NYC Parks Plant Ecology Center and Nursery

Providing native seeds and plants for biodiversity and conservation

NYC Parks Plant Ecology Center and Nursery (PECAN) is a 13-acre plant and seed production facility located on Staten Island. PECAN’s mission is to support the restoration and enhancement of NYC's natural areas and green spaces by providing high-quality, ecologically appropriate plants and seeds, primarily grown from wild sources. We also promote access to nature and strengthen the health and resilience of our landscapes through education, research, and public engagement.

Located on land farmed by the Mohlenhoff family since the 1920s, the Plant Ecology Center and Nursery was founded in the 1980s out of concern for the rapidly diminishing natural areas of Staten Island and desire to preserve the native flora of New York City. Our seed mixes, container plant material, and science-based approach to restoration feature prominently in projects large and small throughout the five boroughs.

Our Name

In 2025, we changed our name to the NYC Parks Plant Ecology Center and Nursery. The plant center began in 1985 as a pilot project by the Staten Island Greenbelt Administrator, named the Greenbelt Native Plant Center. The goal was to provide restoration projects with native plant material that could not be found locally in the quantities needed. A couple of locations and decades later, the name no longer fully reflected the scale or breadth of our work. Over time, we evolved from a local nursery into the City’s hub for seed conservation and native plant distribution, as well as a key knowledge base of the area’s plant communities and how they are changing. We hope the new name better communicates the center’s leading role in urban ecology, plant science and biodiversity support across all five boroughs. The new name also more clearly identifies us as a part of NYC Parks.

Orders and Inquiries

PECAN grows species that are common in the various habitats found across New York City. We provide plants and seed to appropriate projects depending on availability. Contact us for more information on current inventory and other opportunities at PECAN@parks.nyc.gov.

Seed and Plant Material

Opportunities

Visit Us

We love connecting with New Yorkers and plant lovers from all over! We offer monthly tours throughout the year, as well as a variety of other events that can be found on NYC Parks’ Stewardship event page. For other inquiries, please reach out to PECAN@parks.nyc.gov or call (718) 370-9044. We can be reached Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 3PM. Please note that the facility is not open to the public without an appointment.