Park update: From September 30 – October 4, the High Line Spur & Moynihan Connector at 30th Street will be closed.

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Photo by Marisol Ortega

Our horticulturalists’ work today

May 22, 2023

Read on to learn more about how our horticulturalists are focused on creating bird- and insect-friendly habitats, particularly for native wildlife. And join us on the park for Keep It Wild, while we celebrate New York City native plants this June through September.

Most of the plants you see today were selected for their four-season interest as part of the original design by landscape architects James Corner Field Operations and planting designer Piet Oudolf. We have a mix of more traditional ornamentals, cultivars, and US and New York natives, some of which were propagated for the first time for garden use for the High Line. However, as Piet Oudolf often says, “There’s no such thing as a finished garden.” There is a constant dance and conversation between the plants and one another, with the surrounding buildings and cityscape, and with the elements—and our team of 13 horticulturalists must work to create harmony, resilience, and beauty in this ever-changing landscape.

Beyond the aesthetics, our horticulturalists are focused on how to create bird- and insect-friendly habitats, particularly for native wildlife. These efforts go hand in hand with our efforts to encourage and propagate native plants since native plants provide the habitat and food resources that native pollinators and birds need. When selecting new plants to add to the plantings, our horticulturalists look to plants that have proven wildlife benefits, to solve two problems at once—filling a garden design niche, and positively contributing to the existing ecosystem. Our team engages with local entomologists, ecologists, and landscape designers to stay as up-to-date as possible on the emergent science of ecologically-informed horticulture. To increase the impact of native plants on the High Line and beyond, we’re saving seeds, sharing seeds with other organizations and gardens, and propagating some of our own plants from seed. Our gardens now boast more than 150 plants that are native to New York City, with 70 that are native to Manhattan in particular.

The desire to create pollinator-friendly gardens also impacts how we garden. An example is the 2017 study by the American Museum of Natural History where scientists found 33 bee species living on the High Line. Following recommendations that came out of that study, we’ve adapted some of our practices. In addition to leaving most plants intact over the winter—which creates food sources and habitat for birds and over-wintering pollinators—we now don’t trim back certain species at all to make sure new bees have a chance to come out of hibernation. You’ll also notice that we leave leaf litter in the planting beds rather than removing it to compost, which creates habitat too. Insects and birds often have niche requirements for food and nesting and living sites, so the High Line’s variety of native plants helps address a variety of needs.

Learn about our native plants celebration →

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