New York Flora Association Blog

A small demonstration garden featuring alternatives to ornamental invasive plants has been installed at Cornell University’s Long Island Horticultural Research & Extension Center in Riverhead.  These “native-friendly” plants were selected based upon their similar ornamental characteristics and cultural requirements compared to the invasives.  Alternative plants may be native or non-native, but are not invasive.  Alternative plants are well-adapted to Long Island, and many are readily available at Long Island nurseries.  You can help make the future of Long Island greener by growing alternative plants instead of invasives!

Cornell University’s Long Island Horticultural Research & Extension Center
3059 Sound Ave.
Riverhead, NY 11901
631-727-3595

The public is welcome to visit the “Native-Friendly” Garden, but please check-in with the front office first and take a brochure.  The garden is located on the east side of the back parking lot.  Plant labels make a self-guided tour possible – each label lists the plant species, which invasive plant it is an alternative for, and whether the plant is native or not.  Brochures are also available in electronic format.  The Native-Friendly Garden was designed and installed by Alexis Alvey, Nursery & Landscape Specialist for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County. For more information, contact Alexis at: aaa34@cornell.edu; or 631-727-7850 ext. 213.

The garden after it was first planted in 2009. Photo Alexis Alvey.

This entry was posted on May 24, 2011 at 1:58 pm and is filed under Education and Research. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.