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 an image of the foliage of Nepeta racemosa ('Walker's Low' cultivar), which are a light green and serrated.

Common:

Catmint

Scientific:

Nepeta racemosa

'Walker's Low'

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

2-2.5 ft

Spread:

2.5-3 ft

Shape:

Mounded

Bloom:

Rich, violet-blue, trumpet shaped flower atop long (9-12") spikes rising above the foliage

Blooming period:

Apr - Sep

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 Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Urban (rubble/fill), Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Dry/Drought

Hardiness:

4a - 8a

'Walker's Low' is noted for its loose whorls of small, abundant, two-lipped, trumpet-shaped, lavender-blue flowers. 'Walker's Low' must be propagated by division because seeds are sterile.

Local favorite. Thick growth can prevent weeds and repel rodents.

DEP Residential Plan 1 and Urban Plan 3.

Placeholder Image

Common:

Six Hills Giant Catmint

Scientific:

Nepeta x faassenii

'Six Hills Giant'

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

2-3 ft

Spread:

2-4 ft

Shape:

Mounded Clumping

Bloom:

Rich, violet-blue, trumpet shaped flower atop long (9-12") spikes rising above the foliage

Blooming period:

Jun - Sep

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant

Foliage:

Aromatic, gray-green, hairy, ovate leaves with sharply toothed margins (to 1.5" long)

Fall:

Ornamentally insignificant; Long-lasting blooms provide interest through the end of summer into early fall

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 Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

4a - 7b

Other:

Pollinator

‘Six Hills Giant’ is noted for its billowing, aromatic, gray-green foliage that is topped with 9-12" spikes of rich violet-blue flowers. It is one of the tallest catmints and most tolerant of damp conditions.

May attract butterflies.

Nipponanthemum nipponicum

Common:

Nippon Daisy

Scientific:

Nipponanthemum nipponicum

Plant type:

Shrub, Perennial

Height:

1.5-3 ft

Spread:

1.5-3 ft

Shape:

Rounded Clumping

Bloom:

Daisy-like flowers (to 3" across) have white rays with a green center disk

Blooming period:

Jul - Aug

Fruit:

Non-fruiting

Foliage:

Thick, oblong, coarsely-toothed, glossy, dark green leaves (to 3.5" long)

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

5a - 9b

Other:

Naturalized Invasive
Nyssa sylvatica 'Red Rage'

Collections:

Common:

Red Rage® Tupelo

Scientific:

Nyssa sylvatica

'Haymanred'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

30-35 ft

Spread:

15-20 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Dioecious (separate male and female plants) blooms inconspicuous small, greenish-white flowers in small clusters

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Blooms give way to drupes of small blue-black fruit (1/2" long)

Foliage:

Deep green, high gloss, simple, slightly toothed, ovate leaves (to 5" long)

Fall:

Spectacular scarlet fall color

Bark:

Dark gray brown bark with irregular ridges.

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

3a - 9b

Other:

Native

'Haymen’s Red' is known for its bright red fall color and increased resistance to leaf spot. 

Nyssa sylvatica 'Forum'

Collections:

Common:

Forum® Tupelo

Scientific:

Nyssa sylvatica

'Forum'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

30-50 ft

Spread:

20-30 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Dioecious (separate male and female plants) blooms inconspicuous small, greenish-white flowers in small clusters

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Blooms give way to drupes of small blue-black fruit (1/2" long)

Foliage:

Simple, slightly toothed, ovate leaves (to 5" long)

Fall:

Spectacular scarlet fall color

Bark:

Dark gray brown bark with irregular ridges

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

3a - 9b

Other:

Native

'Forum' is noted for its narrowly pyramidal, upright form. 

An image of a young Nyssa sylvatica tree with a rounded crown and green leaves.

Collections:

Common:

Tupelo

Scientific:

Nyssa sylvatica

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

30-50 ft

Spread:

20-30 ft

Shape:

Rounded Pyramidal

Bloom:

Dioecious (separate male and female plants) blooms inconspicuous small, greenish-white flowers in small clusters

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Blooms give way to drupes of small blue-black fruit (1/2" long)

Foliage:

Simple, slightly toothed, ovate leaves (to 5" long)

Fall:

Spectacular scarlet fall color

Bark:

Dark gray brown bark with irregular ridges

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

3a - 9b

Other:

Native
Ophiopogon planiscapus'Nigrescens'

Common:

Black Mondo Grass

Scientific:

Ophiopogon planiscapus

'Nigrescens'

Plant type:

Perennial, Grass/Grass-like, Groundcover

Height:

0.5-1 ft

Spread:

0.75-1 ft

Shape:

Spreading Clumping

Bloom:

White, bell-shaped flowers (to 1/4" long) bloom in racemes that rise above the foliage

Blooming period:

Jul - Aug

Fruit:

Globular, pea-sized, glossy dark purple berries mature in fall

Foliage:

Narrow, linear, grass-like, blackish-purple leaves (to 3/16" wide) appear in arching clumps rising to 6-8" tall

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

6a - 9b

‘Nigrescens’ is noted for its narrow, linear, grass-like, blackish-purple leaves.

Ostrya virginiana

Collections:

Common:

Eastern Hop Hornbeam

Scientific:

Ostrya virginiana

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

25-40 ft

Spread:

20-30 ft

Shape:

Oval Pyramidal

Bloom:

Flowers are monoecious with reddish-brown male flowers and greenish white flowers blooming on separate catkins on the same tree

Blooming period:

Apr

Fruit:

Blooms give way to drooping clusters of sac-like, seed-bearing pods that resemble the fruit of hops

Foliage:

Oval, sharply-serrated, dark yellowish-green leaves (to 5" long)

Fall:

Undistinguished yellow fall color

Bark:

Bark forms gray-brown, vertical strips that exfoliate at the ends

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Part Sun Only

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

3a - 9b

Other:

Native
An image of Oxydendrum arboreum, with a thin, brown trunk and leaves that are turning red from green.

Common:

Sourwood

Scientific:

Oxydendrum arboreum

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

20-50 ft

Spread:

10-25 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Mildly fragrant, waxy white flowers bloom on slender, drooping, one-sided terminal panicles (4-8” long)

Blooming period:

Jun - Jul

Fruit:

Blooms give way to 5-parted brown dry capsules that ripen to silver-gray

Foliage:

Finely-toothed, glossy green leaves (to 5-8” long)

Fall:

Foliage turns crimson red

Bark:

Gray bark on mature trees is fissured, ridged and scaly

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Requires Acid (5.0-7.0)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5b - 9b
Pachysandra terminalis

Common:

Japanese Pachysandra

Scientific:

Pachysandra terminalis

Plant type:

Perennial, Groundcover

Height:

0.5-1 ft

Spread:

1-1.5 ft

Shape:

Spreading

Bloom:

Inconspicuous, tiny white flowers bloom on terminal spikes (1-2" long)

Blooming period:

Apr

Fruit:

Small and inconspicuous greenish-white fruit

Foliage:

Dark green, oval leaves (2-4" long) form in whorls at the tips of shoots

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Part Sun to Full Shade

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Urban (rubble/fill), Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 9b

Other:

Regionally Invasive

Only plant within hard boundaries. Reported as invasive in NY, NJ, PA, CT

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