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

Bee Bee Tree

Common:

Bee Bee Tree

Scientific:

Tetradium daniellii

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

25-30 ft

Spread:

25-30 ft

Shape:

Vase-Like

Bloom:

Small, fragrant, white (sometimes tinged yellow or pink) flowers bloom abundantly in flattened corymbs (to 4"-6" wide)

Blooming period:

Jul - Aug

Fruit:

Flowers give way to reddish-purple seed pods that split open when ripe. Each pod contains two, shiny, buckshot-like, black seeds. Pods remain on the tree from late August to November

Foliage:

Opposite, pinnately compound leaves (to 18" long), each with 7-11 ovate glossy dark green leaflets (2"-5" long), retain good color throughout the growing season

Fall:

Undistinguished green or yellowish-green fall color

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 8a

Flowers are loved by honey bees and bloom in abundance at a time when few other trees are in flower.

Requires even moisture. 

Formally known as Euodia daniellii and Evodia daniellii.

Giant arborvitae

Common:

Giant Arborvitae

Scientific:

Thuja plicata

'Virescens'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

20-30 ft

Spread:

10-20 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Non-flowering

Fruit:

Small, non-showy, woody cones (1/2" long)

Foliage:

Glossy dark green, scaly foliage

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Grayish-brown to reddish-brown, with stringy fibers and a network of ridges and shallow furrows

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 7a

Other:

Fall Dig Safe

'Virescens' has a narrow pyramidal form with ascending branches. 

Giant arborvitae

Common:

Atrovirens Western Red Cedar

Scientific:

Thuja plicata

'Atrovirens'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

30-45 ft

Spread:

15-25 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Non-flowering

Fruit:

Small, non-showy, woody cones (1/2" long)

Foliage:

Glossy dark green, scaly foliage

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Grayish-brown to reddish-brown, with stringy fibers and a network of ridges and shallow furrows

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 7a

Other:

Fall Dig Safe

'Atrovirens' derives its name from the Latin, atro, meaning black or dark, referencing the especially rich green of the foliage. It is also noted as a rapid grower and its upright, columnar form. 

This is an image of a young Tilia americana ('Redmond' cultivar) tree which seems to be newly planted, identified by its rounded green leaves and thin trunk.

Collections:

Common:

American Linden

Scientific:

Tilia americana

'Redmond'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

65-75 ft

Spread:

30-45 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Blooms form drooping cymes of fragrant, pale yellow flowers

Blooming period:

Jun

Fruit:

After flowering, cymes are replaced by small, round nutlets (1/4" in diameter) with a leafy bract at the top of the cluster

Foliage:

Dark green, ovate leaves (up to 6") have serrate margins and often have silvery undersides

Fall:

Undistinguished pale green to pale yellow

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

None

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 8a

Other:

Native, Fall Dig Safe, ALB Host

‘Redmond’ is a pyramidal tree with leaves slightly smaller than the straight species.

American linden

Collections:

Common:

American Sentry® Linden

Scientific:

Tilia americana

'McKSentry'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

40-45 ft

Spread:

25-30 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Blooms form drooping cymes of fragrant, pale yellow flowers

Blooming period:

Jun

Fruit:

After flowering, cymes are replaced by small, round nutlets (1/4" in diameter) with a leafy bract at the top of the cluster

Foliage:

Dark green, ovate leaves (up to 6") have serrate margins and often have silvery undersides

Fall:

Undistinguished pale green to pale yellow

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

None

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 8a

Other:

Fall Dig Safe, ALB Host

'McKSentry' is noted particularly for its symmetrical, upright form and as the most resistant Linden to Japanese Beetles. 

This is an image of a common Tilia americana tree, with mature green foliage that is tinged with yellow.

Collections:

Common:

American Linden

Scientific:

Tilia americana

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

50-80 ft

Spread:

30-50 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Blooms form drooping cymes of fragrant, pale yellow flowers

Blooming period:

Jun

Fruit:

After flowering, cymes are replaced by small, round nutlets (1/4" in diameter) with a leafy bract at the top of the cluster

Foliage:

Dark green, ovate leaves (up to 6") have serrate margins and often have silvery undersides

Fall:

Undistinguished pale green to pale yellow

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

None

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

5a - 8a

Other:

Native, Fall Dig Safe, ALB Host

Frangrant and plentiful blooms attract an abundance of bees. 

This is a general image of Tilia cordata ('Baileyi' cultivar) which has a pyramidal canopy, and has leaves that are starting to turn yellow.

Collections:

Common:

Shamrock® Linden

Scientific:

Tilia cordata

'Baileyi'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

40-60 ft

Spread:

35-50 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Fragrant, pale yellow blooms in drooping cymes attract butterflies

Blooming period:

Jun

Fruit:

Small nutlets with attached leafy wings

Foliage:

Dark green leaves (to 3" long) are ovate with serrate margins and cordate bases

Fall:

Undistinguished pale green to pale yellow

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Urban (rubble/fill), Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 7a

Other:

Fall Dig Safe, ALB Host

'Baileyi' is a variation of 'Greenspire' that has a faster growth rate and features thicker branches that are less profuse, creating a more open crown.

Little-leaved linden

Collections:

Common:

Little-Leaf Linden

Scientific:

Tilia cordata

'Glenleven'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

50-70 ft

Spread:

35-50 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Fragrant, pale yellow blooms in drooping cymes attract butterflies

Blooming period:

Jun

Fruit:

Small nutlets with attached leafy wings

Foliage:

Dark green leaves (to 3" long) are ovate with serrate margins and cordate bases

Fall:

Undistinguished pale green to pale yellow

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 7a

Other:

Fall Dig Safe, ALB Host

'Glenleven' has a faster growth rate than other littleleaf Lindens with a more open, canopy forming a moderately dense pyramidal to oval crown which casts moderate shade.

This is an image of a common Tilia cordata tree, showcasing its broad and round canopy with dense, green foliage.

Collections:

Common:

Little-Leaf Linden

Scientific:

Tilia cordata

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

50-70 ft

Spread:

35-50 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Fragrant, pale yellow blooms in drooping cymes attract butterflies

Blooming period:

Jun

Fruit:

Small nutlets with attached leafy wings

Foliage:

Dark green leaves (to 3" long) are ovate with serrate margins and cordate bases

Fall:

Undistinguished pale green to pale yellow

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 7a

Other:

Fall Dig Safe, ALB Host
Mongolian linden

Common:

Mongolian Linden

Scientific:

Tilia mongolica

'Harvest Gold'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

20-30 ft

Spread:

15-25 ft

Shape:

Oval

Bloom:

Fragrant, pale yellow flowers bloom in drooping cymes

Blooming period:

May - Jul

Fruit:

Small gray nutlets are attached to a long strap like bract

Foliage:

Dark green leaves (up to 3") are heart-shaped with sharply serrated margins

Fall:

Leaves turn an attractive yellow in fall

Bark:

Exfoliating gray bark

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

None

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

3a - 5a

Other:

Fall Dig Safe, ALB Host

'Harvest Gold' is noted for its bright golden yellow autumn leaves. 

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