Plant Finder

User Guidelines

The Plant Finder is a multi-faceted tool to assist designers, contractors, maintenance personnel, community groups and the general public in selecting plants that perform well within the public right-of-way. It expands on the lists included in previous versions of the Manual and should be used in conjunction with the guidance provided in the Landscape Chapter.

The Plant Finder database is not comprehensive and there is no guarantee that these plants will survive at a specific site. All plants within the public right-of-way must be selected based on site-specific conditions and approved by the appropriate agency or agencies with jurisdiction. Download the Plant Finder User Guide for instructions on how to use the tool.

The information in this database was generated by DOT, Parks, other agency staff, and local horticulture professionals based on their first-hand knowledge as well as from existing resources. Download the Plant Finder References page for a full list of sources.

Plant Basics

Characteristics

Tolerances

Red twig dogwood

Common:

Arctic Fire® Red Twig Dogwood

Scientific:

Cornus sericea

'Farrow'

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

3-4 ft

Spread:

3-4 ft

Shape:

Upright

Bloom:

Tiny, fragrant, white flowers appear in flat-topped clusters (cymes to 2.5" diameter) in late spring, with sparse, intermittent, additional flowering sometimes continuing into summer

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Flowers give way to clusters of whitish (sometimes with a bluish tinge) drupes in summer. Fruit is quite attractive to birds and is generally considered to have as much if not more ornamental interest than the flowers

Foliage:

Ovate to lanceolate, medium to dark green leaves (2"-5" long)

Fall:

Leaves acquire interesting shades of red to orange eventually fading to purple in autumn

Bark:

Reddish stems turn bright red in winter and are particularly showy against a snowy backdrop

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

3a - 7a

'Farrow' is a dwarf red twig dogwood cultivar that is primarily grown for its bright red winter stems. 

Attracts birds and butterflies.

Tends to sucker.

Selectively prune old growth to retain red twigs.

An eye-level image of Cornus sericea with crimson branches, topped off with green and yellowish leaves.

Common:

Redosier Dogwood

Scientific:

Cornus sericea

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

6-10 ft

Spread:

6-10 ft

Shape:

Rounded Spreading

Bloom:

Dull white flowers in 1.5"-2.5" diameter flat clusters. Individual flowers are quite small

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

White to pale blue in color. Individual fruits are 1/3" in diameter. They are noticeable in August and September

Foliage:

Simple leaves with opposite leaf arrangement. Ovate leaves with rounded bases and acuminate tips. 2"-5" long and 1"-2.5" wide

Fall:

Turns a dull or rich purple-red. Variable color, but usually good

Bark:

Stems are reddish (purple-red) from late summer into early fall. Color becomes a strong red during winter and changes to green in the spring. Stem color is quite showy

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Distinctive Bark

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

3a - 7a

Other:

Native

Attracts birds and butterflies.

Tends to sucker.

Selectively prune old growth to retain red twigs.

Buttercup Winterhazel

Common:

Buttercup Winterhazel

Scientific:

Corylopsis pauciflora

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

4-6 ft

Spread:

4-6 ft

Shape:

Spreading

Bloom:

Small drooping clusters (racemes to 1.25" long) of mildly fragrant primrose yellow flowers

Blooming period:

Mar - Apr

Foliage:

Ovate, bright green leaves (to 3" long) have distinctive sunken veining and some marginal teeth

Fall:

Leaves turn variable but usually unexceptional shades of yellow to yellowish-green in fall

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Unknown

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

6a - 8a

Protect from wind.

An image of Corylus colurna with a full and round crown of green leaves, positioned next to a street sign.

Collections:

Common:

Turkish Hazel

Scientific:

Corylus colurna

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

40-80 ft

Spread:

30-50 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Monoecious flowers appear in catkins. The male catkins (to 3" long) are not individually showy, but cumulatively can provide much interest. Tiny female catkins are largely hidden

Blooming period:

Mar

Fruit:

Edible nuts appear in clusters of 3-6 with spiny and hairy involucre husks covering and extending beyond each nut. Nuts may be roasted and eaten, but are commonly left for squirrels

Foliage:

Double-toothed, broad ovate to obovate, semi-glossy, bright green leaves (to 5" long) have hair on the veins beneath

Fall:

Leaves turn variable but usually unexceptional shades of yellow in fall

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 7a

Tends to sucker. Requires consistent moisture during establishment.

An image of the Cotinus coggygria ('Royal Purple' cultivar) shrub, displaying its purple and red foliage and feather-like seed heads.

Common:

Smoketree

Scientific:

Cotinus coggygria

'Royal Purple'

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

10-15 ft

Spread:

10-15 ft

Shape:

Rounded

Bloom:

Tiny, insignificant, yellowish flowers which appear in branching, terminal panicles (to 6-8" long) in spring. Billowy hairs (attached to elongated stalks on the spent flower clusters) turn a smokey pink to purplish pink in summer

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Small and not ornamentally important

Foliage:

Purple leaves (to 3" long) are ovate to obovate. Leaf tips are rounded or notched

Fall:

Generally fairly showy although not always good

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Urban (rubble/fill), Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 8a

‘Royal Purple’ is a compact, purple-leaved version of the European species. Resistant to deer and drought.

Smoketree

Common:

Smoketree

Scientific:

Cotinus coggygria

'Grace'

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

10-15 ft

Spread:

10-15 ft

Shape:

Rounded

Bloom:

Billowy hairs (attached to elongated stalks on the spent flower clusters) turn a smokey pink to purplish pink in summer

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Small and not ornamentally important

Foliage:

Bluish green leaves (to 3" long) are ovate to obovate. Leaf tips are rounded or notched. Leaves begin as purple and mature to blue-green

Fall:

Generally fairly showy although not always good

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Urban (rubble/fill), Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 8a

'Grace' is a hybrid with C. obovatus. Foliage is a vibrant wine red when young, darkening to a plum red at maturity with brilliant shades of orange-red in the fall. 

Resistant to deer and drought.

American Smoketree

Common:

American Smoketree

Scientific:

Cotinus obovatus

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

20-30 ft

Spread:

20-30 ft

Shape:

Oval Rounded Upright

Bloom:

Tiny, insignificant, dioecious, yellowish-green flowers. Billowy hairs (attached to elongated stalks on the spent flower clusters) which turn a smokey pink to purplish pink in summer

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Small and not ornamentally important

Foliage:

Bluish green leaves are obovate

Fall:

Foliage turns a variety of colors in the fall, and produces some of the best fall color of any of the native American trees and shrubs

Bark:

Flaky, attractive, gray-brown bark

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Urban (rubble/fill), Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

4a - 8a
Cotoneaster

Common:

Cotoneaster

Scientific:

Cotoneaster apiculatus

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

2-3 ft

Spread:

3-6 ft

Shape:

Spreading

Bloom:

Small pinkish flowers in late spring

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Red berries which mature in late summer and persist into winter

Foliage:

Rounded-ovate glossy green leaves (to 0.75" long)

Fall:

Leaves turn attractive shades of purple, red and bronze

Bark:

Thin, reddish stems. Older bark is grayish. When broken, emits a cherry smell

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 7a

Tolerant of air pollution. Not tolerant of heat and humidity.

Rock cotoneaster

Common:

Rock Cotoneaster

Scientific:

Cotoneaster horizontalis

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

2-3 ft

Spread:

6-8 ft

Shape:

Spreading

Bloom:

Five-petaled, tiny pink flowers appear singly or in pairs in late spring. Bees are attracted to the flowers

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Bright scarlet fruits (0.25" wide) that mature in late summer to fall

Foliage:

Round to elliptic, glossy dark green leaves (to 0.5" long) are attractive throughout the growing season

Fall:

Leaves turn reddish-purple in fall

Bark:

Smooth gray bark. Stems have a fishbone pattern

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5b - 7a

Requires good drainage. Tolerant of drought, erosion, air pollution and poor soils.

Willowleaf cotoneaster

Common:

Willowleaf Cotoneaster

Scientific:

Cotoneaster salicifolia repandens

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

1-1.5 ft

Spread:

1-1.5 ft

Shape:

Clumping

Bloom:

Small, white flowers which are borne in corymbs. Emits an odor

Blooming period:

May

Fruit:

Small red pome fruit. Ripens in September through October. Persists through the winter

Foliage:

Long, linear leaves (to 3.5" long). Dark green leaf color with a gray pubescent underside

Fall:

Purplish-tinge occurs in colder seasons

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

6a - 7a

Requires evenly moist soil and good drainage. Tolerates drought and pollution. Good for erosion control.

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