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 Lagerstroemia indica ('Gamad II' cultivar), that is located within a median, displaying its rounded clusters of pink flowers.

Common:

Razzle Dazzle® Crape Myrtle

Scientific:

Lagerstroemia indica

'Gamad II'

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

4-6 ft

Spread:

2-3 ft

Shape:

Upright

Bloom:

Crepe-papery inflorescences of raspberry red-purple flowers. Deadheading will promote additional blooms all the way into fall. Blooms occur on new wood

Blooming period:

Jul - Sep

Fruit:

Round seed capsule that often persists into winter

Foliage:

Opposite, elliptic to oblong-obovate, medium green foliage

Fall:

Purple upper surfaces with a yellow-green underside. Plants will die back to the ground in harsh winters

Bark:

Gray to tan bark which exfoliates with age

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage, Fall Color

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

Hardiness:

6a - 9a

'Gamad II' or Razzle Dazzle is best known for its dense, upright growing habit and raspberry-red colored blooms.

Lagerstroemia indica 'Lavendar Muskogee'

Common:

Muskogee Crape Myrtle

Scientific:

Lagerstroemia indica

'Muskogee'

Plant type:

Trees, Shrub

Height:

4-12 ft

Spread:

4-12 ft

Shape:

Spreading Upright

Bloom:

Terminal inflorescences (to 10” long) of crepe-papery, light lavender-pink flowers. Deadhead to promote additional blooms. Flowers appear on new wood

Blooming period:

Jul - Sep

Fruit:

Round seed capsule that often persists into winter

Foliage:

Glossy, elliptic to oblong, dark green leaves growing up to 4" long

Fall:

Leaves turn red-orange in the fall

Bark:

Multi-stemmed shrub or large tree. Cinnamon colored bark is smooth and exfoliating revealing a shiny light gray beneath

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage, Fall Color, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

6a - 9a

Introduced by the U.S. National Arboretum in 1978; originated as a cross of L. indica 'Pink Lace' and L. fauriei.

'Muskogee' is known for its light lavender-pink flowers. 

Hardy, but will likely stay smaller given the potential for harsh winters.

 

Larix lariciniana

Common:

Tamarack

Scientific:

Larix laricina

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

40-80 ft

Spread:

15-30 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Species does not flower

Fruit:

Rounded, scaly, cones (up to 1") emerge as bright purplish-red and mature to brown. Persist on the tree

Foliage:

Slender blue-green needles grow in brush-like clusters (up to 30 needles per cluster) on short shoots or singly along the long shoots

Fall:

Needles turn a showy yellow before dropping

Bark:

Bark on mature trees is a scaly, reddish-brown

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Fall Color, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay, Heavy Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

3a - 6a

Other:

Native

Deciduous conifer. Performs best in cool summers and cold winters; intolerant of hot and humid summer conditions. 

Leucanthemum 'Old Court'

Common:

Shasta Daisy

Scientific:

Leucanthemum x superbum

'Beaute Nivelloise'

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

2-2.5 ft

Spread:

1-1.5 ft

Shape:

Upright

Bloom:

White flowers up to 4 inches across are formed with masses of very narrow, twisting and curling spidery petals surrounding small yellow centers.

Blooming period:

Jun - Sep

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant

Foliage:

Coarsely-toothed, lance-shaped, medium green leaves

Fall:

Ornamentally insignificant. Cut back to basal foliage in fall

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Summer

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

5a - 9a

Other:

Pollinator

'Beaute Nivelloise' is noted for its unique frilly, twisted flower heads. May also be found as 'Old Court'.

Divide clumps every 2-3 years.

May attract birds, bees, and butterflies.

Leucanthemum x superbum 'Leukal 01' GOLDRAUSCH

Common:

GOLDRAUSCH® Shasta Daisy

Scientific:

Leucanthemum x superbum

'Leukal 01 '

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

1-1.5 ft

Spread:

1-1.5 ft

Shape:

Clumping

Bloom:

Fringed, two-toned, daisy-like, semi-double flowers. Each flower (to 3.5" diameter) features a bright yellow center ringed by short light yellow inner petals and longer white outer petals. Remove spent flowers to promote additional blooms

Blooming period:

Jun - Jul

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant

Foliage:

Medium green leaves (to 5" long) are generally lanceolate

Fall:

Ornamentally insignificant. Cut back to basal foliage in fall

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Summer

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

4a - 9a

Other:

Pollinator

'Leukal 01' is noted for its fringed, two-toned, daisy-like, semi-double flowers and compact form. Typically found on the trade name GOLDRAUSCH.

Divide clumps every 2-3 years.

May attract birds, bees, and butterflies.

Leucanthemum x superbum 'Highland White Dream'

Common:

Shasta Daisy

Scientific:

Leucanthemum x superbum

'Highland White Dream'

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

2-3 ft

Spread:

1.5-2.5 ft

Shape:

Clumping

Bloom:

Large semi-double blooms (4-5" diameter) with drooping white rays and yellow centers. Multiple flowers per stem. Remove spent flowers to promote additional blooms

Blooming period:

Jun - Aug

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant

Foliage:

Coarsely-toothed, lance-shaped, medium green leaves (basal leaves to 12" long)

Fall:

Ornamentally insignificant. Cut back to basal foliage in fall

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Summer

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

4a - 9a

Other:

Pollinator

‘Highland White Dream’ is noted for its large semi-double blooms (4-5” diameter) with drooping white rays and yellow centers. 

Divide clumps every 2-3 years.

May attract birds, bees, and butterflies.

Leucanthemum x superbum 'Becky'

Common:

Becky Shasta Daisy

Scientific:

Leucanthemum x superbum

'Becky'

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

3-4 ft

Spread:

2-3 ft

Shape:

Clumping

Bloom:

Large (3-4" diameter) daisy flower heads with white rays and yellow center disks. Remove spent flowers to promote additional blooms

Blooming period:

Jul - Sep

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant

Foliage:

Coarsely-toothed, lance-shaped, medium green leaves

Fall:

Ornamentally insignificant. Cut back to basal foliage in fall

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

5a - 9a

Other:

Pollinator

'Becky' is larger than most other Shasta cultivars, growing 3-4' tall on rigid stems which do not require staking. 

Drought tolerant once established. Performs best in full sun and well-drained soils.

Divide clumps every 2-3 years.

May attract birds, bees, and butterflies.

Leucanthemum 'Daisy Duke'

Common:

Daisy May® Shasta Daisy

Scientific:

Leucanthemum x superbum

'Daisy Duke'

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

1-2 ft

Spread:

0.75-1.5 ft

Shape:

Upright

Bloom:

Prolific bloom of daisies with white rays and yellow centers. Remove spent flowers to promote additional blooms

Blooming period:

Jun - Aug

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant

Foliage:

Coarsely-toothed, narrow-elliptic medium green leaves

Fall:

Ornamentally insignificant. Cut back to basal foliage in fall

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Summer

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

5a - 9a

Other:

Pollinator

'Daisy Duke' is a compact form. Typically found under the trade name Daisy May.

Divide clumps every 2-3 years.

May attract birds, bees, and butterflies.

Liatris spicata 'Kobold'

Common:

Kobold Blazing Star

Scientific:

Liatris spicata

'Kobold'

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

2-2.5 ft

Spread:

0.5-1 ft

Shape:

Upright Compact Clumping

Bloom:

Terminal spikes resembling wands (6-12" long) of sessile, rounded, fluffy, rose to lilac to purple flower heads rising above the foliage

Blooming period:

Jul - Aug

Fruit:

Flower heads mature into soft tufts of fluffy golden brown achenes

Foliage:

Narrow, grass-like, medium green leaves (to 12" long)

Fall:

Leaves may turn a rich bronze in fall. Seed heads can be left on the plant to provide fall and winter interest. May also be cut back to basal leaves after flowering

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Unknown

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

3a - 8a

'Kobold' is a small, compact, upright, cultivar. 

Performs best in full sun with a moist, fertile, well-drained soil. Intolerant of wet soils in winter.

May attract butterflies.

Lindera benzoin

Common:

Spice Bush

Scientific:

Lindera benzoin

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

6-12 ft

Spread:

6-12 ft

Shape:

Rounded

Bloom:

Dioecious. Clusters of small, fragrant, yellow flowers appear before the foliage emerges. Male flowers are slightly larger and showier

Blooming period:

Mar

Fruit:

Female flowers give way to bright red drupes (to 0.5" long) which mature in fall and are attractive to birds. Spicy-scented

Foliage:

Alternate, thick, oblong-obovate, light green leaves (to 5" long). Leaves give off a spicy fragrance when crushed

Fall:

Leaves turn an attractive yellow to golden yellow in fall

Bark:

Slender, greenish bark with brown stems. Aromatic when broken

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Fall Color

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun to Full Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 9a

Other:

Native

Best fall color occurs in full sun. Plant will tolerate full shade, but becomes more open and wide spreading. Does not grow well in heavy clay.

Performs well in the right-of-way and is a common plant in New York City.

May attract birds and butterflies.

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