff directed towards these plants as well. When used in
the right-of-way, there are often limitations placed on maximum heights, due to the need to
maintain site lines. Overall, these specific criteria translate to a select group of plants that
are well-suited to thrive in this environment. When the right plant is used, they can be quite
successful.
o Floodplain Forest, Bottomland Forest, Red-Maple Hardwood Swamp and
Wetland Communities can provide a range of suitable species for green
infrastructure projects, though attention to the salt and drought tolerance of
individual species should be considered. These species are best used in the
lowest areas of rain gardens that will receive the most runoff. Many of these
companion plants offer quality resources for pollinator habitat throughout every
season
o Maritime communities are often a good starting point for urban green
infrastructure sites, due to their tolerance of salts, high sand content in soils and
saturated soils. Take note that green infrastructure site can also be dry during
non-rainy seasons, and so plants selected should also have a range of drought
tolerance.
o Shrub Swamp and Succesional Shrubland offer a range of species that tolerate
seasonal fluctuations in soil moisture, making them ideally suited to rain gardens
and other stormwater capture installations. Successional Shrubland species
often exhibit greater urban tolerance, and so are especially suited to road runoff
projects.