Plants

The Ecology of the New York Harbor

Gateway has hundreds of wild plant species are scattered throughout the 27,000 acres of the park. You can find various types of mushrooms and, yes, cacti (plural for cactus) here too. Look and you will find many examples of nature's beauty.

Gateway's visitors depend on the park's plant life more than they might realize. If you like going to the beach, for example, you can be thankful for poison ivy. Why? Its leaves, stems and roots may make most of us itch, but its woody roots anchor Gateway's sand dunes during harsh storms, literally holding the beach in place.

Plants are linked to the entire chain of life. Flowering plants need pollinators such as bees and bats. Birds and other wildlife eat fruit and disperse seeds. Find out about a few of the plants of Gateway. Some may look lovelier than others, but all play a role in the diversity of life in the New York and New Jersey area.

 
  • Tall straight grass on a sandy dune
    American Beachgrass

    American beachgrass helps stabilize dunes and reduce erosion. It can be found throughout Gateway.

  • Light blue and green berries on a leafy shrub
    Beach Plums

    Beach plums are found on sand dunes throughout Gateway.

  • A cluster of small, light red berries against bright green leaves
    Black Cherry

    The black cherry, which belongs to the rose family, is consumed by a variety of birds and mammals.

  • a small, green shrub with short, sharp needles
    Common Juniper

    Common Juniper is native to the region and provides food and shelter for small animals.

  • The elongated, alternating leaves of a milkweed plant
    Common Milkweed

    This native plant is a host for monarch butterflies. It can be found throughout Gateway.

  • a vibrant yellow flower made up of smaller groupings of petals sits atop a stalk with flat, narrow l
    Cypress Spurge

    Cypress Spurge is a non-native, deer resistant plant with vibrant yellow flowers.

  • the small, ovular leaves of a desert false indigo plant
    Desert False Indigo

    This perennial shrub produces purple and blue blossoms in the spring and summer, hence the name "false indigo."

  • the pointed leaves and small brown fruits of the hackberry plant
    Hackberry

    This monoecious plant produces purple berry-like fruit and is a host for butterfly and moth larvae.

  • a stout, green shrub with medium-sized leaves
    Highbush Blueberry

    The Highbush Blueberry calls wet environments home and produces juicy fruit in August.

  • a small, green shrub with branches extending vertically
    Inkberry

    Inkberry is native to New Jersey and thrives in all parts of the state.

  • a short, green shrub with round, elongated leaves
    Mountain Andromeda

    This hearty native plant attracts pollinators like bees.

  • a cluster of small, light blue berries amidst long, bright green leaves
    Northern Bayberry

    This evergreen shrub produces small gray fruits and can grow up to 12 feet tall.

  • Shiny leaves of three indicate poison ivy
    Poison Ivy

    Poison ivy serves a vital function throughout Gateway. It provides food and cover for animals and the roots help stabilize soil.

  • a collection of wide, flat cactus paddles with intermittent spikes and a yellow flower
    Prickly Pear

    The Eastern Prickly Pear is the only cactus native to the northeast United States.

  • a skinny tree with long, slender branches covered in small scale-like leaves
    Red Cedar

    Belonging to the cypress family, these cone-bearing trees can grow to be up to 90 feet tall.

  • tall, thin, grassy stalks topped with a bulbs and spindly purple flowers
    Spotted Knapweed

    This perennial plant boasts vibrant purple flowers in thew summer.

  • vibrant magenta branches with collections of leaves branching out from a central point
    Virginia Creeper

    The Virginia creeper is an important host plant to caterpillars. It grows in coastal and pineland environments.

  • a bush with dense branches of symmetrical pointed leaves
    Winged Sumac

    The winged sumac is dioecious, meaning it has both male and female plants. It produces berries in August.

Last updated: February 4, 2025

Park footer

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

210 New York Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10305

Phone:

718 354-4606

Contact Us