We are thrilled to share that the High Line’s nominee for official wildflower of New York City has won the popular vote in the WildflowerNYC campaign by a landslide!

On Election Day, as the city’s polls were closing, the virtual polls of WildflowerNYC were closing too. In the running were five New York City native wildflowers nominated by cultural organizations from each of the five boroughs. The High Line’s nominated plant for Manhattan—and the winning bloom (!)—is butterfly milkweed, Asclepias tuberosa.

Butterfly milkweed is a showy Manhattan native that is an essential food source for endangered monarch butterflies, whose caterpillars only feed on milkweed. Butterfly milkweed, in particular, has double the impact for monarchs because not only does it play a critical role in nourishing young monarchs, it also produces more nectar than most other milkweed varieties, providing much-needed food sources for adult butterflies too.

We’re so happy that butterfly milkweed’s win can bring attention to the essential work of planting and preserving native plants in New York City, especially critical plants like native milkweeds that support key species like monarch butterflies.

Read more about monarch butterflies in NYC

While butterfly milkweed won this campaign, there are no losers when it comes to our city’s native plants. Evolved over thousands of years side by side with other native plants, pollinators, and wildlife, New York City’s native plants provide undeniable value to this city. They make the city greener, healthier, and better for all of those who live here—and it’s about time we gave them their due.

As botanist and NYC Wildflower Week director Marielle Anzelone, who also managed the initiative, said at its launch, “All people have a deeply human need to connect with nature, even urbanites. The goal of WildflowerNYC is to help restore the relationship between New Yorkers and their local wild flora.”

Need more reasons to love native plants? Learn more →

See all five boroughs’ candidates for official wildflower →

With the closing of this campaign, the tallied votes and winning wildflower will be shared with the New York City Council in hopes that it can become official.

Adopt a butterfly milkweed
Support milkweed-munching monarchs and pollinators of all stripes by adopting a butterfly milkweed today.

Support

Lead support for Horticulture on the High Line is provided by Amanda M. Burden.

Program support for Horticulture on the High Line is provided by Greenacre Foundation.