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 a Quercus palustris ('Pringreen' cultivar) tree, which appears to be tall, slender, and green foliage.

Common:

Green Pillar® Pin Oak

Scientific:

Quercus palustris

'Pringreen'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

50-60 ft

Spread:

12-15 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal Columnar Upright

Bloom:

Insignificant, monoecious, yellow-green flowers bloom in separate male and female catkins

Blooming period:

Apr

Fruit:

Rounded acorns (to 1/2" long) have saucer-shaped acorn cups

Foliage:

Glossy, dark green leaves (to 5" long) have deeply cut lobes with bristle tips

Fall:

Leaves turn deep red to scarlet in fall

Bark:

Foliage turns an attractive deep red

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Fall Color

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Requires Acid (5.0-7.0)

Soil:

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

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

4a - 8b

'Pringreen' is noted for its columnar form. 

This is an image of a Quercus palustris tree, which has a pyramidal shape to it, and vibrant green leaves.

Collections:

Common:

Pin Oak

Scientific:

Quercus palustris

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

50-70 ft

Spread:

40-60 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Insignificant, monoecious, yellow-green flowers bloom in separate male and female catkins

Blooming period:

Apr

Fruit:

Rounded acorns (to 1/2" long) have saucer-shaped acorn cups

Foliage:

Glossy, dark green leaves (to 5" long) have deeply cut lobes with bristle tips

Fall:

Foliage turns an attractive deep red

Bark:

Smooth gray bark that fissures with age

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Requires Acid (5.0-7.0)

Soil:

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

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

4a - 8b

Other:

Native
Placeholder Image

Collections:

Common:

Hightower® Willow Oak

Scientific:

Quercus phellos

'Hightower'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

55-65 ft

Spread:

30-45 ft

Shape:

Rounded Pyramidal

Bloom:

Insignificant, monoecious, yellow-green flowers bloom in separate male and female catkins

Blooming period:

Apr - May

Fruit:

Rounded acorns (to 1/2" long) have saucer-shaped acorn cups

Foliage:

Willow-like leaves have smooth edges with bristled tips (to 5" long and 1" wide)

Fall:

Golden yellow fall color

Bark:

Dark-grey smooth bark that begins to peel with maturity

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Fall Color

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Requires Acid (5.0-7.0)

Soil:

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

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

6a - 9b

Other:

Native, Fall Dig Safe

'Hightower' is noted for its uniform branching and dark green foliage. 

This is a general image of a Quercus phellos tree, with a dense and rounded canopy, located on a sidewalk.

Collections:

Common:

Willow Oak

Scientific:

Quercus phellos

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

40-75 ft

Spread:

25-50 ft

Shape:

Rounded Pyramidal

Bloom:

Insignificant, monoecious, yellow-green flowers bloom in separate male and female catkins

Blooming period:

Apr

Fruit:

Rounded acorns (to 1/2" long) have saucer-shaped acorn cups

Foliage:

Willow-like leaves have smooth edges with bristled tips (to 5" long and 1" wide)

Fall:

Undistinguished yellow fall color

Bark:

Furrowed, dark brown-gray bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Requires Acid (5.0-7.0)

Soil:

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

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

5a - 9b

Other:

Fall Dig Safe
This is an image of a Quercus prinus tree that has a dense canopy and oval-shaped leaves.

Collections:

Common:

Chestnut Oak

Scientific:

Quercus prinus

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

50-60 ft

Spread:

40-60 ft

Shape:

Rounded

Bloom:

Insignificant, monoecious, yellow-green flowers bloom in separate male and female catkins

Blooming period:

Apr - May

Fruit:

Elliptic acorns (to 3" long) have saucer-shaped acorn cups

Foliage:

Alternate, obovate, toothed leaves (to 4-8" long), grayish-green on the underside

Fall:

Copper yellow to reddish-brown fall color

Bark:

Nearly black bark, deeply furrowed

Special Qualities:

Fall Color, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

None

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Urban (rubble/fill), Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

4a - 8b

Other:

Native, Fall Dig Safe
This image displays a row of Quercus robur ('Fastigiata' cultivar) trees planted along a median, displaying their upright structure and densely packed foliage.

Collections:

Common:

Fastigiate English Oak

Scientific:

Quercus robur

'Fastigiata'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

50-60 ft

Spread:

10-20 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal Upright

Bloom:

Insignificant, monoecious, yellow-green flowers bloom in separate male and female catkins

Blooming period:

Apr

Fruit:

Elliptic acorns (to 1" long) have saucer-shaped acorn cups

Foliage:

Dark green, long and broad, leaves have shallow lobes with a rounded tip and base

Fall:

Undistinguished yellow fall color

Bark:

Dark grey to black bark, ridged and furrowed

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit

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, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 8b

'Fastigiata' is noted for its upright, columnar form. 

Placeholder Image

Common:

Skymaster® Oak

Scientific:

Quercus robur

'Pyramich'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

40-50 ft

Spread:

20-25 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal Upright

Bloom:

Insignificant, monoecious, yellow-green flowers bloom in separate male and female catkins

Blooming period:

Apr

Fruit:

Elliptic acorns (to 1" long) have saucer-shaped acorn cups

Foliage:

Dark green, long and broad, leaves have shallow lobes with a rounded tip and base

Fall:

Undistinguished yellow fall color

Bark:

Almost black bark with vertical fissures

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

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

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 8b

Other:

Fall Dig Safe, ALB Safe

'Pyramich' is noted for its excellent lateral branch development and pyramidal form. 

This is an image of a Quercus robur tree, which has a circular canopy and bright green leaves.

Collections:

Common:

English Oak

Scientific:

Quercus robur

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

50-60 ft

Spread:

50-60 ft

Shape:

Rounded Spreading

Bloom:

Insignificant, monoecious, yellow-green flowers bloom in separate male and female catkins

Blooming period:

Apr

Fruit:

Elliptic acorns (to 1" long) on 1-3" long stalks have saucer-shaped acorn cups that extend 1/3 of the acorn length

Foliage:

Dark green, obovate leaves (to 5" long) with 3-7 blunt lobes are blue-green beneath

Fall:

Undistinguished fall color

Bark:

Grayish-black and furrowed

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit

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, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 8b
Placeholder Image

Common:

Crimson Spire™ Oak

Scientific:

Quercus robur x Q alba

'Crimschmidt'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

40-45 ft

Spread:

15-20 ft

Shape:

Columnar Upright

Bloom:

Insignificant, monoecious, yellow-green flowers bloom in separate male and female catkins

Blooming period:

Apr - May

Fruit:

Elliptic acorns (to 1.25" long) have warty saucer-shaped tops

Foliage:

Dark green leaves (4-8" long) have 6-11 deeply cut lobes

Fall:

Excellent red, rusty orange fall color

Bark:

Dark brown and furrowed

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage, Fall Color

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

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

Moisture:

Not available

Hardiness:

5a - 9b

Other:

ALB Safe

'Crimschmidt' is noted for its large columnar form and its red fall foliage. 

This is a general image of a Quercus rubra tree, with a broad and round crown, composed of dense, green leaves.

Collections:

Common:

Red Oak

Scientific:

Quercus rubra

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

50-75 ft

Spread:

50-75 ft

Shape:

Rounded Spreading

Bloom:

Insignificant, monoecious, yellow-green flowers bloom in separate male and female catkins

Blooming period:

May

Fruit:

Elliptic acorns (to 1.25" long) have scaly saucer-shaped tops

Foliage:

Glossy, dark green, obovate leaves (to 7" long) have 6-8 obtuse lobes with pointed tips

Fall:

Leaves turn brownish-red in fall

Bark:

Grooved, green-grey bark

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Fall Color, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

High

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Urban (rubble/fill), Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

4a - 8b
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