Plants for Children’s Environments in the Northeast Region

INTRODUCTION TO The ECOREGION

The Eastern Temperate Forest contains areas of the mid-northeast region where deciduous trees are the dominant species, in areas with four distinct seasons, warm moist summers and cool winters. This region includes large areas where settlement and cities have disturbed the original land cover. The Eastern Deciduous Forest canopy is dominated by oaks (Quercus), hickories (Carya), tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), "hard maples" (Acer spp.), and basswood (Tilia).

*This list is in progress and we understand that only the Eastern Temperate Forest ecoregion is represented here. If you have had success with plants in other Northeastern ecologies, please let us know by sending an email so we can include them in this list.

© Portland Public Schools, Portland. Maine

© Portland Public Schools, Portland. Maine

Fast Growing Shade Trees

These trees are climate-appropriate for the region and easy to find in nurseries.  

  • Red Sunset Maple (Acer rubrum ‘Franksred’)

  • Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

  • American Elm (Ulmus americana 'Princeton')

  • Village Green Zelkova (Zelkova serrata ‘Village Green’)

* Denotes evergreen plants

Trees and Plants that do well in Pots

Fig 1: Highbush Blueberry, Harlem, New York. © Jennifer Nitzky

Fig 1: Highbush Blueberry, Harlem, New York. © Jennifer Nitzky

Trees

  • Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis)

  • Smoketree (Cotinus coggygria)

  • Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera)

Shrubs

  • Dwarf Alberta Spruce (Picea glauca 'Conica')*

  • Mugo Pine (Pinus mugo)*

  • Emerald Green Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd')*

  • Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)* - See Fig. 1

* Denotes evergreen plants

Fig. 2: Creeping Juniper, Danbury, Connecticut. © Jennifer Nitzky

Fig. 2: Creeping Juniper, Danbury, Connecticut. © Jennifer Nitzky

Tough Urban Plants

Fig. 3: Smooth Aster, Brooklyn, New York. © Jennifer Nitzky

Fig. 3: Smooth Aster, Brooklyn, New York. © Jennifer Nitzky

  • Common hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

  • Red-Osier Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera ‘Arctic Fire’)

  • Purple Lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis)

  • Creeping Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis 'Bar Harbor')*: See Fig. 2

  • Walker’s Low Catmint (Nepeta x faassenii)

  • Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)

  • Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)

  • Common Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)

  • Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

  • Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

  • Smooth blue aster (Symphyotrichum laeve): See Fig. 3

* Denotes evergreen plants

Plants for Dividing Spaces and Screening

These are good plants for dividing spaces or screening the street. Plant these in beds, berms, or large containers. These plants are typically found in local nurseries. Larger species are going to need more root growth space, so plan on larger planters, such as concrete boxes, large metal troughs, and other containers that can be placed and not need to be moved. Smaller containers can be set on movable platforms with lockable caster wheels.

Vines

  • Virgin's Bower (Clematis virginiana)

  • Limber Honeysuckle (Lonicera dioica)

  • Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)

Shrubs

  • Inkberry (Ilex glabra)

  • Emerald Green Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Smaragd')*

  • Leatherleaf Viburnum (Viburnum rhytidophyllum)

* Denotes evergreen plants

Plants and Trees for Habitat and Pollinator Gardens

Whenever possible, select native plants for your area and provide good diversity of plants to promote healthy habitat for a wide range of pollinators. Avoid using chemicals of any kind in or around pollinator gardens. While there are many plants that provide pollinator habitat, the following list represents plants that perform well in schoolyard environments.

Fig. 4: Eastern Redbud, The Highline, New York City, New York. © Jennifer Nitzky

Fig. 4: Eastern Redbud, The Highline, New York City, New York. © Jennifer Nitzky

Trees

  • Red Maple (Acer rubrum)

  • Serviceberry (Amelanchier species)

  • Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis): See Fig. 4

  • Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica)

  • American Linden (Tilia americana)

Fig. 5: Anise Hyssop and Pollinators, New York City, New York. © Jennifer Nitzky

Fig. 5: Anise Hyssop and Pollinators, New York City, New York. © Jennifer Nitzky

Shrubs

  • New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)

  • St. John's Wort (Hypericum kalmianum)

  • Common Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)

  • Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)

Perennials

  • Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum): Easily grown from seed, see Fig. 5.

  • Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata): Easily grown from seed.

  • Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

  • Ornamental Onion (Allium spp.)

  • Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

  • Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)

  • Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

  • New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

* Denotes evergreen plants

Plants for a Sensory Garden

Plant a variety of species to appeal to all the senses: fragrant herbs for smell, color and texture; soft grasses for touch and sound; bright colored flowers and plants with great fall color, especially that contrast with the background of a building or evergreen shrubs. Include plants that are attractive at different times of the year to provide year-long sensory effects.

Fig. 6: Ornamental Onion, New York City, New York. © Jennifer Nitzky

Fig. 6: Ornamental Onion, New York City, New York. © Jennifer Nitzky

Fig. 7: Dwarf Fountain Grass, New York City, New York. © Jennifer Nitzky

Fig. 7: Dwarf Fountain Grass, New York City, New York. © Jennifer Nitzky

Perennials and Herbs

  • Globemaster Ornamental Onion (Allium ‘Globemaster’): See Fig. 6.

  • Silver Mound (Artemisia schmidtiana)

  • English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

  • Walker’s Low Catmint (Nepeta x faassenii)

  • Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

  • Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’)

  • Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina)

  • Creeping Thyme (Thymus Serpyllum)

  • Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis)

Grasses

  • Pink Muhlygrass (Muhlenbergia capillaries)

  • Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides): See Fig. 7

Annuals

  • Silver Dollar or Money Plant (Lunaria annua)

  • Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

  • Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)

Plants for Science or other Curricular Projects

Growing plants from seeds can be very easy and a great way to provide hands-on science projects. These are plants that have the highest success rate and are the quickest to germinate so are ideal for quick projects. In colder climates, seeds can be started indoors on a sunny window sill as long as they stay warm and moist, or planted directly outdoors in warmer weather. The ideal soil temperature for initial outdoor seed planting is 60-75 degrees.

Fig. 8: Classroom Garden, Brooklyn, New York. © Jennifer Nitzky

Fig. 8: Classroom Garden, Brooklyn, New York. © Jennifer Nitzky

Fast Growing Seeds

  • Basil

  • Chives

  • Marigolds

  • Radish

  • Peas

  • Sunflower

  • Zinnia

For more information, check out the science projects here: “Which Seeds Will Germinate the Fastest for a Science Fair Project?”

Key Issues to Keep in Mind

Please do not select the following plants that are commonly available but can be invasive (or are on the region’s list of invasive species):

  • Burning Bush

  • Butterfly Bush

  • Japanese Barberry

Poisonous plants should not be used in children’s environments. Check with other guides if you are not sure about a certain plant.

  • Japanese Yew (Taxus cuspidata)

  • Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)

Resources

Native Species Planting Guide for New York City
— New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, 2019

Gardening with New York City Native Plants
— New York City Department of Parks & Recreation

Common Invasive Plants in Massachusetts
— Mass Audubon

Credits

This list was compiled and curated by Jennifer L. Nitzky, RLA, ASLA, ISA Certified Arborist, Studio HIP and Elena Juodisius, ASLA.

National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative

The National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative supports schools and districts around the country in their efforts to reopen safely and equitably using outdoor spaces as strategic, cost-effective solutions to increase physical distancing capacity onsite and provide access to abundant fresh air. The Initiative seeks to equitably improve learning, mental and physical health, and happiness for children and adults using an affordable, time-tested outdoor approach to keeping schools open during a pandemic.