Plants

New York State's many habitats, both on land and water, shelter rich and diverse plant life. From the beloved sugar maple to the common milkweed, both humans and wildlife depend on the wide variety of native plants that are found throughout the state.

Those interested in helping to maintain the state's diverse plant populations may be interested in DEC's Saratoga Tree Nursery, which sells and donates tree and shrub seedlings to the public.

However, native plants and their habitats are constantly threatened by invasive plants that have the ability to outcompete our native plants for space and resources. Some of these invasives even pose a danger to human health, such as giant hogweed and wild parsnip. Learning how to identify invasive plants is the first step in protecting New York's diverse environments.