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

Scholar Tree, Japanese Pagoda Tree

Collections:

Common:

Japanese Pagoda Tree

Scientific:

Styphnolobium japonicum

'Princeton Upright'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

40-50 ft

Spread:

30-35 ft

Shape:

Rounded Upright

Bloom:

Creamy white, pea-sized flowers bloom in large clusters (6-12" long)

Blooming period:

Aug

Fruit:

Blooms are followed by green seed pods (3-8" long) that turn yellow then brown in the fall

Foliage:

Pinnate leaves (to 10" long) have several oval, lustrous, dark green leaflets

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Young trees have greenish bark that becomes light gray-brown and furrowed with age

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit

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:

Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

6a - 8b

Other:

Fall Dig Safe

'Princeton Upright' is notable for its upright branching habit that is taller than it is wide.

This is an autumnal image of Styphnolobium japonicum ('Regent' cultivar), which shows the vase-shaped canopy, in the fall season, and is accompanied by the lack of foliage.

Collections:

Common:

Japanese Pagoda Tree

Scientific:

Styphnolobium japonicum

'Regent'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

40-50 ft

Spread:

30-40 ft

Shape:

Rounded

Bloom:

Creamy white, pea-sized flowers bloom in large clusters (6-12" long)

Blooming period:

Jul - Aug

Fruit:

Blooms are followed by green seed pods (3-8" long) that turn yellow then brown in the fall

Foliage:

Pinnate leaves (to 10" long) have several oval, lustrous, dark green leaflets

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Young trees have greenish bark that becomes light gray-brown and furrowed with age

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Not available

Soil:

Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 8b

Other:

Fall Dig Safe

'Regent' is noted for its faster growth rate and fuller oval-rounded crown.  

This is an image of a mature Styphnolobium japonicum tree, which fills the frame with its dense, green foliage amongst a streetscape.

Collections:

Common:

Japanese Pagoda Tree

Scientific:

Styphnolobium japonicum

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

50-70 ft

Spread:

50-70 ft

Shape:

Rounded Upright

Bloom:

Creamy white, pea-sized flowers bloom in large clusters (6-12" long)

Blooming period:

Jul - Aug

Fruit:

Blooms are followed by green seed pods (3-8" long) that turn yellow then brown in the fall

Foliage:

Pinnate leaves (to 10" long) have several oval, lustrous, dark green leaflets

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Young trees have greenish bark that becomes light gray-brown and furrowed with age

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

4a - 8a

Other:

Fall Dig Safe
Japanese Snowbell

Common:

Japanese Snowbell

Scientific:

Styrax japonicus

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

20-30 ft

Spread:

15-30 ft

Shape:

Vase-Like

Bloom:

Waxy, white, 5-petaled flowers (~3/4" wide) hang in pendulous clusters

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Flowers give way to green, drooping, ovoid capsules (~3/4" diameter)

Foliage:

Simple, ovate leaves (1-3.5" long) are arranged in alternate pattern

Fall:

Foliage turns a reasonably showy yellow with reddish hint

Bark:

Smooth gray bark fissures with maturity to reveal orange inner bark that can provide winter interest

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Winter

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 9b

Other:

Fall Dig Safe
Fragrant Snowbell

Common:

Fragrant Snowbell

Scientific:

Styrax obassia

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

20-30 ft

Spread:

15-25 ft

Shape:

Rounded Vase-Like

Bloom:

White, bell-shaped flowers with yellow stamens hang loosely in clusters (up to 8" long)

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Flowers give way to green, drooping, ovoid capsules (~3/4" diameter)

Foliage:

Simple, ovate leaves (3-8" long) are arranged in alternate pattern

Fall:

Undistinguished yellow fall color

Bark:

Grayish-brown bark is smooth on younger trees but exfoliates with maturity

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Winter

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Unknown

pH:

Not available

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

6a - 8a

Other:

Fall Dig Safe, ALB Safe
This is an overhead shot of Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, displaying the bright green foliage and numerous purple flowers with yellow centers.

Common:

New England Aster

Scientific:

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

3-6 ft

Spread:

2-3 ft

Shape:

Upright

Bloom:

Deep pink-blue-purple; profuse bloom of daisy-like asters with purple rays and orange-yellow centers from late summer to early fall

Blooming period:

Aug - Oct

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant. Produces a dry seed (achene) that displays in late fall

Foliage:

Hairy, clasping, rough, lance-shaped leaves growing up to 4" arranged densely on stout stems

Fall:

Long-lasting bloom provides primary fall interest. May be cut back after flowering

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Requires Acid (5.0-7.0)

Soil:

Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

4a - 8a

Other:

Native, Pollinator

May also be found in trade as Aster novae-angliae.

Tolerant of flooding and a useful plant for Stormwater Management Practices.

Divide every several years to promote vigorous growth.

Attracts butterflies.

Michaelmas Daisy

Common:

Michaelmas Daisy

Scientific:

Symphyotrichum novi-belgii

'Blue Lagoon'

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

1-1.5 ft

Spread:

1.5-2.5 ft

Shape:

Mounded

Bloom:

Profuse bloom of clear blue (sometimes lavender), small daisy-like flowers which can entirely cover the plant from mid summer to early fall

Blooming period:

Jun - Oct

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant

Foliage:

Gray-green alternate, simple, lancolate to broadly linear leaves growing 3 to 5". Upper leave surface stiff with pubescence, margins are slightly toothed.

Fall:

Long-lasting bloom provides primary fall interest. Cut-back 6" in early spring to promote stronger bloom and control form

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Requires Acid (5.0-7.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

4a - 8a

Other:

Native, Pollinator

May also be found in trade as Aster novi-belgii 'Blue Lagoon'. This cultivar is noted for its bright-blue daisy-like blooms.

Attracts butterflies.

A full street image of Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (Raydon's Favorite Aster), showcasing the purple aster blooms and foliage.

Common:

Aromatic Aster

Scientific:

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium

'Raydon’s Favorite'

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

1-3 ft

Spread:

1-3 ft

Shape:

Mounded

Bloom:

Small, daisy-like flowers (1" across) with violet blue rays and yellow center disks

Blooming period:

Aug - Oct

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant

Foliage:

Rigid, toothless, oblong, blue-green leaves (to 4" long). Fragrant when crushed

Fall:

Long-lasting bloom provides primary fall interest

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 Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

3a - 8a

Other:

Native, Pollinator

Also known as Aster oblongifolius 'Raydon's Favorite'

'Radon's Favorite' is noted for its fall blooms of violet-blue, daisy-like flowers. 

Attracts butterflies.

This is an image of Syringa pekinensis, which has a rounded canopy, green leaves, and a reddish-brown bark.

Collections:

Common:

Peking Lilac

Scientific:

Syringa pekinensis

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

15-20 ft

Spread:

10-15 ft

Shape:

Rounded

Bloom:

Yellowish-white flowers bloom in upright panicles (up to 6" long)

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Blooms give way to clusters of brown capsules that provide interest into the winter

Foliage:

Ovate leaves (up to 6" long) have rounded bases and are dark green

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Amber-colored bark peels and is attractive year round

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Bark

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

Hardiness:

3a - 7b

Other:

Fall Dig Safe
This is an image of Syringa pekinensis ('Morton' cultivar), a leafy tree that has bright green foliage and a slender trunk.

Common:

CHINA SNOW™ Peking Lilac

Scientific:

Syringa pekinensis

'Morton'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

20-30 ft

Spread:

15-25 ft

Shape:

Rounded

Bloom:

White flowers bloom in dense, upright panicles (up to 12" long)

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Blooms give way to clusters of brown capsules that provide interest into the winter

Foliage:

Ovate to heart-shaped leaves (up to 2-4" long) are in pairs (opposite)

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

The amber-colored bark peels and is attractive year round

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Bark

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

Hardiness:

3a - 7b

Other:

Fall Dig Safe

'Morton' is noted as a dependable urban tree that has excellent exfoliating amber-colored bark and a rounded form. 

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