Recommended Plants for the Meadowlands District
One DeKorte Park Plaza • PO Box 640 • Lyndhurst, New Jersey • 07071
Phone: 201.460.1700 • Fax: 201.372.0161
Website: njsea.com/applications
Recommended Plants
This list has been prepared to assist property owners and developers in the selection of plants for landscape
projects in the Meadowlands District. The list identifies mostly woody plants suitable for various conditions
found in the Meadowlands. It is intended as a rough guide: to ensure plant success each site should be carefully
analyzed.
The use of native plants is strongly encouraged. NJSEA’s Landscape and Open Space Guidelines recommend
that a minimum of 60% of all plants be native to the State of New Jersey. Why? Native plants are what make
this a unique place. The plants and animals of our region have evolved together in response to particular local
conditions; they depend on one another. By planting native species, we help support the birds and mammals who
depend on them for food and shelter.
Plants for Streets and Parking Areas
Trees
American Linden (Tilia americana) •
Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) •
Gingko (Ginkgo biloba) •
Goldenrain tree (Koelreuteria phaenopyrum) •
Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) •
Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) •
Japanese Zelkova (Zelkova serrata)
Kentucky Coffee Tree (Cladrastis kentukea) •
Littleleaf Linden (Tilia cordata) •
Pin Oak (Quecus palustris) •
Red Maple (Acer rubrum) •
Red Oak (Quercus rubra) •
Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) •
Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) •
Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) •
White Ash (Fraxinus americana) •
Shrubs
Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) •
Cotoneaster, various species
Dogwood, various: Silky, Grey, Red Twig •
Inkberry Holly (Ilex glabra) •
Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata varieties)
St. Johnswort (Hypericum x)
Viburnum, various species (Viburnum sp.)
Yew, various species (Taxus)
• = native to the region
Page 1 of 4
Rev. 10/15
Recommended Plants for the Meadowlands District
One DeKorte Park Plaza • PO Box 640 • Lyndhurst, New Jersey • 07071
Phone: 201.460.1700 • Fax: 201.372.0161
Website: njsea.com/applications
Plants for Screening
Trees
American Holly (Ilex opaca) •
Canadian Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) •
Cryptomeria (Cryptomeria japonica)
Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) •
Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) •
Falsecypress, various species (Chaemeocyparis)
Norway Spruce (Picea abies)
Serbian Spruce (Picea omorika)
White Fir (Abies concolor)
Shrubs
American Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) •
Chinese Juniper (Juniperus chinensis)
Dogwood various species (Cornus) •
Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia)
Ilex various species
Manhattan Euonymous (E. kiautschovicus)
Viburnum, various species (Viburnum)
Yew, various species (Taxus)
Ornamental Plants
Trees
American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) •
American Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) •
Crabapple (Malus sp.)
Carolina Silverbell (Halesia carolina) •
Cherry ( Prunus sp.)
Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) •
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) •
Franklinia (Franklinia alatamaha) •
Kentucky Coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioica) •
Magnolia (Magnolia sp.)
River Birch (Betula nigra) •
Shadblow Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) •
White Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) •
Plants for Wet Areas
Trees
Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica) •
Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) •
Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) •
Red Maple (Acer rubrum) •
River Birch (Betula nigra) •
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) •
Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) •
Weeping Willow (Salix)
White Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) •
Shrubs
Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) •
Blachhaw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) •
Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora)
Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii)
Cranberrybush Viburnum (Viburnum trilobum) •
Doublefile Viburnum ( Viburnum plicatum sp.)
Dwarf Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii)
Leucothoe (Leucothoe fontanesiana & L. axillaris)
Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)
Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea) •
St. Johnswort (Hypericum patulum)
Summersweet Clethra (Clethra alnifolia) •
Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata) •
Shrubs
Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) •
Cranberry Bush Viburnum (Viburnum trilobum) •
Elderberry (Sambucas canadensis) •
Inkberry Holly (Ilex glabra) •
Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) •
Red Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea) •
Summersweet (Clethera alnifolia) •
Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica) •
• = native to the region
Page 2 of 4
Rev. 10/15
Recommended Plants for the Meadowlands District
One DeKorte Park Plaza • PO Box 640 • Lyndhurst, New Jersey • 07071
Phone: 201.460.1700 • Fax: 201.372.0161
Website: njsea.com/applications
Plants for a Dry Areas
Trees
American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana) •
American Yellowood (Cladrastis kentukea) •
Black Locust (Robinia pseudoaccacia)
Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) •
Goldenrain tree (Koelreuteria phaenopyrum)
Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) •
Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) •
Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) •
Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboretum) •
Washington Hawthorne (Crataegus phaenopyrum) •
White Pine (Pinus strobus) •
Shrubs
Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) •
Beach Plum (Prunus maritima) •
Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) •
Leatherleaf Viburnum (Viburnum rhytidophyllum)
Linden Viburnum (Viburnum dilatatum) •
Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) •
St. Johnswort (Hypericum prolificum) •
Sumac, various species (Rhus) •
Witch-hazel (Hamamelis sp.) •
Plants for (Brackish) Intertidal Areas
Shrubs
Groundsel Bush (Baccharis halimofolia) •
High Tide Bush (Iva frutescens) •
Marsh Hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos) •
Grasses, Sedges, Rushes, etc.
Big Cordgrass (Spartina cynosuroides) •
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium Scoparium) •
Saltmarsh Cordgrass (Spartina patens) •
Spike Grass (Distichlis spicata) •
Smooth Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) •
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) •
• = native to the region
Page 3 of 4
Rev. 10/15
Recommended Plants for the Meadowlands District
One DeKorte Park Plaza • PO Box 640 • Lyndhurst, New Jersey • 07071
Phone: 201.460.1700 • Fax: 201.372.0161
Website: njsea.com/applications
Plants that are STRONGLY DISCOURAGED
The following plants are NOT recommended. Most of these plants are exotic and/or invasive and have potential to
out-compete and replace native plant communities.
Trees
Amur Corktree (Phellodendron amurense)
Austrian Pine (Pinus nigra)
Autum Olive (Eleagnus angustifolia)
Mimosa Tree (Albizia julibrissin)
Northern Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa)
Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)
Princess Tree (Paulownia tomentosa)
Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia)
Syacamore Maple (Acer psuedoplatanus)
Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
White Cottonwood (Populus alba)
White Mulberry (Morus alba)
Groundcovers and Herbaceous
Crown Vetch (Coronilla varia)
Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum)
Indian Strawberry (Dechesnea indica)
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Shrubs
Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii)
Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus catharita)
Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
Japanese spiraea (Spiraea japonica)
Morrow’s honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii)
Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
Privet (Ligustrum sp.)
Tartarian honeysuckle (Lonciera tatarica)
Winged Euonymus (Euonymus alatus)
Vines
Fiveleaf akebia (Akebia quinata)
Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda)
Kudzu (Pueraria lobata)
Mile-A- Minute (Polygonum perfoliatum)
Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
Porcelain-berry (Ampeloosis brevidunculata)
This list has been compiled by NJSEA Parks Group staff from a variety of sources, including first-hand knowledge of the Meadowlands
District. It is not comprehensive.
Source: NJDEP - An Overview of Nonindigenous Plant Species in New Jersey issued By New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection, Division of Parks and Forestry, PO Box 404, Trenton, NJ 08625-0404 dated February 2004.
These trees, shrubs, vines and herbaceous plants as well as their varieties and cultivars are known or believed to be invasive to natural
ecosystems in New Jersey. Most are exotic (non-native) species, and many may be available at commercial nurseries for landscaping.
Because of their invasive nature, they are not suitable for landscaping of capital improvements, replanting of facilities, or ecological
restorations administered by the division of Parks and Forestry. Note that this may not be a complete list of invasive exotic plant species of
New Jersey, and this list will be periodically updated based on new information. For each species the common name, scientific name and
believed place of origin, if known are provided. Scientific names should be consulted for accuracy in identifying species.
Plant Conservation Alliance Alien Plant Working Group:
Least Wanted: www.nps.gov/plants/alien
Center for Invasive Plants and Ecosystem Health: www.invasive.org
The National Invasive Species Council: www.invasivespeiciesinfo.gov
The Native Plant Society of New Jersey: www.npsnj.org
Some examples of alternative plants to consider include American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) which is native to the southeastern U.S.
to southern Virginia, trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans), trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), Dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia
macrophylla), and crossvine (Bignonia capreolata). Contact your local native plant society for information on sources of these and other
native plants appropriate for your area.
Page 4 of 4
Rev. 10/15