We are celebrating the release of our Guide to Restoring Native Plants in NYC with a year-long display of seasonal native plants. Each season, visitors can find a new pop-up garden featuring plants that are native to our area near the Fountain!

Native plants not only look great, but provide endless ecological benefits. They support many of the living creatures whose decline would put the outdoor spaces we enjoy—and the environment as a whole—in jeopardy. Caterpillars, for example, depend on native plant species throughout the city for food. And birds rely on these caterpillars to survive. When native plants are abundant, caterpillars are plentiful. And when caterpillars are plentiful, our ecosystem can thrive. By planting any amount of native plants, we can contribute to creating and sustaining healthy, balanced, and diverse ecosystems.

We hope that you will join us in our pledge to introduce more native plants in NYC. Stop by our winter native plant garden the next time you’re in the park for ideas on species you can include in your window box, terrace, or outdoor space. By supporting native plants, we can also support the vital resources that insects, birds, and other wildlife depend on.

(Photos by Mark Gallucci)