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

This is a general image of Liriope spicata, showcasing only its green foliage and grass blades, on a median.

Collections:

Common:

Creeping Lilyturf

Scientific:

Liriope spicata

Plant type:

Perennial, Grass/Grass-like, Groundcover

Height:

0.75-1.5 ft

Spread:

1-2 ft

Shape:

Upright Clumping

Bloom:

Showy flower spikes with pale lavender to white flowers, which are somewhat hidden among the foliage

Blooming period:

Aug - Sep

Fruit:

Flowers give way to a blue-black berry. The fruit should not be eaten

Foliage:

Narrow, arching, glossy, dark green leaves typically growing 9-15" high forming a dense, uniform cover

Fall:

Leaves turn a bronze-green in winter and will turn brown in cold winters. Semi-evergreen. Cut foliage back in early spring to make way 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:

Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 10a

Other:

Has Invasive Tendencies

Spreads voraciously and will cover a large area. Only plant within hard boundaries.

Prefers moist, well-drained, fertile soils in partial shade.

Not reliably evergreen in NYC.

DEP Residential Plan 1

An image of Lobelia cardinalis, with tubular, red flowers, and green leaves

Collections:

Common:

Cardinal Flower

Scientific:

Lobelia cardinalis

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

2-4 ft

Spread:

1-2 ft

Shape:

Upright Clumping

Bloom:

Cardinal red, tubular flowers are 2-lipped, with the three lobes of the lower lip appearing more prominent than the two lobes of the upper lip. White and rose colored forms are also known.

Blooming period:

Jul - Sep

Foliage:

Finely-toothed, lance-shaped, dark green leaves (to 4" long).

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Not available

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Not available

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

3a - 9a

Other:

Native

DEP Residential Plan Sun and Dry - Option 2

Lolium perenne 'Manhattan'

Common:

Perennial Ryegrass

Scientific:

Lolium perenne

'Manhattan'

Plant type:

Grass/Grass-like

Height:

0.25-0.25 ft

Spread:

0.25-0.25 ft

Shape:

Clumping

Bloom:

Ornamentally insignificant

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant

Foliage:

Primarily used as a turfgrass. Foliage consists of glossy green leaf blades about 1/8" wide. If left uncut, can grow to about 2'

Fall:

Grass will go dormant for the winter

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

High

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

3a - 8a

A cool season turfgrass and one of the earlier cultivars developed (1967), 'Manhattan' is considered to be finer and more uniform than the species.

Generally quick to germinate and provide coverage, but does not spread so reseeding may be needed. Tolerant of pedestrian traffic making it a good candidate for heavier use lawn areas.

Typically paired with Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis) for lawn applications.

Lonicera pileata

Common:

Privet Honeysuckle

Scientific:

Lonicera pileata

Plant type:

Shrub, Groundcover

Height:

1-3 ft

Spread:

5-8 ft

Shape:

Spreading

Bloom:

Ornamentally insignificant. Small, fragrant, yellowish-white flowers

Blooming period:

May

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant. Translucent purplish-black berries mature in fall. Slightly poisonous - may cause digestive tract issues in children

Foliage:

Opposite, simple, ovate, lustrous dark green leaves resembling privet foliage (hence the common name)

Fall:

No significant change in fall color. Plant is evergreen to semi-evergreen, but is typically deciduous in NYC

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

5a - 9a

Typically grown as a groundcover; performs best in medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Exhibits some drought-tolerance in shadier areas, but requires regular watering in sunny locations.

Not reliably evergreen in NYC.

This is a Maackia amurensis ('Starburst' cultivar), which has green leaves, a brown trunk, and yellow seed pods that are drooping.

Collections:

Common:

Amur Maackia

Scientific:

Maackia amurensis

'Starburst'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

20-30 ft

Spread:

20-30 ft

Shape:

Rounded Upright

Bloom:

Creamy white spikes of flowers rise above the foliage in mid-summer when few other trees bloom.

Blooming period:

Jun - Jul

Fruit:

Flowers are followed by a 2-3" long flat pod which changes from green to brown as it matures.

Foliage:

Attractive forest green foliage that emerges silver in spring.

Fall:

No fall color - leaves drop green or brown.

Bark:

Mottled olive green bark is extremely showy and adds significant winter interest.

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Urban (rubble/fill), Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 10b

'Starburst' is known for its very large, showy, and abundant white panicles of flowers. Tolerant of pollution and poor, compacted soils. 

This is a general image of Maackia amurensis, with dark green, pinnate leaves.

Collections:

Common:

Maackia

Scientific:

Maackia amurensis

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

20-30 ft

Spread:

20-30 ft

Shape:

Rounded

Bloom:

Erect, narrow, spike-like clusters (4-6" long) of fragrant, dull white, pea-like flowers which appear in late spring.

Blooming period:

Jun

Fruit:

Flowers are followed by a 2-3" long flat pod which changes from green to brown as it matures.

Foliage:

Compound, odd-pinnate, dark olive green leaves (7-13 leaflets each) are attractive in summer.

Fall:

No fall color - leaves drop green or brown.

Bark:

Coppery-bronze bark exfoliates on mature trees.

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Not available

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 10b

Other:

ALB Safe
Magnolia 'Elizabeth'

Collections:

Common:

Magnolia

Scientific:

Magnolia

'Elizabeth'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

20-35 ft

Spread:

12-20 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Yellow flowers (each to 3" across) have tinges of yellow-green near the bases.

Blooming period:

Mar - Apr

Fruit:

Cone-like red fruits infrequently appear.

Foliage:

Obovate, large green leaves (4-9" long) have entire margins.

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Not available

pH:

Not available

Soil:

Not available

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 8a

Other:

ALB Safe

'Elizabeth' is known for its neat, upright, pyramidal form and fragrant yellow flowers that bloom in early spring. 

Magnolia 'Butterflies'

Collections:

Common:

Magnolia

Scientific:

Magnolia

'Butterflies'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

15-20 ft

Spread:

10-15 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal Upright

Bloom:

Upright, tulip-like, yellow flowers (to 4-5" across) bloom in late winter to early spring. Each flower has 10-16 tepals. Flowers have a light lemon oil aroma.

Blooming period:

Apr

Foliage:

Dark green leaves (to 8" long) are oblong-elliptic with cuspidate tips.

Fall:

Leaves produce little fall color (gray-brown).

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Not available

pH:

Not available

Soil:

Not available

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 9a

Other:

ALB Safe

'Butterflies' is noted for its non-fading yellow flowers, late vegetative growth, compact pyramidal form and hardiness to both heat and cold.

This is full image of Magnolia virginiana that is not flowering, but highlighting its green foliage with a silver underneath.

Common:

Sweet Bay Magnolia

Scientific:

Magnolia virginiana

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

10-35 ft

Spread:

10-35 ft

Shape:

Rounded

Bloom:

Fragrant, cup-shaped, 9-12 petaled, creamy white, waxy flowers (2-3" diameter)

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Aggregate fruit (to 3" long) has knobby surface with reddish-orange seeds emerging from slits in early Fall

Foliage:

Oblong-lanceolate, shiny green foliage with silvery undersides (to 4" long)

Fall:

Undistinguished fall color

Bark:

Attractive silver-gray smooth bark

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Low

pH:

Requires Acid (5.0-7.0)

Soil:

Heavy Clay

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

5b - 10a

Other:

Native
Magnolia x loeberni 'Merrill'

Common:

Magnolia

Scientific:

Magnolia x loebneri

'Merrill'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

20-60 ft

Spread:

20-45 ft

Shape:

Rounded

Bloom:

Fragrant, star-like white flowers (to 6" wide) bloom with 10 or more petals that are blushed with faint pink centers

Blooming period:

Mar - Apr

Fruit:

Aggregate fruit (to 3" long) has knobby surface with reddish-orange seeds emerging from slits in early Fall releasing individual red coated seeds suspended on slender threads at maturity

Foliage:

Narrow, obovate, medium green leaves (to 5" long)

Fall:

Undistinguished fall color

Bark:

Attractive silver-gray smooth bark

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 9a

'Merrill' is noted for its abundant white flowers that are blushed with pink and its good winter hardiness. 

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