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:

Sargent Crabapple

Scientific:

Malus sargentii

Plant type:

Trees, Shrub

Height:

6-8 ft

Spread:

9-15 ft

Shape:

Spreading Dwarf

Bloom:

Pink buds open to abundant clusters of fragrant white flowers. Blooms typically occur in alternate years

Blooming period:

Apr - May

Fruit:

Flowers are followed by red fruits (crabapples) that mature in fall and persist into winter. Edible and often eaten by birds

Foliage:

Simple, alternate, dark green leaves are ovate to oval and typically 3-lobed with sharply toothed margins

Fall:

Leaves turn yellow in fall contrasting nicely with any remaining fruit

Bark:

Shiny, gray-brown color

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Fall Color

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:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 7b

Can be grown as a small tree or large shrub; performs best in well-drained, slightly acidic soils in full sun. Drought tolerant once established.

May attract birds and butterflies.

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Collections:

Common:

Flowering Crabapple

Scientific:

Malus x moerlandsii

'Profusion'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

15-30 ft

Spread:

20-35 ft

Shape:

Spreading Upright

Bloom:

Red buds open to masses of fragrant deep rose-pink to violet-red flowers appearing in clusters

Blooming period:

Apr

Fruit:

Flowers are followed by abundant blood-red fruits that mature in fall and persist into winter. Edible and are often eaten by birds

Foliage:

Oval leaves emerge reddish-purple, maturing to bronze-green

Fall:

Varying in color, foliage turns an amber to yellow to orange or red-orange in the fall

Bark:

Typically multi-stemmed reddish-brown bark

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 8b

'Profusion' is a popular cultivar noted for its spreading form, rose-pink to violet-red flowers, and persistent dark red fruit.

For best flowers and fruit, site in full-sun with well-drained soil. Drought-tolerant once established. 

May attract birds and butterflies.

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Collections:

Common:

Redbud Crabapple

Scientific:

Malus x zumi var. calocarpa

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

12-20 ft

Spread:

12-20 ft

Shape:

Rounded Spreading

Bloom:

Red buds open to abundant clusters of fragrant, soft pink flowers that fade to white

Blooming period:

May

Fruit:

Glossy, small, bright red fruits (crabapples) mature in fall and persist into winter. Edible and often eaten by birds

Foliage:

Alternate, simple, elliptic to oval, dark green foliage with crenate margins

Fall:

Foliage turns a golden color with persistent fruit also adding interest

Bark:

Ornamentally insignificant. Brown

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 8b

Valued for its profuse spring bloom. Performs best in full sun with well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Drought-tolerant once established. Tolerates air pollution.

May attract birds and butterflies.

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Common:

Ostrich Fern

Scientific:

Matteuccia struthiopteris

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

3-6 ft

Spread:

5-8 ft

Shape:

Upright Clumping

Bloom:

Species does not flower

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant; spore-bearing

Foliage:

Deciduous fern. Foliage consists of finely dissected, medium green, sterile fronds. Emerging at the base and unfurling to resemble the feathery appearance of ostrich plumes (hence the common name). Fertile fronds are much smaller and dark brown

Fall:

Undistinguished fall color

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Part Sun to Full Shade

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

3a - 7b

Other:

Native

Noted for it's graceful, arching form.

Best grown in consistently moist soils; will not tolerate the soil drying out. Excellent plant for wet, shady sites.

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Collections:

Common:

Dawn Redwood

Scientific:

Metasequoia glyptostroboides

'Gold Rush'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

70-100 ft

Spread:

15-25 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Species does not flower

Fruit:

Oval, light brown female cones and pendant globose male cones

Foliage:

Soft, linear, flat-splays of leathery, fern-like foliage emerge a bright green-yellow and mature to a distinctive golden-yellow throughout the summer

Fall:

Deciduous conifer. Foliage gradually turns an orange-brown before losing its leaves

Bark:

Reddish on young trees maturing to red-brown with distinctive deep fissures or fluting and a flared base

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage, Fall Color, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

4a - 8b

‘Gold Rush’ is a narrower cultivar that features soft, linear, feathery, fern-like foliage that is distinctively golden-yellow throughout summer.

May also be seen as 'Ogon' (the original cultivar name for a gold-foliage seedling discovered in Japan).

This is a general image of multiple Metasequoia glyptostroboides trees, which has a conical shape and fern-like foliage.

Collections:

Common:

Dawn Redwood

Scientific:

Metasequoia glyptostroboides

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

70-100 ft

Spread:

15-25 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal Upright

Bloom:

Species does not flower

Fruit:

Oval, light brown female cones and pendant globose male cones

Foliage:

Linear, flat splays of feathery, fern-like foliage that emerges bright green in spring and matures to a deep green by summer

Fall:

Deciduous conifer. Foliage turns attractive shades of russet-red to yellow-brown, pink, apricot, or copper before losing its leaves

Bark:

Reddish on young trees maturing to red-brown with distinctive deep fissures or fluting and a flared base

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage, Fall Color, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

4a - 8b

A local favorite, this deciduous conifer performs well as a street tree growing best in moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soils.

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Common:

Russian Arbor-Vitae

Scientific:

Microbiota decussata

Plant type:

Shrub, Groundcover

Height:

0.5-1.5 ft

Spread:

3-12 ft

Shape:

Spreading Dwarf

Bloom:

Non-flowering

Fruit:

Small, spherical, berry-like cones (to 1/4” diameter) with woody-like scales

Foliage:

Flat, fan-like sprays of scale-like leaves

Fall:

Foliage turns bronze-purple

Bark:

Thin, brown stems covered by foliage

Special Qualities:

Evergreen

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Urban (rubble/fill), Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

3a - 7b
This is an image of Miscanthus sinensis ('Morning Light' cultivar), which involve clumps of dense, green grass, with white margins.

Common:

Morning Light Eulalia Grass

Scientific:

Miscanthus sinensis

'Morning Light'

Plant type:

Grass/Grass-like

Height:

4-6 ft

Spread:

2.5-4 ft

Shape:

Upright Clumping

Bloom:

Small reddish-copper flowers appear on tassel-like inflorescences rising above the foliage

Blooming period:

Aug - Nex Feb

Fruit:

Flowers gradually turn to silvery white plumes as the seeds mature persisting throughout winter

Foliage:

Narrow, arching, green leaves with white margins providing an overall silvery appearance

Fall:

Foliage ultimately turns a straw-beige. Cut back foliage in early spring prior to new growth

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Fall Color

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

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

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 9b

Other:

Emerging or Reported Invasive (locally)

'Morning Light' is a eulalia grass cultivar that is noted for its very narrow green leaves with white variegation on the margins. Foliage has an overall silvery appearance.

Do not plant near naturalized areas. Reported as invasive NY, NJ, PA, CT

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Common:

Little Kitten Eulalia Grass

Scientific:

Miscanthus sinensis

'Little Kitten'

Plant type:

Grass/Grass-like

Height:

1-3 ft

Spread:

1-3 ft

Shape:

Dwarf Clumping

Bloom:

Cascading flower plumes that appear silvery-white with pink or red tinges rise well above the foliage

Blooming period:

Aug - Nex Feb

Fruit:

Flowers give way to light beige seeds with the plumes persisting and lasting well into winter

Foliage:

Dense, arching, medium green, linear leaves (about 3/8" wide) with tapered tips and serrate margins

Fall:

Foliage turns an attractive yellow-orange fading to beige-tan. Attractive all winter, cut back in early spring before new growth

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Fall Color

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

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

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 9b

Other:

Emerging or Reported Invasive (locally)

'Little Kitten' is a dwarf cultivar which typically forms a foliage clump to only 15" tall of pointed, arching, narrow, green leaves. 

Do not plant near naturalized areas. Reported as invasive NY, NJ, PA, CT

Miscanthus sinensis Adagio

Common:

Adagio Eulalia Grass

Scientific:

Miscanthus sinensis

'Adagio'

Plant type:

Grass/Grass-like

Height:

3-4 ft

Spread:

3-4 ft

Shape:

Dwarf Clumping

Bloom:

Showy, persistent, pink-tinged tassel-like inflorescences

Blooming period:

Aug - Nex Feb

Fruit:

Flowers give way to creamy white plumes as the seeds mature, persisting on the plant throughout winter

Foliage:

Narrow, silver-gray-green leaf blades with tapered tips and serrate margins

Fall:

Foliage turns yellow in the fall and lasts all winter. Cut back in early spring to allow for new growth

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Fall Color

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

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

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 9a

Other:

Emerging or Reported Invasive (locally)

'Adagio' is a one of the shortest Miscanthus cultivars available.

Do not plant near naturalized areas. Reported as invasive NY, NJ, PA, CT

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