Northern Spur Preserve

Location

At 16th St.

The Northern Spur Preserve evokes the wild landscape that grew on the High Line before it was a park, featuring crab apples, asters, and sedges. Here, the track diverged and entered the Merchants Refrigerating Company Warehouse across 10th Avenue. The landscape is best appreciated from an intimate observation deck above the preserve, where views of the robust plantings are set against the city streets below.

Featured Plants

Bowman's root

Gillenia trifoliata

This plant is also known as “American ipecac,” because of its medicinal uses—the roots were used by Native Americans as an emetic.

Blue stem goldenrod

Solidago caesia

A handsome, easily grown plant with arching bluish stems, this goldenrod offers small yellow flowers that attract a wide variety of bees and butterflies.

Glory-of-the-snow

Scilla sardensis

This March-blooming bulb is native to Turkey. Over the course of several years it will naturalize, forming larger groups.

Lady in Black calico aster

Symphyotrichum lateriflorum ‘Lady in Black’

These drifts of white blooms are stunning in fall, growing around their near-cousin Skyblue aster (Symphyotrichum oolentangiense).

Northern sea oats

Chasmanthium latifolium

This native, perennial, ornamental grass offers beautiful drooping sprays of seed heads and coppery brown upright foliage in winter.

Keep the High Line Thriving

The High Line is beautiful thanks in large part to individual supporters like you. Members provide the tools and resources our gardeners need to keep the gardens open to everyone for seasons to come.

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