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:

Cherokee™ Sweetgum

Scientific:

Liquidambar styraciflua

'Ward'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

40-50 ft

Spread:

25-30 ft

Shape:

Oval Upright

Bloom:

Flowers are rare.

Blooming period:

Apr - May

Fruit:

'Ward' is a virtually seedless cultivar.

Foliage:

Glossy, long-stalked, deep green leaves (4-7" across) have toothed margins. Each leaf has 5-7 pointed, star-shaped lobes. Leaves are fragrant when bruised.

Fall:

Foliage changes from a lustrous dark green to deep burgundy.

Bark:

Corky textured bark lends all-season appeal and creates interest in the landscape in winter.

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 9b

'Ward' is a virtually seedless selection with practically none of the litter normally associated with Sweetgums. Cultivar is especially cold hardy.

Leaf icon

Collections:

Common:

Sweetgum

Scientific:

Liquidambar styraciflua

'Worplesdon'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

50-75 ft

Spread:

40-50 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Flowers appear in clusters and are inconspicuous.

Blooming period:

Apr - May

Fruit:

Fruit on this cultivar is not ornamentally significant. Female flowers give way to gum balls which are hard, spherical, bristly fruiting clusters to 1.5" diameter.

Foliage:

Glossy dark green leaves vaguely resemble a maple leaf with deeper cut leaf lobes.

Fall:

The lobed palmate leaves turn an outstanding red in the fall.

Bark:

'Worplesdon' does not produce fissured, corky bark as the species, its bark is smooth and grey.

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage, Fall Color

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

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

6a - 9b

'Worplesdon' features more deeply-cut leaf lobes, and a smaller eventual size, than the species. 

A low-shot image of Liquidambar styraciflua ('Rotundiloba' cultivar) and its oval-shaped crown.

Collections:

Common:

Sweetgum

Scientific:

Liquidambar styraciflua

'Rotundiloba'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

60-75 ft

Spread:

20-30 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Non-showy, yellow-green flowers appear in spherical clusters.

Blooming period:

Apr - May

Fruit:

There is no fruit on this cultivar.

Foliage:

Glossy star-shaped leaves have 5-7 lobes that are distinctively rounded compared to the species.

Fall:

Fall color features a mixture of yellows, oranges, purples and reds.

Bark:

Corky textured bark lends all-season appeal and creates interest in the landscape in winter.

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage, Distinctive Bark

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Not available

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 9b

Leaves on the 'Rotundiloba' have distinctively rounded lobes that differentiate it from the species. 

An eye-level image of the common Liquidambar styraciflua tree between streets, with green leaves and a grey trunk.

Collections:

Common:

Sweet Gum

Scientific:

Liquidambar styraciflua

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

60-80 ft

Spread:

40-60 ft

Shape:

Rounded Pyramidal

Bloom:

Non-showy, yellow-green flowers appear in spherical clusters.

Blooming period:

Apr - May

Fruit:

Female flowers give way to gum balls which are hard, spherical, bristly fruiting clusters to 1.5" diameter. Gum balls mature to dark brown.

Foliage:

Glossy, long-stalked, deep green leaves (4-7" across) have toothed margins. Each leaf has 5-7 pointed, star-shaped lobes. Leaves are fragrant when bruised.

Fall:

Fall color at its best is a brilliant mixture of yellows, oranges, purples, and reds.

Bark:

Grayish-brown bark, deeply furrowed with narrow ridges. Stem bark is reddish or yellowish-brown and shiny. Some trees develop interesting corky ridges on 2 year old stems.

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Not available

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5b - 9a

Other:

Native, ALB Safe
Liriodendron tulipifera 'Arnold'

Common:

Tulip Tree

Scientific:

Liriodendron tulipifera

'Arnold'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

40-50 ft

Spread:

8-12 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal Columnar

Bloom:

Flowers are yellow with an orange band at the base of each petal. Flowers are 2" in length.

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Flowers are followed by dry, scaly, oblong, cone-shaped brown fruits, each bearing numerous winged seeds.

Foliage:

Four-lobed bright green leaves (to 8" across).

Fall:

Leaves turn golden yellow in fall.

Bark:

Bark is gray with fine stripes of light gray in the furrows. It is attractive.

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Not available

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 9a

Other:

ALB Safe

'Arnold' is noted for its narrow, upright habit. 

A general image of a young Liriodendron tulipifera tree and its thin branches.

Collections:

Common:

Tulip Tree

Scientific:

Liriodendron tulipifera

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

60-90 ft

Spread:

30-50 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Flowers are yellow with an orange band at the base of each petal. Flowers are 2" in length.

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Flowers are followed by dry, scaly, oblong, cone-shaped brown fruits, each bearing numerous winged seeds.

Foliage:

Four-lobed bright green leaves (to 8" across).

Fall:

Leaves turn golden yellow in fall.

Bark:

Bark is gray with fine stripes of light gray in the furrows. It is attractive.

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Not available

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 9a

Other:

Native, ALB Safe
A full image of Liriope muscari ('Monroe White' cultivar), showing both the green foliage and white flowers.

Collections:

Common:

Monroe's White Lilyturf

Scientific:

Liriope muscari

'Monroe White'

Plant type:

Perennial, Grass/Grass-like

Height:

0.75-1.25 ft

Spread:

0.75-1.25 ft

Shape:

Upright Clumping

Bloom:

Showy flower spikes with tiered whorls of dense, white flowers (resembling hyacinth) rise above the foliage

Blooming period:

Jun - Aug

Fruit:

Flowers give way to round, shiny, blackish berries which often persist into winter. Fruit should not be eaten

Foliage:

Clumps of narrow, strap-like, arching, glossy, dark, forest green leaves

Fall:

No significant change in color. Foliage is evergreen in southern climates, but will decline in NYC. Cut back to the ground in early spring to allow for new growth

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen

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:

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

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 10b

'Monroe White' is known for its large spikes of white flowers that stand out against the dense green foliage.

Very tough plant. Will tolerate full shade, but growth becomes elongated and is much slower. Needs well-drained soil.

Not reliably evergreen in NYC. 

DEP Residential Plan 1.

This is an image of Liriope muscari ('Variegata' cultivar), presenting its green, variegated grass blades with yellow.

Common:

Variegaated Lilyturf

Scientific:

Liriope muscari

'Variegata'

Plant type:

Perennial, Grass/Grass-like

Height:

1-1.5 ft

Spread:

1-2 ft

Shape:

Upright Clumping

Bloom:

Showy flower spikes with tiered whorls of dense, violet-purple flowers (resembling grape hyacinth) rise above the foliage

Blooming period:

Aug - Sep

Fruit:

Flowers give way to round, shiny, blackish berries which often persist into winter. Fruit should not be eaten

Foliage:

Clumps of narrow, strap-like, arching, glossy, variegated medium green leaves with creamy-white margins

Fall:

No significant change in color. Foliage is evergreen in southern climates, but will decline in NYC. Cut back to the ground in early spring to allow for new growth

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen

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:

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

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 10a

'Variegata' features medium green leaves which are variegated with creamy white margins.

Very tough plant. Will tolerate full shade, but growth becomes elongated and is much slower. Needs well-drained soil.

Not reliably evergreen in NYC.

A general image of multiple Liriope muscari ('Big Blue' cultivar) plants, exhibiting both its green grasses and purple flowers.

Collections:

Common:

Big Blue Lilyturf

Scientific:

Liriope muscari

'Big Blue'

Plant type:

Perennial, Grass/Grass-like

Height:

1-2 ft

Spread:

1-2 ft

Shape:

Upright Clumping

Bloom:

Showy flower spikes with tiered whorls of dense, lavender flowers

Blooming period:

Aug - Sep

Fruit:

Flowers give way to round, shiny, blackish berries which often persist into winter. Fruit should not be eaten

Foliage:

Clumps of narrow, strap-like, arching, glossy, dark green leaves

Fall:

No significant change in color. Foliage is evergreen in southern climates, but will decline in NYC. Cut back to the ground in early spring to allow for new growth

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen

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:

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

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 10a

'Big Blue' is noted for its large lavender flowers. 

Local favorite. Hardy. Needs well-drained soil. Will tolerate full shade, but growth becomes elongated and is much slower. 

Not reliably evergreen in NYC.

DEP Full Sun Plan 2. 

This is an image of a common Liriope muscari planted within a sidewalk garden bed, showcasing its green foliage and purple, spiky flowers.

Common:

Big Blue Lilyturf

Scientific:

Liriope muscari

Plant type:

Perennial, Grass/Grass-like

Height:

1-1.5 ft

Spread:

0.75-1 ft

Shape:

Upright Clumping

Bloom:

Showy flower spikes with tiered whorls of dense, violet-purple flowers (resembling grape hyacinth) rise above the foliage

Blooming period:

Aug - Sep

Fruit:

Flowers give way to round, shiny, blackish berries which often persist into winter. Fruit should not be eaten

Foliage:

Clumps of narrow, strap-like, arching, glossy, dark green leaves

Fall:

No significant change in color. Foliage is evergreen in southern climates, but will decline in NYC. Cut back to the ground in early spring to allow for new growth

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen

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:

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

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 10a

Very tough plant. Will tolerate full shade, but growth becomes elongated and is much slower. Needs well-drained soil.

Not reliably evergreen in NYC.

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