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If you’ve ever walked the High Line and thought, “I want whatever that is growing in my backyard,” your moment has arrived.
For the first time ever, the beloved elevated park is selling its plants to the public—the actual ones grown and maintained by its horticulture team. The event, called Rooted in Resilience, lands on Saturday, May 30, from 11am to 1pm along the High Line at 14th Street, and it’s not just a shopping event; it’s also a crash course in how to keep those plants alive in a city that’s not exactly known for easy growing conditions.
The plants up for grabs have been propagated directly from the High Line’s own gardens, meaning they’re already well-versed in surviving New York’s particular brand of weather chaos. The lineup includes hardy, pollinator-friendly picks like purple coneflower, Eastern red columbine, thread-leaf bluestar and little bluestem, all plants chosen not just because they look good, but because they are extra hardy.
The idea is to extend the High Line beyond its narrow strip of West Side real estate and into the rest of the city. “The High Line has always been a living laboratory for what sustainable urban landscapes can look like,” said Friends of the High Line executive director Alan van Capelle. “With this event, we’re giving New Yorkers the opportunity to take a literal piece of the High Line home to their fire escape, front stoop, balcony or backyard encouraging them to become part of a more resilient, climate-adapted city.”
If you’re not exactly a plant person (yet), don’t panic. Throughout the event, the High Line’s horticulture team will host short talks on everything from what actually survives in shady apartments to how to build a mini rain garden that helps manage stormwater. There’s also a pop-up from the High Line Shop, with seed mixes inspired by the park and tools curated by famed garden designer Piet Oudolf.
One caveat: if you want first dibs, you’ll need to be a member. Those at the Rail Level and above get early access from 10 am to 11 am, along with a more intimate chance to chat with the experts before the crowds roll in.
Proceeds from the sale go back into maintaining the park and funding its free programming, so even if your new plant doesn’t make it (no judgment), you’re still contributing to one of the city’s most beloved green spaces.