Wild Bio Nerd

Urban Forestry inNYC

  • 🌳 NYC’s Native Trees: 7 Local Legends You Should Know

    New York City might be known for its skyscrapers, but did you know it’s also home to some incredible native trees? Many of these have been growing here long before any concrete was poured!?

    Unlike ornamental imports, native trees evolved alongside NYC’s soils, wildlife, and climate, making them champions of urban resilience and biodiversity. Whether you’re walking through Central Park or tending a tree pit in your neighborhood, these trees are local legends worth celebrating.

    Here are 7 native trees that give NYC its true roots, plus some fun facts to impress your park friends.

    🌰 1. White Oak (Quercus alba)

    NYC Superpower: Supports over 500 species of caterpillars 🐛
    Fun Fact: White oaks are pollinator powerhouses. Their leaves host tons of native moth and butterfly species, making them a critical food source for birds. Their acorns also feed squirrels, deer, and even wild turkeys.
    Cool Detail: Their wood is so dense it was used to build U.S. Navy ships. INCLUDING “Old Ironsides” herself, the USS Constitution.

    đŸ”„ 2. Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica)

    NYC Superpower: Fall color queen 🍁
    Fun Fact: Often called “the most beautiful tree in North America,” the black tupelo’s leaves turn an electric mix of scarlet, orange, and purple in autumn.
    Cool Detail: Its small, dark-blue fruits are beloved by birds like robins and cedar waxwings. It’s also a key nectar source for native bees in early fall.

    🌳 3. American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana)

    NYC Superpower: Shade-tolerant understory hero
    Fun Fact: This tree is sometimes called “musclewood” because of its sinewy, flexed-looking bark that resembles muscles under skin.
    Cool Detail: It thrives in low-light areas, making it a perfect native tree for parks, shaded sidewalks, or densely built neighborhoods.

    🐩 4. Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana)

    NYC Superpower: Year-round shelter for birds and berries for winter wildlife đŸ•Šïž
    Fun Fact: It’s not a “true cedar” but a native juniper, and it smells amazing. Its blue “berries” (technically cones) are food for over 50 species of birds.
    Cool Detail: Its wood is rot-resistant and often used for cedar chests. And yes, it’s what gives gin its flavor!

    đŸŒș 5. Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis)

    NYC Superpower: Beauty, berries, and bee love 🐝
    Fun Fact: One of the first trees to bloom in spring, serviceberry flowers are a sign that winter is over. Its small edible berries taste like a mix between blueberries and almonds.
    Cool Detail: The name “serviceberry” may have come from the Appalachian practice of burying the dead after the ground thawed, just as this tree bloomed.

    🌿 6. Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

    NYC Superpower: Star-shaped leaves and spiky seed balls 🌟
    Fun Fact: Sweetgums get their name from the fragrant sap that oozes from the bark. It smells like cinnamon or amber.
    Cool Detail: Its leaves turn stunning shades of yellow, red, and deep purple in fall. While the spiky seed pods can be a sidewalk nuisance, they’re a favorite snack for squirrels.

    🌰 7. Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)

    NYC Superpower: Fast-growing shade and incredible wildlife value đŸżïž
    Fun Fact: It’s the official state tree of New Jersey but is just as beloved across NYC. Its acorns feed a ton of local wildlife, and it grows faster than most oaks.
    Cool Detail: Red oaks can live for over 300 years! Meaning one tree you plant today could still be around in the year 2400!

    🌳 Why This Matters

    These trees aren’t just pretty; they’re essential to NYC’s future. They clean the air, cool our streets, and bring back the native bees, birds, and bugs that keep our ecosystems thriving.

    But right now, native trees are still underused in city planting efforts. We need to speak up, plant smart, and build neighborhoods rooted in resilience.

    💚 How to Get Involved

    • Check out NYC Parks Tree Map to identify and explore trees in your neighborhood
    • Visit a local nursery and ask for native species for your yard, block, or community garden
    • Support community planting efforts with GrowNYC and GreenThumb
    • Advocate for native species in local greening plans and public projects

    🌿Parting Words

    NYC doesn’t just need more trees
 It needs the right ones! So next time you pass a tree on your block, ask yourself: is it just decorative, or is it doing the real work of making this city greener, cooler, and wilder?

    Let’s plant smart. Let’s plant native. Let’s plant the future!

    References

    Better Homes & Gardens. (n.d.). American hornbeam: Plant care & growing guide. Retrieved May 4, 2025, from https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/tree/american-hornbeam/

    Better Homes & Gardens. (n.d.). Black gum tree: Plant and grow guide. Retrieved May 4, 2025, from https://www.bhg.com/how-to-plant-and-grow-black-gum-tree-8417356/

    Cape Cod Native Plants. (n.d.). Tupelo / Black Gum. Retrieved May 4, 2025, from https://capecodnativeplants.org/tupelo-black-gum/

    Celebrate Gettysburg. (n.d.). Native sweetgum. Retrieved May 4, 2025, from https://celebrategettysburg.com/native-sweetgum/

    Cornell University. (n.d.). Northern red oak. Retrieved May 4, 2025, from https://bhort.bh.cornell.edu/tree/redoak.htm

    Gardening Know How. (n.d.). Eastern red cedar tree: Growing info and care. NC State Extension. Retrieved May 4, 2025, from https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/juniperus-virginiana/

    Grow Native! (n.d.). American hornbeam. Missouri Prairie Foundation. Retrieved May 4, 2025, from https://grownative.org/native_plants/american-hornbeam/

    Native NY Gardens. (2018, March 22). Serviceberry (Amelanchier species). Retrieved May 4, 2025, from https://www.nativenygardens.com/plant-profiles/service-berry-amelanchier-species-22-3-2018

    New York Botanical Garden. (2008, November 20). Plant profile — Sweetgum. Retrieved May 4, 2025, from https://www.nybg.org/blogs/plant-talk/2008/11/gardens-and-collections/plant-profile-%E2%80%94-sweetgum/

    Peconic Land Trust. (n.d.). Rick’s native plant of the month: White oak (Quercus alba). Retrieved May 4, 2025, from https://peconiclandtrust.org/blog/ricks-native-plant-of-the-month-white-oak-quercus-alba

    The Spruce. (2021). How to grow and care for white oak trees. Retrieved May 4, 2025, from https://www.thespruce.com/white-oak-tree-guide-5176466/

    The Spruce. (2022). Red oak growing guide. Retrieved May 4, 2025, from https://www.thespruce.com/red-oak-growing-guide-5195395/

    U.S. Forest Service. (n.d.). Juniperus virginiana: Species profile. Fire Effects Information System (FEIS). Retrieved May 4, 2025, from https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/tree/junvir/all.html

    University of Maryland Extension. (n.d.). Serviceberry: An early-flowering Maryland native tree. Retrieved May 4, 2025, from https://extension.umd.edu/resource/serviceberry-early-flowering-maryland-native-tree

  • Rooted in Resilience: Why Native Plants Matter for NYC’s Greener Future 🌳 

    When most people think of tree-planting efforts in New York City, they picture volunteers digging holes and adding greenery to concrete-heavy neighborhoods. It’s a beautiful image, and one that carries hope for cleaner air, cooler streets, and healthier communities. But not all greenery is created equal.

    The truth is, many urban reforestation initiatives still prioritize non-native or ornamental species—plants that look nice but don’t do much for the local ecosystem. That’s where native plants come in. They’re more than just a green fix; they’re a powerful tool for building a more resilient, biodiverse, and equitable New York City.

    What Are Native Plants, and Why Do They Matter? đŸŒ±

    Native plants are species that have evolved over thousands of years in a specific region, adapting to its climate, soil, and wildlife. In NYC, this includes trees like red oak and black gum, shrubs like elderberry and spicebush, and wildflowers like milkweed and goldenrod.

    Unlike many ornamental plants, native species form deep, interconnected relationships with pollinators, birds, insects, and fungi. They provide food, shelter, and breeding grounds for the wildlife that depends on them, and they do all of this without the need for synthetic fertilizers or excessive irrigation.

    🐝 Native plants support more than 90% of local butterfly and moth species, which in turn feed birds and pollinators that keep ecosystems thriving.

    Native Plants Make Cities Stronger 🌇

    Urban environments are tough. Between heat waves, flooding, compacted soil, and air pollution, city plants face a lot. But native species are naturally equipped to handle these conditions because they’ve evolved with them. That makes them an ideal choice for urban resilience.

    Some real benefits of native plants in cities:

    • Cooler streets: Native trees create shade and reduce urban heat island effects.
    • Cleaner air and water: Their root systems help filter pollutants and reduce runoff.
    • Better soil: Deep roots prevent erosion and enrich soil microbiomes.
    • More biodiversity: Native plants support up to 35x more insect biomass than non-native species.

    According to the Natural Areas Conservancy’s 2024 NYC Forest Assessment, forests in NYC are increasingly vulnerable to climate change and invasive species—yet native plantings are still underused.

    A Justice Issue, Too 🌍 

    Tree canopy in NYC isn’t distributed equally. Studies show that lower-income, and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities often have fewer trees, less green space, and more exposure to environmental hazards like heat and air pollution. When reforestation happens in these areas, it’s a huge opportunity to do it right, with native plants that bring long-term ecological and community benefits.

    Using native species is a way to make greening efforts not just more sustainable, but more just.

    In NYC, neighborhoods like the South Bronx and East Brooklyn have some of the lowest canopy cover and the highest need for ecological restoration.

    So, What Can You Do?

    This isn’t just about scientists or city planners. Native reforestation works best when communities are part of it. Here’s how you can help bring native plants back to NYC:

    Join or support local groups:

    When your community board or local group is planning a greening initiative, speak up. Ask: Are we using native species? Why not?

    Advocate for native plants in local projects:

    Plant native in your own space:

    Even a small garden bed or tree pit can become a biodiversity hotspot. Check out:

    Urban reforestation isn’t just about how many trees we plant. It’s about what kinds of trees, and what kinds of futures we’re planting. Native plants offer a path forward that’s rooted in resilience, ecology, and justice.

    By making space for the plants that belong here, we’re also making space for the communities, species, and systems that make this city feel alive.

    Let’s grow something real. 🌿

    References:

    Mutukistna, B. (2023). Benefits of urban native plants. University of British Columbia. Retrieved from https://sustain.ubc.ca/sites/default/files/2023-013_Benefits%20of%20Urban%20Native%20Plants_Mutukistna_Bronte.pdf

    U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. (n.d.). Introduction to native plants. Retrieved from https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/Native_Plant_Materials/documents/intronatplant.pdf

    Natural Areas Conservancy. (2024). NYC forest assessment. Retrieved from https://naturalareasnyc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/NYC-Forest-Assessment-1.pdf

    NYC Department of Parks & Recreation. (n.d.). Native plants of New York City. Retrieved from https://www.nycgovparks.org/learn/trees-and-plants/native-plants-of-new-york-city

    Tallamy, D. W. (2009). Bringing nature home: How you can sustain wildlife with native plants. Timber Press.