Piet Oudolf Garden Collection

Inspired by legendary garden designer Piet Oudolf, this collection highlights Piet’s planting illustrations and his philosophy on garden design, celebrating the horticulture of the High Line.

Nearly 20 years ago, as Friends of the High Line looked to transform the High Line into public open space, we strove to preserve the magic of the untamed landscape that had grown over the tracks and between the rail ties since the trains stopped running. During the design competition in 2004, one proposal stood out in its approach: project lead Field Operations and Diller Scofidio + Renfro partnered with iconic garden designer Piet Oudolf to take inspiration from the High Line’s original self-seeded landscape to create a stunning, multi-layered garden experience evocative of nature.

There are many Piet Oudolf naturalistic—or nature-inspired—garden designs around the world, but the High Line is widely recognized as the most emblematic of his unique artistry. As a leading pioneer in the New Perennial movement, Oudolf has spent decades creating garden compositions that focus on what were revolutionary ideas in the beginning: the use of perennials instead of annuals, an appreciation of plants’ movement and structural beauty across all four seasons, and combinations of plants that take inspiration from naturally occurring plant communities.

The High Line’s planting design is inspired by the self-seeded landscape that grew wild for 25 years after the trains stopped running. Wandering through our gardens, you’ll find perennials, grasses, shrubs, and trees that were chosen for their hardiness, sustainability, and ever-changing textures and colors in all four seasons.