New York
Native plants in New York
374 plants native to this area with Sow catalog pages.
271 of them need no watering beyond New York’s own rainfall
Yard rebates in New York
3 programs from the city, the county or local utilities pay residents for yard projects, plus 1 statewide.
- Open
NYC Parks Neighborhood Tree Planting (Free Street Trees)
NYC Department of Parks & Recreation
Free street tree, planted and cared for by Parks contractors
- Status not posted
NYC DEP Rain Barrel Giveaway Program
NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
Free 60-gallon rain barrel with installation kit and instructions
- Ended
PSEG Long Island Earth Month Free Energy-Saving Trees
PSEG Long Island with the Arbor Day Foundation, Suffolk County and PSEG Foundation
One free tree per participant (500 trees total); species listed: river birch, flowering dogwood, red oak, American elm, Japanese cedar
Showing 374 plants
Trees79
Canopy and structure
Shrubs81
Backbone planting
Grasses40
Movement and texture
Perennials180
Seasonal colour
Vines12
Verticals and screens
Ferns21
Shade and damp
Succulents1
Dry and architectural
When to plant in New York
The median last spring frost is Mar 30 and the median first fall frost is Nov 20 at the New York weather station (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, USDA Zone 7b). Each crop’s guide explains the rule behind its dates.
- Broccoli
Spring transplant: Mar 9 – Mar 23
Fall transplant: Aug 12 – Sep 11
- Cabbage
Spring transplant: Mar 9 – Mar 23
Fall transplant: Aug 7 – Sep 6
- Carrots
Spring sowing: Mar 9 – Apr 6
Fall crop sowing: Aug 14 – Sep 11
- Corn
First sowing: When soil at 4 in holds 55°F (13°C)
Last sowing (early variety): Jul 15–25
- Cucumbers
Direct sow or transplant: When soil at 4 in holds 60–70°F
Last sowing for fall harvest: Aug 17 – Aug 22
- Daffodil bulbs
Plant bulbs: Oct 16 – Nov 20
- Garlic
Plant cloves (Zones 3–5): See Zones 6–10 column
Plant cloves (Zones 6–10): Oct 16 – Nov 27
- Grass seed
Cool-season grass (best): Aug 15 – Sep 15
Warm-season grass: Use cool-season grass
- Green beans
Direct sow: Mid-May – early Jun
Last sowing for fall harvest: By early Aug
- Hydrangeas
Spring planting: Mar 30 – May 11
Fall planting: Oct 6 – Nov 17
- Lettuce
Spring sowing: Mar 2 – Apr 27
Fall sowing: Aug 28 – Sep 25
- Onions
Late winter or spring planting: Mar 2 – Apr 13
Fall planting (short-day types): Not recommended
- Peas
Direct sow: Mar 2 – Mar 30
Fall sowing: Aug 28 – Sep 18
- Potatoes
Plant seed potatoes: Mar 9 – Mar 30
Fall crop (optional): Spring crop only
- Pumpkins
Direct sow: Apr 16 – May 7
Sow for Halloween: June to early July
- Radishes
Spring sowing: Mar 9 – Apr 13
Fall sowing: Sep 11 – Oct 9
- Roses
Bare-root roses: Mar 2 – Mar 20
Container roses: Mar 30 – Jun 13
- Strawberries
Plant dormant crowns (spring): Mar 2 – Mar 30
Plant plugs (fall): Not advised; plant in spring
- Sweet potatoes
Plant slips outdoors: When soil at 4 in holds 65°F (18°C)
- Tomatoes
Frost-safe window: Apr 9 – Apr 30
- Tulip bulbs
Plant bulbs: Oct 16 – Nov 20
Plant pre-chilled bulbs: Not needed (winter chills bulbs)
- Watermelon
Start planting (soil 65°F): Late May – early June, once soil holds 65°F
Last sowing (early varieties): Mid- to late June
- Wildflower seeds
Fall sowing window: Dec 1 – Jan 5
What sets the date: First hard freeze
- Zucchini
Direct sow or transplant: After frost, once soil reads 60–65°F (16–18°C)
Last sowing for fall harvest: Jul 28 – Aug 22
More of New York
- Staten Island
- Yonkers
- New Rochelle
- Bronx
- Mount Vernon
- Manhattan
- Brooklyn
- Queens
- Poughkeepsie
- Binghamton
- Buffalo
- Glens Falls
Design a New York garden with these plants
Snap a photo of your yard and Sow places real, zone-matched plants into it — then keeps the watering and care schedule for everything you plant.