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:

Bee Balm

Scientific:

Monarda didyma

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

2-4 ft

Spread:

2-3 ft

Shape:

Clumping

Bloom:

Distinct, bright scarlet red flowers in dense, globular, terminal tufts atop square stems. Flowers are subtended by red-purple tinged leafy bracts

Blooming period:

Jul - Aug

Fruit:

Flowers give way to seed pods that will mature from green to brown when ripe and contain ovoid nutlets that generally display from September to October

Foliage:

Ovate to heart-shaped, deep green leaf blades (3-6" long) with toothed margins and pointed tips

Fall:

Undistinguished fall color

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

4a - 9b

Other:

Native, Pollinator

Performs best in sun to part-shade, moist, well-drained, acidic soils.

May struggle with powdery mildew; ensure good air circulation and avoid wetting the leaves when watering.

May attract birds, bees, and butterflies.

An image of the Myrica pensylvanica shrub amidst streets, which has dense branching, accompanied by green foliage.

Common:

Bayberry

Scientific:

Myrica pensylvanica

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

5-10 ft

Spread:

5-10 ft

Shape:

Rounded

Bloom:

Ornamentally insignificant. Dioecious, separate catkins with only the male flower displaying a dull yellow

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Flowers on female plants (if pollinated) are followed by attractive, waxy, tiny bluish-grey-white fruits that persist throughout the winter

Foliage:

Narrow, glossy, leathery, grayish-green leaves (to 4" long) are fragrant when crushed

Fall:

Foliage will turn a slight bronze or tan; leaves are semi-evergreen, but typically deciduous in NYC

Bark:

Ornamentally insignificant

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen

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:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

3a - 7b

Other:

Native

May also be found as Morella pensylvanica.

Typically deciduous in NYC.

Female plants that bear fruit may attract birds.

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Common:

Harbor Dwarf Heavenly Bamboo

Scientific:

Nandina domestica

'Harbor Dwarf'

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

1-2 ft

Spread:

2-3 ft

Shape:

Clumping

Bloom:

Inflorescences of small, white, 3-6 petaled flowers

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Flowers are followed by holly-like red berries that persist into winter

Foliage:

Opposite, lanceolate, glossy, leaves that are smaller, narrower, and closer together than the species. Typically emerge with coppery tints and mature to green in summer

Fall:

Foliage turns a reddish-orange to reddish-purple in fall, which lasts into winter. Semi-evergreen, but typically deciduous in NYC; evergreen in warmer southern climates

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage, Fall Color, Evergreen

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:

6a - 9b

'Harbour Dwarf' is a dwarf form that typically grows to only 2' tall, but spreads over time by rhizomes to 3' or more.  

Not reliably evergreen in NYC.

This is an image of Nandina domestica ('Gulf Stream' cultivar), which is a compact bush with light green leaves, and a dark green center.

Common:

Gulf Stream Heavenly Bamboo

Scientific:

Nandina domestica

'Gulf Stream'

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

3-8 ft

Spread:

2-5 ft

Shape:

Compact

Bloom:

Inflorescences of small, white, 3-6 petaled flowers

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

If produced, blooms are followed by holly-like red berries

Foliage:

Opposite, lanceolate, glossy, compound leaves (3-6" long). New foliage emerges a scarlet red in spring maturing to a blue-green by summer

Fall:

Foliage turns red to red-orange-green; semi-evergreen, but typically deciduous in NYC

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Fall Color, Evergreen

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

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:

6a - 10b

'Gulf Stream' is a compact shrub noted for its variety of leaf colors. 

Not reliably evergreen in NYC.

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Common:

Trumpet Daffodil

Scientific:

Narcissus

'King Alfred'

Plant type:

Bulb

Height:

1-2 ft

Spread:

1.5-1 ft

Shape:

Spreading Clumping

Bloom:

Very showy, bright yellow, pointed, petals with a yellow trumpet

Blooming period:

Mar - Apr

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant

Foliage:

Narrow strap-shaped green leaves in clumps. Cut back spent foliage only after it begins to fade

Fall:

Bulbs should be planted or divided during fall

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

Season of Interest:

Spring

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

3a - 8b

One of the oldest daffodils, it was introduced in 1899 in England. 'King Alfred' is a trumpet daffodil noted for its yellow flowers.

Not typically found in commerce today, although similar look-alike varieties are widely available.  

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Common:

Cyclamineus Daffodil

Scientific:

Narcissus

'Jack Snipe'

Plant type:

Bulb

Height:

0.75-1 ft

Spread:

0.5-0.75 ft

Shape:

Spreading Clumping

Bloom:

Large, showy flowers with creamy-white reflexed petals and frilled, bright yellow trumpets

Blooming period:

Apr - Jun

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant

Foliage:

Narrow strap-shaped green leaves in clumps. Cut back spent foliage only after it begins to fade

Fall:

Bulbs should be planted or divided during fall

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Unknown

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 8b

'Jack Snipe' is noted for its white, reflexed petals and a medium yellow trumpet.

Blooms early to mid-season and is more shade tolerant than most daffodil varieties.

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Common:

Small-Cupped Daffodil

Scientific:

Narcissus

'Barrett Browning'

Plant type:

Bulb

Height:

1-2 ft

Spread:

0.5-1 ft

Shape:

Clumping

Bloom:

Large flowers (4" across) with crisp white petals and a small orange-red cup

Blooming period:

Mar - May

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant

Foliage:

Narrow strap-shaped green leaves in clumps. Cut back spent foliage only after it begins to yellow

Fall:

Bulbs should be planted or divided during fall

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Unknown

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

3a - 9b

'Barrett Browning' is a small-cupped cultivar known for its pure white petals and orange-red cups. 

Narcissus Improved King Alfred

Common:

Trumpet Daffodil

Scientific:

Narcissus

'Improved King Alfred'

Plant type:

Bulb

Height:

1-2 ft

Spread:

0.5-1 ft

Shape:

Clumping

Bloom:

Yellow with deep golden trumpet flower (to 1.5-2' tall)

Blooming period:

Apr - May

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant

Foliage:

Narrow strap-shaped green leaves in clumps

Fall:

Bulbs should be planted or divided during fall

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

3a - 9a

Other:

Pollinator

'Improved King Alfred' is a trumpet daffodil cultivar noted for its yellow flowers like the original 'King Alfred' that was introduced in England in 1899. Breeding has led to larger blooms (up to 4") and reduced stem length for longer life after cutting.  

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Common:

Pheasant's Eye

Scientific:

Narcissus poeticus var. recurvus

Plant type:

Bulb

Height:

1-1.5 ft

Spread:

0.5-0.75 ft

Shape:

Clumping

Bloom:

Showy and fragrant flowers with recurved white petals and a small yellow cup with a distinctive red rim

Blooming period:

Apr - May

Foliage:

Narrow strap-shaped green leaves in clumps

Fall:

Bulbs should be planted or divided during fall

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Unknown

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

3a - 7b

Generally noted for its clear white, recurved petals that are contrasted with a showy, yellow eye ringed in red. 

 

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Common:

Blue Wonder Catmint

Scientific:

Nepeta racemosa

'Blue Wonder'

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

0.75-1.5 ft

Spread:

1-1.5 ft

Shape:

Mounded Dwarf

Bloom:

Dark blue, trumpet shaped flower atop long (6") spikes rising above the foliage

Blooming period:

May - Sep

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant

Foliage:

Aromatic, gray-green, hairy, ovate leaves with sharply toothed margins (to 1" long)

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage

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

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

3a - 8b

Other:

Pollinator

'Blue Wonder' is a dwarf cultivar noted for its small, abundant, two-lipped, trumpet-shaped, dark blue flowers. 

May also be found as Nepeta x mussinii 'Blue Wonder' in trade.

May attract butterflies.

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