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

Picea omorika

Common:

Serbian Spruce

Scientific:

Picea omorika

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

40-60 ft

Spread:

15-20 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Species does not flower

Fruit:

Cones (to 2.5" long) emerge purple then mature to a lighter yellow-brown

Foliage:

Flat needles (to 1" long) are dark green on upper side with light silvery undersides

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Cracked, thinly scaled brown bark

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, 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:

Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

4a - 7a

Other:

Fall Dig Safe
Picea orientalis

Common:

Oriental Spruce

Scientific:

Picea orientalis

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

25-40 ft

Spread:

15-25 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Species does not flower

Fruit:

Oval, reddish-purple female cones (to 3-6" long) mature to a medium brown while small male cones are red

Foliage:

Short, dark green needles (to 1/2" long)

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Smooth, pink-gray bark may exfoliate with age

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, 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:

Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

4a - 7a

Other:

Fall Dig Safe
This photograph of Picea pungens ('Glauca Globosa' cultivar) displays the globular shape of the shrub and its blue hue, which is also surrounded by other plants.

Collections:

  • Median Plants

Common:

Colorado Spruce

Scientific:

Picea pungens

'Glauca Globosa'

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

3-5 ft

Spread:

4-6 ft

Shape:

Rounded

Bloom:

Species does not flower

Fruit:

Oval cones (to 4" long)

Foliage:

Silvery, blue-green needles (to 1.5" long) are stiff and bristly

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Furrowed, dark brown-gray bark

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen

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:

Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

3a - 7a

'Glauca Globosa' is a dwarf cultivar that is globe-shaped with a flattened top. 

Pinus bungeana

Common:

Lacebark Pine

Scientific:

Pinus bungeana

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

30-50 ft

Spread:

20-35 ft

Shape:

Vase-Like

Bloom:

Species does not flower

Fruit:

Small oval cones (to 2-3" long)

Foliage:

Medium to dark green needles (to 2-4" long) form in bundles of three

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Exfoliates to reveal brown, rust, green, and cream bark

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Evergreen, Distinctive Bark

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

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 8a

Other:

Fall Dig Safe
This is an image of Pinus flexilis, a green pine tree that has a pyramidal canopy.

Common:

Limber Pine

Scientific:

Pinus flexilis

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

25-60 ft

Spread:

15-20 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Species does not flower

Fruit:

Thick-scaled cones (to 8" long)

Foliage:

Dark blue-green needles (to 3.5" long) form in bundles of five

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Smooth light gray maturing to dark gray with fissures

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Evergreen

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

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

4a - 7a

An adaptable and low maintenance favorite.

Leaf icon

Common:

Vanderwolf's Pine

Scientific:

Pinus flexilis

'Vanderwolf's Pyramid'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

20-30 ft

Spread:

10-15 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Species does not flower

Fruit:

Thick-scaled cones (up to 8" long)

Foliage:

Dark blue-green needles (to 3.5" long) form in bundles of five

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Smooth light gray maturing to dark gray with fissures

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage

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

Moisture:

Dry/Drought

Hardiness:

4a - 7b

Other:

Fall Dig Safe

'Vanderwolf's Pyramid' is noted for its upright, pyramidal form and closely spaced blue-green needles. 

THis is an image of Pinus heldreichii var. leucodermis that is located next to an arterial road, and has a conical structure.

Common:

Bosnian Pine

Scientific:

Pinus heldreichii var. leucodermis

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

30-40 ft

Spread:

20-30 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Species does not flower

Fruit:

Oval cones (to 2-3" long) emerge bluish-purple then mature to brown

Foliage:

Dark green needles (to 3.5" long) are glossy and form in pairs

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Smooth, ash gray-brown

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, 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

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

3a - 8a
This photograph is of Pinus mugo ('Mops' cultivar), which is a dark green conifer and has a rounded form.

Common:

Dwarf Mountain Pine

Scientific:

Pinus mugo

'Mops'

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

3-4 ft

Spread:

2.5-3 ft

Shape:

Rounded

Bloom:

Species does not flower

Fruit:

Oval cones (to 2.5" long)

Foliage:

Medium to dark green needles (to 2" long) form in bundles of two

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Scaly brown-gray bark

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, 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:

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

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

3a - 7a

'Mops' is a dwarf cultivar with a dense rounded form.

Pinus parviflora

Common:

Japanese White Pine

Scientific:

Pinus parviflora

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

30-50 ft

Spread:

30-50 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Species does not flower

Fruit:

Oval reddish-brown cones (2-3" long) appear solitary or in small clusters that can remain on the tree for up to seven years

Foliage:

Twisted, blue-green needles (to 3" long) appear in bundles of five

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Smooth brown-gray bark darkens and becomes scaly with age

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Evergreen

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 7a

Other:

Fall Dig Safe
Pinus strobiformis

Common:

Southwestern White Pine

Scientific:

Pinus strobiformis

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

80-100 ft

Spread:

50-60 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Species does not flower

Fruit:

Thick scaled, pale yellow-brown cones (6-10" long)

Foliage:

Blue-green needles (to 4" long) grow in bundles of five

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Rough textured and deeply furrowed

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Evergreen

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

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 9a

Other:

Fall Dig Safe
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