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

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Common:

Sneezeweed

Scientific:

Helenium

'Goldlackzwerg'

Plant type:

Shrub, Perennial

Height:

2-3 ft

Spread:

1.5-2.5 ft

Shape:

Clumping

Bloom:

Daisy-like flowers (2" diameter) with wedge-shaped, orange-red rays (three-lobed and yellow at the tips) and dark brown centers

Blooming period:

Aug - Oct

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant

Foliage:

Alternate, lance-shaped, dark green leaves (to 6" long)

Fall:

Flowers bloom in fall; sometimes bloom until first frost

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Summer

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Not available

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

4a - 8b

Other:

Pollinator

'Goldlackzwerg' translates from German as gold lacquer dwarf.

Attracts butterflies. Tolerates deer.

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Common:

Sneezeweed or Autumn Sneezeweed

Scientific:

Helenium autumnale

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

3-5 ft

Spread:

2-3 ft

Shape:

Clumping

Bloom:

Clusters of daisy-like flowers with wedge-shaped, bright yellow rays (three-lobed at the tips) and dull yellow centers

Blooming period:

Aug - Oct

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant

Foliage:

Alternate, lance-shaped, dark green leaves (to 6" long)

Fall:

Flowers bloom in fall; sometimes bloom until first frost

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

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:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

3a - 8b

Other:

Native, Pollinator

Attracts butterflies. Tolerates deer. Hardy.

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Collections:

Common:

Blue Oat Grass

Scientific:

Helictotrichon sempervirens

Plant type:

Grass/Grass-like

Height:

2-3 ft

Spread:

2-2.5 ft

Shape:

Rounded Clumping

Bloom:

Bluish-brown flowers arranged in open panicles appear in June. Flower spikelets mature to a golden wheat color by fall

Blooming period:

Jun - Sep

Fruit:

Small fruit forms in oat-like clusters that hold the flowers. Tan when mature

Foliage:

Narrow, spiky, blue leaf blades which form a rounded, porcupine-like clump

Fall:

Leaves remain blue all year

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen

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 Med

Hardiness:

4a - 8b

Other:

Pollinator

Tolerates deer, drought and air pollution.

DEP Urban Plan 3 and Especially Dry Plan. 

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Common:

Oxeye Sunflower

Scientific:

Heliopsis helianthoides

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

3-6 ft

Spread:

2-4 ft

Shape:

Upright Clumping

Bloom:

Daisy-like flowers with yellow-orange rays surrounding brownish-yellow centers

Blooming period:

Jun - Aug

Fruit:

Center disk becomes a head of dark seeds that lack tufts of hair

Foliage:

Green, ovate, toothed leaves

Fall:

Flowers still blooming in early fall

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

None

pH:

Requires Acid (5.0-7.0)

Soil:

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

Moisture:

Not available

Hardiness:

3a - 9b

Other:

Native, Pollinator
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Common:

Stinking Hellebore

Scientific:

Helleborus foetidus

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

1-2 ft

Spread:

1-1.5 ft

Bloom:

Clusters of drooping, bell-shaped, greenish-white flowers (to 1” diameter) subtended by pale green bracts bloom at the tips of leafy stems commencing in February. Flowers and bruised foliage are unpleasantly aromatic

Blooming period:

Apr - May

Fruit:

Following flowering, five pod-shaped follicles are produced inside the whorl of sepals. Stems die to the ground after the seeds mature and emerge anew in the fall

Foliage:

Dark green leaves are deeply lobed and divided into 7-10 narrow-toothed segments

Fall:

Evergreen

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Evergreen

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun to Full Shade

Salt:

Unknown

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 8b

Other:

Pollinator

Tolerates deer.

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Common:

Hybrid Lenten Rose

Scientific:

Helleborus x hybridus

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

1-1.5 ft

Spread:

1-1.5 ft

Shape:

Clumping

Bloom:

Bowl-shaped flowers include five showy, usually overlapping petals, but sometimes come in a double flowered form. Flowers are 3-4" in diameter and can be a range of colors, including white, pink, green, yellow, maroon, and purple, sometimes spotted

Blooming period:

Feb - Apr

Fruit:

Flowers are often followed by unusual seed pods that offer ornamental interest. Carpels eventually dry and split to release shiny black seeds

Foliage:

Thick, leathery evergreen leaves

Fall:

Evergreen leaves

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Evergreen

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Part Sun to Full Shade

Salt:

Not available

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 8b

Other:

Pollinator
An image of Helleborus x hybridus ('Brandywine Hybrids' cultivar), which includes clusters of green leaves and its accompanying, pink flower.

Common:

Brandywine™ Lenten Rose

Scientific:

Helleborus x hybridus

'Brandywine Hybrids'

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

1-1.5 ft

Spread:

1-1.5 ft

Shape:

Clumping

Bloom:

Features large, cup-shaped, rose-like, usually nodding flowers that are 3-4" in diameter. Bloom colors include dark reds, pinks and apricot shades

Blooming period:

Feb - Apr

Fruit:

Carpals release seeds after maturing

Foliage:

Dark green oval leaves

Fall:

Evergreen

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Evergreen

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Part Sun to Full Shade

Salt:

Not available

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 8b

Other:

Pollinator

Brandywine™ Hellebore is a seed strain from Pennsylvania's hellebore guru, David L. Culp. This strain consists of a wide range of colors, all with exceptional flower form, including a few double-flowered plants.

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Collections:

Common:

Daylily

Scientific:

Hemerocallis

'Lady Florence'

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

2-2.5 ft

Spread:

1.5-2 ft

Shape:

Clumping

Bloom:

Ruffled, funnel to bell-shaped flower up to 5" in diameter. Rich golden flowers that stay open for one day with long bloom period

Blooming period:

May - Jul

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant

Foliage:

Clump of arching, linear, blade-like, dark green leaves

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

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:

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

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 9b

Other:

Pollinator

'Lady Florence' is a daylily cultivar which features ruffled, 5" diameter, rich golden flowers. 

H. fulva is invasive; H. cultivars not listed as invasive in NY, Do not plant near natural areas.

DEP Especially Wet Plan

Leaf icon

Common:

Daylily

Scientific:

Hemerocallis

'Daring Deception'

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

2-3 ft

Spread:

1-2 ft

Shape:

Clumping

Bloom:

Funnel to bell-shaped flowers up to 5" in diameter. Pale lavender-pink flowers with large, dark purple centerswide. Blooms typically last no more than 24 hours, opening in the morning and withering during the night. Extremely long blooming period

Blooming period:

Jul - Sep

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant

Foliage:

Fountain of grass-like foliage at ground level

Fall:

Semi-evergreen

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

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:

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

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

3a - 9b

Other:

Pollinator

'Daring Deception' is noted for its pale lavender-pink flowers with large, dark purple eyezones contrasting with their green throats. 

H. fulva is invasive; H. cultivars not listed as invasive in NY, Do not plant near natural areas.

An image of red Hemerocallis ('Scarlet Oak' cultivar) with star-shaped petals and a yellow center.

Collections:

Common:

Daylily

Scientific:

Hemerocallis

'Scarlet Oak'

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

2.5-3 ft

Spread:

2.3-3 ft

Shape:

Clumping

Bloom:

Funnel to bell-shaped flowers range from 3-8" in diameter. Brilliant scarlet-red color

Blooming period:

Jun - Aug

Fruit:

Green/brown capsule. Not ornamentally significant

Foliage:

Green, linear, grass-like to sword-shaped foliage

Fall:

Foliage usually dies in fall, but is sometimes semi-evergreen or evergreen

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

3a - 9b

Other:

Pollinator

'Scarlet Oak' is known for its large, brilliant scarlet-red flowers.

H. fulva is invasive; H. cultivars not listed as invasive in NY, Do not plant near natural areas.

DEP Urban Plan 3. 

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