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

Rosa 'Meipitac'

Common:

Carefree Wonder™

Scientific:

Rosa

'Meipitac'

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

3-4 ft

Spread:

3-4 ft

Shape:

Upright Compact

Bloom:

Large, fragrant, pink, semi-double blooms (to 4" across) with white undersides cover the shrub in clusters

Blooming period:

Jun - Nov

Fruit:

Pea-sized orange hips (to 0.5" long)

Foliage:

Semi-glossy, medium green leaves are composed of 5-9 broad-elliptic, finely-toothed, leaflets (to 2.5" long)

Fall:

Undistinguished fall color

Bark:

Smooth, brown bark with some thorns

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Low

pH:

Requires Acid (5.0-7.0)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 9b

'Meipitac' is known for its hardiness and its large, fragrant, pink, semi-double blooms. 

Rosa 'Meicoublan'

Common:

White Meidiland®

Scientific:

Rosa

'Meicoublan'

Plant type:

Groundcover

Height:

1-2 ft

Spread:

4-6 ft

Shape:

Spreading

Bloom:

Double white flowers (to 4" wide) with no fragrance bloom profusely till frost

Blooming period:

May - Dec

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant

Foliage:

Glossy dark green leaves are composed of 5-9 broad-elliptic, finely-toothed, leaflets (to 2.5" long)

Fall:

Undistinguished yellow fall color

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Low

pH:

Requires Acid (5.0-7.0)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 9b

'Meicoublan' is noted for its pure snow white blooms that occur from spring until fall. 

Rosa ‘MEIpoque’

Collections:

  • Median Plants

Common:

Pink Meidiland® Rose

Scientific:

Rosa

'MEIpoque'

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

3-4 ft

Spread:

2-3 ft

Shape:

Upright

Bloom:

Clusters of five-petaled, pink roses (to 3" wide) with white centers and yellow stamens cover the shrub

Blooming period:

May - Dec

Fruit:

Pea-sized red hips (to 0.5" long)

Foliage:

Glossy dark green leaves are composed of 5-9 broad-elliptic, finely-toothed, leaflets (to 2.5" long)

Fall:

Undistinguished yellow fall color

Bark:

Smooth, brown bark with some thorns

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Low

pH:

Requires Acid (5.0-7.0)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 8a

'MEIpoque' is noted for its profusion of large pink flowers with white centers and brightly colored stamens. 

This is a general image of the Rosa ('Radrazz' cultivar) plant on a median, illustrating its pink blooms and greyish-green foliage.

Collections:

Common:

Knock Out® Rose

Scientific:

Rosa

'Radrazz'

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

3-4 ft

Spread:

3-4 ft

Shape:

Upright

Bloom:

Single, lightly fragrant, cherry-red roses (to 3.5" wide) bloom in clusters

Blooming period:

May - Nov

Fruit:

Pea-sized orange-red hips

Foliage:

Dark purplish-green leaves are composed of 5-9 broad-elliptic, finely-toothed, leaflets (to 2.5" long)

Fall:

Leaves turn purple to burgundy in fall

Bark:

Smooth, brown bark with some thorns

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 9a

'Radrazz' is known for its cherry-red roses that bloom consistently from May to frost. 

Long-blooming. Do not deadhead; cut back in the spring.

DEP Residential Plan 1. 

Rosa 'Meineble'

Collections:

  • Median Plants

Common:

Red Meidiland® Shrub Rose

Scientific:

Rosa

'MEIneble'

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

1.5-2 ft

Spread:

4-5 ft

Shape:

Spreading

Bloom:

Clusters of five-petaled, red roses (to 3" wide) with white centers and yellow stamens cover the shrub

Blooming period:

May - Dec

Fruit:

Pea-sized red hips (to 0.5" long)

Foliage:

Glossy dark green leaves are composed of 5-9 broad-elliptic, finely-toothed, leaflets (to 2.5" long)

Fall:

Undistinguished fall color

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Requires Acid (5.0-7.0)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 9b

'MEIneble' is noted for its good disease resistance and profuse sprays of large single red flowers with white centers and rich yellow stamens. 

Regular preventative fungicide applications throughout the growing season are typically required.

This is a general image of the Rosa palustris shrub, displaying its vibrant green foliage and red berries towards the bottom of the image.

Common:

Swamp Rose

Scientific:

Rosa palustris

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

3-6 ft

Spread:

3-6 ft

Shape:

Upright

Bloom:

Fragrant, five-petaled, pink roses (to 2" wide) with yellow centers cover the shrub

Blooming period:

Jun - Jul

Fruit:

Pea-sized red hips (to 0.5" long)

Foliage:

Dark green leaves are composed of 5-9 broad-elliptic, finely-toothed, leaflets (to 2.5" long)

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Low

pH:

Requires Acid (5.0-7.0)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Wet/Flood

Hardiness:

4a - 9b

Other:

Native

DEP Residential Plan 2 and Urban Plan 1.

This is an overhead image of a Rubus calycinoides, which displays a cluster of its ruffled, green leaves.

Common:

Ornamental Creeping Raspberry

Scientific:

Rubus calycinoides

Plant type:

Groundcover

Height:

0.5-1 ft

Spread:

1-3 ft

Shape:

Spreading

Bloom:

Small paired or solitary blossoms (to 1/2" wide)

Blooming period:

Mar - May

Fruit:

Tiny, salmon-orange berries resemble raspberries

Foliage:

Rounded, five-lobed, leathery green leaves that appear crinkled or puckered

Fall:

Medium green leaves turn a burgundy color in the fall

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Unknown

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

6a - 9b

Excellent as a ground cover and for erosion control in small to medium size areas. It is also very useful in container gardens, so gardeners with limited space can also enjoy it. 

This is a general image of Rudbeckia fulgida ('Goldsturm' cultivar), showing the yellow flowers among other plants within a median.

Collections:

Common:

Black-Eyed Susan

Scientific:

Rudbeckia fulgida

'Goldsturm'

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

2-3 ft

Spread:

1-2 ft

Shape:

Upright

Bloom:

Daisy-like flowers (to 4" across) have bright yellow-orange rays with a brown center disk

Blooming period:

Jun - Sep

Fruit:

Non-fruiting

Foliage:

oblong, dark green foliage provides good contrast to bright blooms

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

3a - 9a

'Goldsturm' is a slightly more compact cultivar and noted for its larger and brighter flowers than the species. 

DEP Urban Plan 2 and 3.

This is a general image of Rudbeckia fulgida ('City Garden' cultivar) along a street median, highlighting the vibrant flowers and green foliage below.

Common:

Black-Eyed Susan

Scientific:

Rudbeckia fulgida

'City Garden'

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

0.75-1 ft

Spread:

1-2 ft

Shape:

Upright Clumping

Bloom:

Daisy-like flowers (to 2.5" across) have bright yellow-orange rays with a brown center cone

Blooming period:

Jun - Sep

Fruit:

Non-fruiting

Foliage:

oblong, medium green foliage provides good contrast to bright blooms

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

3a - 8b

‘City Garden’ is more compact than 'Goldsturm', growing only to about 12" tall, making it ideal for smaller gardens.

Leaf icon

Common:

Orange Coneflower

Scientific:

Rudbeckia Fulgida var. Fulgida

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

2-3 ft

Spread:

1-2 ft

Shape:

Spreading Clumping

Bloom:

Daisy-like flowers (to 2.5" across) have bright yellow rays with a brown center disk

Blooming period:

Jun - Oct

Fruit:

Non-fruiting

Foliage:

oblong, medium green foliage provides good contrast to bright blooms

Fall:

Blooms persist into early fall

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

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

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

3a - 9b

Orange coneflower slowly spreads by rhizomes. 

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