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

An image of a tall, conical Ilex x aquipernyi ('Meschick' cultivar) shrub/tree in an urban setting.

Collections:

  • Plaza Plants

Common:

Dragon Lady® Holly

Scientific:

Ilex x aquipernyi

'Meschick'

Plant type:

Trees, Shrub

Height:

10-20 ft

Spread:

4-6 ft

Shape:

Columnar

Bloom:

Ornamentally insignificant. Dioecious, small greenish-white flowers

Blooming period:

May

Fruit:

Bright scarlet red berries appear in late summer to fall and persist throughout winter. Requires a male pollinator

Foliage:

Spiny, ovate-quandrangular, dark green leaves

Fall:

No significant change in fall color. Fruit occurs in fall and lasts through winter, although commonly eaten by birds

Bark:

Green maturing to brown on only the very oldest wood

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

High

pH:

Requires Acid (5.0-7.0)

Soil:

Not available

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

6a - 8a

May also be found under Ilex x meserveae 'Dragon Lady' 

‘Meschick’ is a female cultivar with an upright, symmetrical, and very narrow pyramidal form that is known for its excellent display of bright red fruit in the fall and winter. I. 'Blue Stallion' reportedly serves as a good pollinator.

Best fruit occurs in full sun. Avoid poorly drained soil. Plant in a protected location.

May attract birds.

A close up image of Iris versicolor, with its purple petals, and intricate white/yellow markings.

Collections:

Common:

Harlequin Blue Flag

Scientific:

Iris versicolor

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

2-2.5 ft

Spread:

2-2.5 ft

Shape:

Spreading Clumping

Bloom:

Stalks rising above the foliage bear 3 to 5 violate-blue flowers with purple veining and a central yellow-white patch

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant. Angular capsules form after flowering

Foliage:

Bluish-green, sword-shaped leaves

Fall:

Ornamentally insignificant. After fall frost, cut back to approximately 1" above the crown

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Loam, Clay, Heavy Clay

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

3a - 9a

Other:

Native

May be grown in up to 2-4" of standing water and performs best in sites with full sun or part shade with acidic soils that are high in organic matter.

Parts of the plant are poisonous and may cause skin irritation.

May attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

DEP Especially Wet Plan, Sun/Part Shade Plan 2 and Residential Plan Sun and Dry - Option 2

An image of Itea virginica ('Sprich' cultivar) within a street, with its white, drooping flowers and vibrant, green foliage.

Collections:

Common:

Little Henry® Sweetspire

Scientific:

Itea virginica

'Sprich'

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

1.5-2 ft

Spread:

2-2.5 ft

Shape:

Rounded Spreading

Bloom:

Superior flowers than species. Tiny white flowers borne in cylindrical, drooping racemes (3-6" long) which cover the shrub with bloom in late spring to early summer

Blooming period:

Jun - Jul

Fruit:

Foliage:

Oval, dark green leaves (1-4" long)

Fall:

Better fall color than the species

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Unknown

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Not available

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

5a - 9a

'Sprich' is a compact cultivar of Sweetspire.

DEP Shady Plan ROW-Type 1, 2 and 3

An image of Itea virginica within a street, with its white, drooping flowers and vibrant, green foliage.

Common:

Virginia Sweetspire

Scientific:

Itea virginica

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

3-5 ft

Spread:

3-5 ft

Shape:

Rounded Spreading

Bloom:

Tiny white flowers borne in cylindrical, drooping racemes (3-6" long) which cover the shrub with bloom in late spring to early summer

Blooming period:

Jun - Jul

Fruit:

Black berry woody capsule

Foliage:

Oval, dark green leaves (1-4" long)

Fall:

Long period of fall color, with leaves often persisting on the plants until early winter.

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Unknown

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Not available

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

5a - 9a

Other:

Pollinator
Leaf icon

Common:

Compact Winter Flowering Jasmine

Scientific:

Jasminum nudiflorum

'Nanum'

Plant type:

Shrub, Vine

Height:

3-4 ft

Spread:

3-6 ft

Shape:

Spreading

Bloom:

Non-fragrant, bright yellow flowers bloom along the stems in late winter before the leaves

Blooming period:

Mar - Apr

Fruit:

Foliage:

Compound, trifoliolate, dark green leaves with ovate leaflets (to 1.25” long)

Bark:

Willowy green stems are attractive in winter

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Winter

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Not available

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

6a - 10a

'Nanum' is a compact form. 

Well suited along sunny walls or slopes.

Leaf icon

Common:

Common Rush

Scientific:

Juncus effusus

Plant type:

Grass/Grass-like

Height:

2-4 ft

Spread:

2-4 ft

Shape:

Spreading Clumping

Bloom:

Insignificant, minute, yellowish-green to pale brown flowers bloom in one-sided clusters (many-flowered cymes) located on stem sides slightly below the stem tips

Blooming period:

Jul - Sep

Fruit:

Obovoid capsule

Foliage:

Fall:

Foliage turns yellow in fall before browning up for winter

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

High

pH:

Requires Acid (5.0-7.0)

Soil:

Not available

Moisture:

Wet/Flood

Hardiness:

4a - 9a
Leaf icon

Common:

Mountbatten Chinese Juniper

Scientific:

Juniperus chinensis

'Mountbatten'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

15-20 ft

Spread:

10-15 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Species does not flower

Fruit:

Dioecious. Large, powdery blue berries

Foliage:

Dense, scale-like, silver-green foliage

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Brown bark that peels on mature stems. Old bark is ridged and furrowed

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

High

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

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

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

4a - 9a

Other:

ALB Safe

'Mountbatten' is known for its narrow, pyramidal form, grayish-green foliage, and excellent winter hardiness. 

Leaf icon

Common:

Keteleeri Juniper

Scientific:

Juniperus chinensis

'Keteleeri'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

15-20 ft

Spread:

4-6 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal Columnar

Bloom:

Species does not flower

Fruit:

A female cultivar that produces profuse, grayish-green, berry-like cones

Foliage:

Light to medium green, mostly scale-like foliage

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Brown bark that peels on mature stems. Old bark is ridged and furrowed

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

High

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

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

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

4a - 9b

Other:

ALB Safe

'Keteleeri' is a female cultivar noted for its pyramidal form and light to medium green, scale-like foliage that is attractive year-round.

An image of Juniperus chinensis ('Kaizuka' cultivar), that has a conical shape, in a planter.

Common:

Hollywood Juniper

Scientific:

Juniperus chinensis

'Kaizuka'

Plant type:

Trees, Shrub

Height:

15-30 ft

Spread:

10-15 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Species does not flower

Fruit:

Dioecious. Female plants produce fleshy, berry-like, whitish-blue seed cones that usually acquire violet-brown tones as they mature over two years

Foliage:

Rich, scale-like, bright green foliage clustered on upright, slightly twisted shoots

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Twisted stems make the plant very sculptural. Brown bark on mature stems peels in strips

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

High

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

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

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

4a - 9a

'Kaizuka' is a female cultivar known for its unique, irregular upright shape. May also be found as 'Torulosa' or with the trade name TORULOSA.

Tolerant of air pollution. Does not do well in wet soils.

Leaf icon

Common:

Chinese Juniper

Scientific:

Juniperus chinensis

Plant type:

Trees, Shrub

Height:

40-50 ft

Spread:

15-20 ft

Shape:

Oval Rounded Pyramidal Upright

Bloom:

Species does not flower

Fruit:

Dioecious. Male pollen cones are catkin-like while female plants have light blue seed cones that look like a fleshy berry. They take two years to mature and become violet-brown to black

Foliage:

Dark green, aromatic foliage. Juvenile leaves are needle-like (awl) in pairs or threes while adult foliage is scale-like

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Brown bark that peels on mature stems. Old bark is ridged and furrowed

Special Qualities:

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 - 9a

Rare to find the species, but several cultivars that range from trees to shrubs are available.

Download CSV