The Native Plant Program at Hilltop Hanover Farm is a farm-based initiative focused on strengthening and expanding local biodiversity by increasing the number of ecotype plants available in the community.
Westchester lands, including forests, wetlands, meadows on both public and private spaces, are under threat. Depleted soil, new plant diseases and invasive species are taking a tremendous toll—as are the combined pressures of climate change, pollution and development. Preserving and expanding areas where native plants are grown is a powerful way to combat these overarching environmental threats, while also supporting animal and insect populations that are essential to a healthy ecosystem. Highly biodiverse ecosystems are more resilient and adaptable; they improve the soil, prevent erosion, protect against flooding, lower temperatures at the ground, and clean the air. They are also beautiful.
At Hilltop, our native plant program seeks to deliver all these benefits by collecting seed native to our specific ecoregion, cleaning and propagating that seed in founders plots, and producing plants for land conservation and restoration. We make both seeds and plants available for sale and donation to municipalities, schools, garden clubs, nurseries and individuals to achieve the greatest impact possible. In addition to our expert staff, we welcome and depend on volunteers to grow this popular and sorely needed work. Please join us!
2023 Species List
Aquilegia canadensis Eastern Red Columbine
Asclepias incarnata Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca Common Milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly Weed
Euthamia graminifolia Thin Leaf Goldenrod
Eutrochium dubium Joe Pye
Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal Flower
Lobelia siphilitica Great Blue Lobelia
Mimulus ringens Allegheny Monkey Flower
Mondarda fistulosa Wild Bergamot
Panicum virgatum Switchgrass
Penstemon digitalis Foxglove Beardtongue
Pycnanthemum muticum Short Toothed Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum tenuifolium Narrowleaf Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum virginianum Virginia Mountain Mint
Rudbeckia hirta Black-Eyed Susan
Schizachyrium scoparium Little Bluestem
Solidago caesia Blue Stem Goldenrod
Solidago speciosa Showy Goldenrod
Sorghastrum nutans Indian Grass
Symphyotrichum cordifolium Blue Wood Aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae New England Aster
Tridens flavus Purpletop tridens
Vernonia noveboracensis NY Ironweed