Bronx, New York City · June 2025 · Native Plant Restoration Initiative
This guide supports the Mott Haven tree pit planting effort in coordination with Anjali's donation of five field-grown native species from her established SBU garden. It covers where to source additional complementary native plants — from the Union Square Greenmarket, community giveaway programs, and NYC Parks' own nursery holdings — as well as open coordination questions for the project.
NYC Tree Pit Planting Guide — Anjali's Project
Anjali's NYC tree pit project
5 transplants from SBU garden + nursery additions · June planting window
Transplants from Anjali
5
Nursery additions
8
Planting window
~10 days
Daily watering needed
14 days
Anjali's five SBU garden species are all native to the northeastern US and well-matched for NYC tree pit conditions — though each behaves differently under shade vs. full sun. The transplant window in mid-to-late June is challenging due to heat and drought stress; success depends on good root contact, anti-transpirant treatment, and the right micro-zone placement.
Anjali's five transplants
Northern Sea Oats Chasmanthium latifolium
Dry shadeNear trunkLow maintenance
Best performer in the dry shade zone closest to trunk. Graceful seed heads all season. Self-seeds moderately — deadhead if needed.
Mountain Mint Pycnanthemum muticum
Transition zonePollinator magnet
Silvery bracts attract native bees prolifically. Spreads slowly by rhizome. Pinch July 4th for compact habit.
Yarrow Achillea millefolium
Sunny edgeDog-urine tolerant
Most chemically tolerant of the five. Place at sunny sidewalk edge. Spreads by rhizome but stays manageable.
New England Aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Sunny edgeFall bloom
Highest transplant-shock risk of the five. Skip second pinch this year — let it establish and bloom. Stake if leggy rather than cutting.
Canada Goldenrod Solidago canadensis
Transition zoneAggressive spreader
Keep 12–18" from trunk. Thin rhizomes in late March each spring before they lock in direction. Monitor Yarrow boundary.
Recommended nursery additions
Wild ginger Asarum canadense
Deep shadeGround cover
Lush, low ground cover for shady pits. Suppresses weeds. Very slow to establish but long-lived.
Little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
Full sunDrought tolerant
Fiery red-orange fall color. Extremely drought-hardy once established. Ideal sunny pit companion to Asters.
Wild blue indigo Baptisia australis
Full sunSpring bloom
Deep taproot — plant once, never move. Stunning indigo blooms in May. Provides visual structure all season long.
Solomon's seal Polygonatum biflorum
ShadeArching form
Elegant arching stems ideal for shady pits. White bell flowers attract bumblebees. Goes dormant gracefully in summer heat.
Swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata
Full sunMonarch host
Better NYC choice than common milkweed (less aggressive). Pink blooms July–Aug. Critical monarch butterfly host plant.
Foamflower Tiarella cordifolia
ShadeSpring bloom
Feathery white-pink spikes in May. Spreads by stolons to form a tidy mat. Excellent companion for Wild Ginger and Solomon's Seal.
Prairie dropseed Sporobolus heterolepis
Sun / part shadeFragrant
Fine-textured mounding grass with popcorn-scented fall flowers. Low spread, very well-behaved in tight urban spaces.
Golden groundsel Packera aurea
Shade / part shadeEarly bloomer
Brilliant yellow daisies in April–May when little else is blooming. Spreads enthusiastically — good weed-suppressor for shady pits.
Shady pit definition
Under a dense canopy — <4 hrs direct sun. Soil is typically dry and compacted near the trunk, with leaf-litter buildup and strong root competition from the tree itself.
Best performers (from Anjali's five)
Northern Sea Oats — top choice for dry shade. Plant nearest the trunk. No pH buffering needed. Spread stays manageable.
Mountain Mint — tolerates part shade in the transition zone. Needs at least 3 hrs sun to bloom well; place toward the pit edge.
Canada Goldenrod — can handle part shade but blooms less. Keep on the lighter side of the transition zone.
Add from nursery
Wild ginger — fills the dark corners no grass will touch. Combine with Sea Oats for a layered shade floor.
Solomon's seal — mid-height arching layer. Fills visual gap between low ground cover and upper canopy.
Foamflower — early spring interest, stolon spread keeps weeds down all summer.
Golden groundsel — explodes with yellow in April. One of the best shade pit "weed fighters" you can plant.
Shady pit priorities: Root competition from the tree is intense. Dig planting holes only 4–6" deep to avoid severing anchor roots. Use myco inoculant on every plant. Top-dress with 2" coarse wood chips (not dyed) to retain the limited moisture.
Sunny pit definition
6+ hrs direct sun, often south- or west-facing. Soil heats to 90°F+ in summer, dries out fast, and accumulates reflected heat from concrete and glass.
Best performers (from Anjali's five)
Yarrow — thrives in full sun, tolerates heat, drought, and dog traffic. Your most urban-resilient plant.
New England Aster — needs full sun for dense bloom. Full sun suppresses legginess naturally.
Canada Goldenrod — peaks in full sun with maximum rhizome vigor. Watch it aggressively here.
Mountain Mint — does fine in full sun with sufficient water in year 1. Becomes drought-tolerant by year 2.
Add from nursery
Little bluestem — perfect structural companion to Asters. Red fall color complements Aster purple beautifully.
Wild blue indigo — deep taproot means exceptional heat and drought tolerance once established. Early seasonal interest.
Prairie dropseed — fills edge spaces gracefully. Fine texture contrasts well with broad-leafed Yarrow and Aster.
Sunny pit priorities: Mulch is critical here — bare soil in a sunny pit can hit 130°F and kill transplant roots in hours. Apply 2–3" coarse wood chip mulch the same day you plant. In heat waves above 90°F, water twice daily for the first week.
Week-by-week from transplant day
Day 0 — Planting day (June 11–21)
Cut top growth 50%. Apply mycorrhizal inoculant. Spray anti-transpirant (Wilt-Pruf). Water deeply 1 gallon per plant. Apply 2–3" wood chip mulch immediately. Prop shade cloth if temps above 85°F.
Days 1–14 — Critical establishment
Water every morning at dawn — 1 gal per plant minimum. Watch for wilting after 5pm (morning wilt = underwatered; evening wilt in heat = normal). Do not fertilize. Remove shade cloth once new growth is visible.
Week 3–4 (early July) — Transition
Reduce watering to every 2–3 days if no rain. Pinch Mountain Mint tips by 1/3 around July 4th. Begin watching Goldenrod rhizome direction. Transplant any nursery-purchased additions now if not already done.
Mid-July to August — Summer management
Water deeply once a week if no rain. Mountain Mint blooms (white/silver bracts). Goldenrod and Sea Oats reach mature height. Asters building up bud set — do not cut. Top up mulch if it has thinned below 2".
September–October — Peak bloom
New England Asters and Canada Goldenrod peak. Leave seed heads for birds and overwintering insects. Sea Oats show ornamental bronze seed heads. Do not cut anything down yet.
November — Winter prep
Cut all stems to 4–6" — not flush. Leave stem stubs for solitary bee nesting. Add final mulch layer. Mark Goldenrod rhizome edges for March thinning.
Late March — Spring management (year 2)
Thin Goldenrod when shoots hit 4–6". Enforce clearance from trunk and Yarrow boundaries. Chelsea chop all Asters by 50% around June 15th for compact year-2 bloom. Apply compost top-dressing to Aster zone only.
Curated YouTube resources for each stage of the project. All are free and from reputable native plant educators.
Links open YouTube search results so you can find the most current, highest-rated videos on each topic.
Immediate next steps (this week)
1
Buy supplies before planting day
Granular mycorrhizal inoculant (Bio-tone Starter Plus or similar), Wilt-Pruf anti-transpirant spray, coarse hardwood wood chips (not dyed). All available at Home Depot or local garden centers.
2
Test the pit soil pH
Basic probe meter (~$15 at any garden center). If above 7.8, mix 1" aged compost into the Aster planting zone before planting. All other species tolerate alkaline conditions without intervention.
3
Coordinate with Anjali on timing
Plant within 24 hours of dividing from her garden. Roots exposed to air for more than a few hours in June heat lose significant viability. Have the pit prepared and supplies ready before she digs.
4
Source nursery plants this week
Native plant availability drops sharply after July 4th as nurseries sell out. Call ahead: Bluestone Perennials, American Meadows, or local — Native Plant Center at WCCC (White Plains), Edwina von Gal's Native Plant Trust events.
5
Check NYC Parks Department permit
Tree pit planting technically requires a Tree Pit Permit from NYC Parks (free, quick online). Using native species usually gets fast approval. Avoid digging within 18" of the trunk without notification.
6
Plan your 14-day watering logistics
If you travel or can't water daily, identify a neighbor or friend to cover. A single missed day in a July heat wave can kill newly transplanted material. Consider a simple drip soaker hose on a timer as insurance.
SBU AreshEarth
Mott Haven Tree Pit Planting at with Anjali’s Garden Native Offering
