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

Schizachyrium scoparium

Collections:

  • Shallow-Soil Tolerant Plants
  • Median Plants

Common:

Little Bluestem

Scientific:

Schizachyrium scoparium

Plant type:

Grass/Grass-like

Height:

2-4 ft

Spread:

1.5-2 ft

Shape:

Vase-Like

Bloom:

Purplish-bronze flowers bloom in long racemes (to 3" long) on branched stems above the foliage

Blooming period:

Aug - Nex Feb

Fruit:

Blooms are followed by fluffy, silvery-white seed head clusters that persist into winter

Foliage:

Slender folded blades range from 2-12" long

Fall:

Foliage turns an attractive bronze-orange

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall

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

Other:

Native

Cut back in late winter. Tolerates deer, drought, erosion, rocky soil, heat, humidity, and air pollution.

Giant Sequoia

Common:

Giant Sequoia

Scientific:

Sequoiadendron giganteum

'Hazel Smith'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

40-60 ft

Spread:

20-40 ft

Shape:

Upright

Bloom:

Non-flowering

Fruit:

Produces rounded cones (to 2.5" long)

Foliage:

Scaly, blue-green needles

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Bark is an attractive cinnamon, reddish-brown and scaly in texture

Special Qualities:

Evergreen, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Not available

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

6a - 8b

Other:

Fall Dig Safe

'Hazel Smith' is noted for its exceptional blue color, superior cold hardiness, and accelerated growth rate. 

Skimmia japonica 'Nymans'

Common:

Japanese Skimmia

Scientific:

Skimmia japonica

'Nymans'

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

1.5-3 ft

Spread:

3-5 ft

Shape:

Mounded

Bloom:

Small, white, star-shaped flowers cover the shrub in large clusters

Blooming period:

Mar - Apr

Fruit:

Blooms are followed by glossy, bright red clusters of berries

Foliage:

Obovate, dark, glossy green leaves (~3" long)

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Part Sun to Full Shade

Salt:

Unknown

pH:

Requires Acid (5.0-7.0)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

7a - 9a

Other:

Pollinator

'Nymans' is noted for its fragrant white flowers.

 

Skimmia japonica

Common:

Japanese Skimmia

Scientific:

Skimmia japonica

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

3-4 ft

Spread:

4-5 ft

Shape:

Mounded

Bloom:

Small, white, star-shaped flowers cover the shrub in large clusters

Blooming period:

Mar - Apr

Fruit:

Blooms are followed by glossy, bright red clusters of berries

Foliage:

Obovate, dark green leaves (~5" long) are clustered at the branch ends with a whorl-like form

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Evergreen

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Part Sun to Full Shade

Salt:

Unknown

pH:

Requires Acid (5.0-7.0)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

6a - 8a

Other:

Pollinator

Shrub is dioecious (separate male and female plants). Female plants bear more attractive red berries. Plant one male for every six females to achieve a good fruit set. 

This is a general image of Solidago rugosa ('Fireworks' cultivar), showcasing its spiky yellow flowers and green foliage.

Common:

Rough Goldenrod

Scientific:

Solidago rugosa

'Fireworks'

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

2.5-3 ft

Spread:

2-3 ft

Shape:

Compact

Bloom:

Showy, yellow flowers bloom at the ends of spire-like stems

Blooming period:

Sep - Oct

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant

Foliage:

Ovate leaves (to 4" long) have hairy, crinkled texture and serrated margins

Fall:

Showy, yellow blooms last until mid-autumn

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

High

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

4a - 8b

Other:

Native

'Fireworks' is noted for its bright sprays of yellow flowers. 

This is an overhead image of the plant Solidago sphacelata ('Golden Fleece' cultivar), which shows both the foliage and yellow flowers.

Common:

Goldenrod

Scientific:

Solidago sphacelata

'Golden Fleece'

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

1-1.5 ft

Spread:

1-1.5 ft

Shape:

Compact

Bloom:

Small, yellow flowers bloom in airy spires

Blooming period:

Aug - Sep

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant

Foliage:

Heart-shaped foliage forms a dense, mat-like cover

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:

Unknown

pH:

Not available

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

4a - 8a

‘Golden Fleece’ is noted as a compact cultivar and for its sprays of tiny golden yellow flowers.

European mountain ash

Common:

European Mountain Ash

Scientific:

Sorbus aucuparia

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

20-40 ft

Spread:

8-20 ft

Shape:

Rounded

Bloom:

Flattened corymbs of small, white, 5-petaled flowers (1/3" across)

Blooming period:

May

Fruit:

Blooms give way to pendant shaped clusters of orange-red berry-like drupes

Foliage:

Ovate leaves with serrated margins (~2" long)

Fall:

Foliage turns an attractive yellow to reddish-purple

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

None

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

3a - 6a

Other:

Fall Dig Safe, ALB Host
Spiraea japonica 'Neon Flash'

Common:

Neon Flash Spirea

Scientific:

Spiraea japonica

'Neon Flash'

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

2-3 ft

Spread:

3-4 ft

Shape:

Mounded

Bloom:

Tiny pink to neon-red flowers bloom in clusters (corymbs)

Blooming period:

Apr - Oct

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant; dry, brown follicles

Foliage:

Alternate, simple leaves (1-3” long) are oval with toothed leaf margins

Fall:

Foliage turns an attractive dark burgundy

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 9b

Other:

Pollinator

'Neon Flash' is known for its rich red flower clusters. Ideal as a low hedge or mass planting.

Japanese

Common:

Japanese Spiraea

Scientific:

Spiraea japonica

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

4-6 ft

Spread:

5-7 ft

Shape:

Spreading Upright Mounded

Bloom:

Tiny white to pink flowers bloom in clusters (corymbs)

Blooming period:

Jun - Jul

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant; dry, brown follicles

Foliage:

Alternate, simple leaves (1-3” long) are oval with toothed leaf margins

Fall:

Leaves turn orange-red

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

3a - 8b

Flowers are attractive to butterflies.

Japanese Spirea

Common:

Japanese Spirea

Scientific:

Spiraea japonica

'Gold Mound'

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

2-3 ft

Spread:

3-4 ft

Shape:

Mounded

Bloom:

Tiny pink flowers bloom in flattened clusters (corymbs)

Blooming period:

Jun - Jul

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant; dry, brown follicles

Foliage:

Alternate, simple, golden-yellow leaves (1-3” long) are oval with toothed leaf margins

Fall:

Foliage turns hues of yellow, orange, and red

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Unknown

pH:

Not available

Soil:

Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 8a

'Gold Mound' is noted for its attractive golden-yellow foliage that turns orange-red in fall. 

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