The American Holly is a great alternative to its European counterpart. This evergreen tree, in cultivation, can reach up to 30 feet after many years. The strong trunks are resistant to damaging winds, and deer do not like to eat the armed leaves. The flowers attract pollinators, and the fruit is eaten by songbirds. Both male and female plants are required to produce fruit. The fruit is toxic.

Inkberry Holly is an evergreen shrub that grows to a maximum of 10 feet tall. It is a host plant for the Henry's elfin butterfly (Callophrys henrici). It is a dioecious plant, requiring both a female and a male plant to produce fruit. The flowers appear from May to June, and some sources claim they have a pleasant scent. Fruits are present in the fall and, while edible by humans, tend not to have much flavor. Songbirds and small mammals eat them. It can withstand heavy pruning in early spring, before new growth emerges, and can be used for a hedge.

The Thinleaf Sunflower is a great choice for gardeners looking for a showstopping fall-flowering plant. The profuse yellow flowers attract all kinds of pollinators, like Black Swallowtails, and this is the larval host for the Silvery Checkerspot and Gorgone Checkerspot Butterfly. Once the flowers pass, the seeds are pilfered by birds and chipmunks for a late fall snack. The plants prefer partial sun and prefer to stay moist. They can dry out occasionally, making them an ideal plant to neglect. Be careful of loving them too much, as they may become weedy under ideal circumstances.

The Swamp Sunflower, as the name implies, is grown best in wet soil. It is a good addition to a rain garden. It grows up to 6 feet tall and blooms from mid-summer to first frost. This sunflower is an important ecological resource for many pollinators and birds. It is the host plant for butterflies such as the Painted Lady, and is an important nectar source for Monarchs migrating south. The seeds are eaten by birds, helping to sustain them over the winter. Safe for pets.

Rough Wood Aster, named for its rough-textured stems, is a rounded, deciduous shrub. The blue-violet to white flowers bring interest for the fall season, attracting many pollinators towards the end of the season. It is naturally found near bodies of water and prefers to stay consistently moist- a great choice for adding to a rain garden design. 

Spotted Joe Pye Weed is an herbaceous perennial growing up to 7 feet tall. It boasted the northernmost native range of the genus, reaching New Quebec and the Mid-Boreal Uplands. It is loved by all kinds of pollinators, such as Eastern Tiger Swallowtails and Carpenter Bees. The pale pink to purple flowers open late summer to early fall. It is tolerant of deer, rabbits, and high moisture, being found in the wild in sunny wetlands. The leaves will crisp if allowed to dry out. The plants would appreciate afternoon shade during the summer months.

Coastal Joe Pye Weed is an herbaceous perennial that can grow up to 5 feet tall. This is one of the smaller plants in the genus. It is loved by all kinds of pollinators, such as Eastern Tiger Swallowtails and Carpenter Bees. The pale pink to purple flowers open late summer to early fall, and the fruit that follows is nutritious for songbirds before winter. It is tolerant of deer, salt, and high moisture, being found in the wild in coastal swamps. The leaves will crisp if allowed to dry out. Safe for pets.

The Sensitive Partridge Pea, Chamaecrista nictitans, is an annual wildflower in the Legume family, Fabaceae. In the wild, this legume grows with native grasses such as Little Bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Indiangrass, Sorghastrum nutans. The yellow flowers are loved by pollinators, and the nutritious seeds are eaten by birds such as the Eastern Mourning Dove and the Eastern Meadowlark. It is the host plant for the Little Sulphur and Cloudless Sulphur. It readily reseeds, providing food and habitat to native fauna for many years.

Purple Joe-Pye Weed, also called Sweet Joe-Pye Weed, is named after its purple stems and/or vanilla-scented, pink flowers. The fragrant blooms help deter deer. This plant likes moist soil and can tolerate clay soil. Part shade is where this Joe-Pye Weed prefers, but can also handle full sun. Safe for pets.

Purple Milkweed is a threatened species in New York State (S2/S3 status).  Its beautiful purple flowers make it distinctive from other milkweed species.  As with other milkweeds, it hosts Monarch butterflies, is deer resistant, and thrives in full sun.

These seeds were collected from the NYC Highline and donated to LINPI for propagation.