Spring wildflowers of High Rock Park, Staten Island

High Rock Park is a jewel within the Staten Island Greenbelt. Its varied topography of knobby glacial terrain and low-lying ponds supports a diverse array of plants in upland woodlands, wet meadows, and swamp forests.

In the freshwater wetlands we’ll see plants such as Swamp Azalea (Rhododendron viscosum), Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), and Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus). We’ll also view a rare grove of Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), a tree more commonly seen south of NYC.

The drier oak-beech-hickory forest is where we’ll see an abundance of Pinxter Azalea (Rhododendron periclymenoides), perhaps the best stand of it in the five boroughs. If we catch it right it will be breathtaking. It grows among Common Juneberry (Amelanchier arborea) and Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium pallidum). In wetter shady spots are the uncommon species red chokeberry (Photinia pyrifolia) and Netted Chain Fern (Woodwardia areolata).

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Walk Leader: Marielle Anzelone is the founder of NYC Wildflower Week. She talks local flora on WNYC's Brian Lehrer Show. Follow @nycbotanist on instagram

NYC Wildflower Week thanks Con Edison for their generous support of these botanical tours.

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