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

Leaf icon

Collections:

Common:

Imperial Honey Locust

Scientific:

Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis

'Imperial'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

30-40 ft

Spread:

25-35 ft

Shape:

Rounded Compact

Bloom:

Inconspicuous, greenish yellow to greenish white flowers appear in racemes in late spring.

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Inermis variety has no thorns and in many cases no seedpods, making them preferred trees for landscaping.

Foliage:

Pinnate to bipinnate dark green leaves with ovate leaflets (1/2” to 1 1/2” long) cast a sun-dappled shade.

Fall:

Leaves turn an attractive yellow in fall.

Bark:

Dark grey, shallow grooves.

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

High

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

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

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

3a - 8a

The 'Imperial' cultivar is a thornless and nearly seedless variety that typically matures in a rounded compact form to 30-40' tall. It features spreading branches and often lacks a single central trunk. 

An image of a medium Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis ('Halka' cultivar) tree, with a wide canopy that is covering a sidewalk.

Collections:

Common:

Scientific:

Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis

'Halka'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

40-50 ft

Spread:

40-50 ft

Shape:

Rounded

Bloom:

Inconspicuous, greenish yellow to greenish white flowers appear in racemes in late spring.

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Inermis variety has no thorns and in many cases no seedpods, making them preferred trees for landscaping.

Foliage:

Pinnate to bipinnate dark green leaves with ovate leaflets (1/2” to 1 1/2” long) cast a sun-dappled shade.

Fall:

Leaves turn an attractive yellow in fall.

Bark:

Dark grey, shallow grooves.

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

High

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

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

Moisture:

Not available

Hardiness:

3a - 8a

'Halka' is a thornless cultivar that has the widest canopy of cultivars. 

A full image of Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis ('Shademaster' cultivar), displaying its dark brown trunk and leaves that are beginning to turn yellow, on a street median.

Collections:

Common:

‘Shademaster’ Thornless Honeylocust

Scientific:

Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis

'Shademaster'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

50-70 ft

Spread:

35-50 ft

Shape:

Vase-Like Upright

Bloom:

Inconspicuous, greenish yellow to greenish white flowers appear in racemes in late spring.

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

There is no fruit on this tree.

Foliage:

pinnately compound leaflets are very light and airy, and provide soft, dappled shade below.

Fall:

The tiny leaflets turn golden yellow in fall before dropping.

Bark:

The bark is typically light gray, with shallow ridges and furrows.

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

High

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

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

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

3a - 8a

'Shademaster' has a superior growth habit with upright ascending branches, producing an irregular vase-shaped form.

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Collections:

Common:

Thornless Honeylocust

Scientific:

Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

30-70 ft

Spread:

30-40 ft

Shape:

Oval Upright

Bloom:

greenish white or golden green

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Inermis variety has no thorns and in many cases no seedpods, making them preferred trees for landscaping.

Foliage:

6-8 in. alternate, compound, bright green leaves.

Fall:

Leaves turn yellow in fall.

Bark:

Dark grey, shallow grooves.

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

High

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

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

Moisture:

Dry to Wet

Hardiness:

3a - 8a

Other:

ALB Safe
Leaf icon

Collections:

Common:

Prairie Titan™ Kentucky Coffee Tree

Scientific:

Gymnocladus dioicus

'J.C McDaniel'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

60-80 ft

Spread:

40-55 ft

Shape:

Oval Vase-Like Upright

Bloom:

Greenish-white, inconspicuous flowers appear in late spring; male flowers in clusters to 4" long

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Seed pods are not present on this male cultivar

Foliage:

Large leaves to 3’ long, divided into 3-7 pairs of pinnae, with individual leaflets (1-3” long)

Fall:

Leaves turn an attractive yellow, but are one of the first trees to drop leaves in the fall

Bark:

Rough, gray-brown ornamental bark has plates on the branches and trunk

Special Qualities:

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:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Wet

Hardiness:

3b - 8b

Other:

ALB Safe

Prairie Titan™ is a more upright, spreading male cultivar.

A low-shot image of Gymnocladus dioicus ('Espresso®' cultivar)on a city street, with prominently green leaves and light bark.

Collections:

Common:

Espresso Kentucky Coffee Tree

Scientific:

Gymnocladus dioicus

'Espresso®'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

60-80 ft

Spread:

40-55 ft

Shape:

Vase-Like Upright

Bloom:

Greenish-white, inconspicuous flowers appear in late spring; male flowers in clusters to 4" long.

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Seed pods are not present on this male cultivar.

Foliage:

Large leaves to 3’ long, divided into 3-7 pairs of pinnae, with individual leaflets (1-3” long).

Fall:

Leaves turn an attractive yellow, but are one of the first trees to drop leaves in the fall.

Bark:

Rough, gray-brown ornamental bark has plates on the branches and trunk.

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Winter

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Wet

Hardiness:

3b - 8b

Other:

ALB Safe

'Espresso' has arching branches that provide a vase-shape; male cultivar.

An image of a common Gymnocladus dioicus tree on a street median, involving its green and almond-shaped leaves.

Collections:

Common:

Kentucky Coffee Tree

Scientific:

Gymnocladus dioicus

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

60-80 ft

Spread:

40-55 ft

Shape:

Rounded

Bloom:

greenish-white, inconspicuous flowers are small clusters with five parts

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

female trees grow a flat black to brown seed pod with 4-7 seeds

Foliage:

Leaflets are blue-green in summer

Fall:

turns yellow in fall

Bark:

rough, gray-brown ornamental bark has plates on the branches and trunk

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Wet

Hardiness:

3b - 8b

Other:

Fall Dig Safe, ALB Safe

Tolerates drought and air pollution.

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Common:

Japanese Forest Grass

Scientific:

Hakonechloa macra

'Beni Kaze'

Plant type:

Grass/Grass-like

Height:

2-3 ft

Spread:

2-3 ft

Shape:

Clumping

Bloom:

Starting in late summer, pale green, slim, flower spikes emerge

Blooming period:

Jul - Sep

Fruit:

yellow-green seed heads remain in winter

Foliage:

green mound of loosely arranged, draped blades turn red on the tips in summer, and the whole leaf turns red and purple shades in the fall

Fall:

in the fall leaves turn red and purple

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall

Light:

Part Sun to Full Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

5a - 8b

'Beni Kaze' translates to 'Red wind' in Japanese. Cultivar develops red to purple tips in the fall.

Tolerates deer, Black Walnut and air pollution. Needs even moisture to establish.

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Common:

Japanese Forest Grass

Scientific:

Hakonechloa macra

'Aureola'

Plant type:

Grass/Grass-like

Height:

1-1.5 ft

Spread:

1-1.5 ft

Shape:

Spreading Mounded

Bloom:

Yellow-green flowers appear in loose, nodding panicles in mid-summer.

Blooming period:

Jul - Aug

Fruit:

ornamentally insignificant

Foliage:

cascading layers of narrow green and yellow leaves

Fall:

Foliage becomes pink-tinged as the weather cools in autumn.

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

High

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 9b

'Aureola' has golden-striped blades of grass.

Tolerates deer, Black Walnut and air pollution. Local favorite.

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Collections:

Common:

Japanese Forest Grass

Scientific:

Hakonechloa macra

'All Gold'

Plant type:

Grass/Grass-like

Height:

1-1.5 ft

Spread:

1-1.5 ft

Shape:

Spreading Mounded

Bloom:

yellow-green flowers bloom in loose panicles (to 6 inches long) in mid to late summer.

Blooming period:

Jul - Aug

Fruit:

ornamentally insignificant

Foliage:

grassy foliage is green-gold colored and almost bamboo-like, makes a nice color accent

Fall:

can have reddish-tan color in fall

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall

Light:

Part Sun to Full Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Clay

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

5a - 9b

'All Gold' is a more compact cultivar featuring bright golden yellow leaves.

DEP Especially Shady Plan. 

Tolerates deer, Black Walnut and air pollution.

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