A Guide to Native Plants of the New York City Region

It is no secret that with each new office park, strip mall, and housing development that slices through the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut landscape, more and more indigenous plant habitats are being destroyed. Concrete, after all, is not a friendly neighbor to vegetative life. Less common wisdom, however, holds that plants native to this region have been disappearing rapidly for a variety of reasons, and some of the causes can be avoided, even as construction projects continue to move in. One of the most serious threats to indigenous plants is the introduction of invasive non-native species by landscapers after new developments are built. In this unique guide, ecologist Margaret B. Gargiullo presents a detailed look at the full scope of flora that is native to this region and available for propagation. Geared specifically for landscape architects, designers, land managers, and restorationists, this book offers practical advice on how to increase the amount of indigenous flora growing in the mepolitan area, and in some cases, to reintroduce plants that have completely disappeared. More than one hundred line drawings of plants and their specific habitats, ranging from forests to beaches, help readers visualize the full potential for landscaping in the area. A separate entry for each plant also provides detailed information on size, flower color, blooming time, and its possible uses in wetland mitigation, erosion control, and natural area restoration. Some plants are also highlighted for their ability to thrive in areas that are typically considered inhospitable to greenery. Easily searchable by plant type or habitat, this guide is an essential reference for everyone concerned with the region's natural plant life. Since most of the plants can also be grown well beyond the New York City metropolitan area, this book will also be useful for project managers doing restoration work in most of southern New England and the mid-Atlantic region, including Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland.

Table of Contents:
I: Plants of New York City and vicinity Trees Shrubs Vines Herbs Graminoids Ferns II: Plants for various habitat types Plants for open habitats, full sun Set 1. Nontidal, freshwater open wetlands List 1. Freshwater wetland annuals List 2. Freshwater wetlands; circumneutral soils List 3. Freshwater wetlands; acid soil List 4. Freshwater wetlands; alkaline soils Set 2. Tidal wetlands List 5. Freshwater tidal wetlands List 6. Brackish tidal wetlands List 7. Saline tidal wetlands, salt marsh Set 3. Upland open habitats List 8. Annuals for soil stabilization List 9. Perennial grasses for native turf List 10. Native woody ornamentals List 11. Plants for slope stabilization List 12. Maritime uplands, dune habitats List 13. Open uplands, acid, soils List 14. Open uplands;ands, alkaline soils Plants for forest restorations Set 4. Forested wetlands List 15. Swamp forests List 16. River floodplain forests List 17. Plants for acid bogs List 18. Plants for alkaline swamps Set 5. Forested uplands List 19. Plants for disturbed understories List 20. Plants for moist upland forests List 21. Forest plants for acid soils List 22. Plants for alkaline forest soils

About the Author :
MARGARET B. GARGIULLO is a plant ecologist specializing in flora of the Northeast and MidAtlantic. She is retired from the City of New York Department of Parks and Recreation after twelve years of service.

Review :
"This is an indispensable reference... Highly recommended." - Choice "At last! Gargiullo has developed a guide specific to native plants in the New York City region that not only will be useful to master gardeners and professionals in landscape architecture, horticulture, and urban forestry, but also scientists in the fields of botany and ecology. At a time when many of our native plant species in the region are endangered by the loss of habitat and competition from invasive species, this book is a welcome reference for those who endeavor to protect them!" - Richard V. Pouyat, U.S. Forest Service "Dr. Marge Gargiullo spent more than ten years as a plant ecologist with the New York City Parks Department's acclaimed Natural Resources Group. There are real, negative impacts of nonnative invasive species in our city and increasingly around the world. This guide to native plants and their suitability for the range of local settings in the metropolitan area will be a valuable tool for both practitioners and students." - Adrian Benepe, commissioner, New York City Department of Parks and Recreation "A Guide to Native Plants of the New York City Region provides a wealth of practical information for landscape architects, land managers, and others concerned with conserving and restoring our local flora." - Elizabeth Johnson, Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, American Museum of Natural History"