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

Ulmus 'Patriot'

Common:

Patriot Elm

Scientific:

Ulmus

'Patriot'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

40-50 ft

Spread:

30-40 ft

Shape:

Vase-Like

Bloom:

Ornamentally insignificant

Blooming period:

Mar

Fruit:

Rounded, disc-like samara, about half an inch long, greenish sometime with a reddish tinge, maturing in early summer

Foliage:

Simple, alternate leaves, 3 to 4 inches long with toothed margins.

Fall:

Leaves change to a yellow-green

Bark:

Bark is gray, ridged and furrowed

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), Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

5a - 9b

Other:

Fall Dig Safe, ALB Host

'Patriot' shows excellent resistance to Dutch elm disease, elm leaf beetles, and some resistance to elm yellows. It is easily established and known to be fast-growing.

New Horizon elm

Collections:

Common:

New Horizon Elm

Scientific:

Ulmus

'New Horizon'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

30-40 ft

Spread:

20-25 ft

Shape:

Vase-Like

Bloom:

Ornamentally insignificant

Blooming period:

Mar - Apr

Fruit:

Tiny seeds are produced in single-seeded samaras that have a flattened papery wing

Foliage:

Dark green leaves (up to 4") are ovate-elliptical double serrated margins and asymmetrical bases

Fall:

Undistinguished yellow fall color

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Dry to Wet

Hardiness:

4a - 9b

Other:

Fall Dig Safe, ALB Host

'New Horizon' is noted for its excellent resistance to Dutch elm disease, elm leaf miner, black leaf spot and verticillium wilt. It may be susceptible to phloem necrosis, wetwood, various wilts, rots and cankers.

Known to be a hardy street tree. 

New Harmony Elm

Collections:

Common:

New Harmony Elm

Scientific:

Ulmus

'New Harmony'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

60-70 ft

Spread:

50-60 ft

Shape:

Vase-Like

Bloom:

Ornamentally insignificant

Blooming period:

Mar - Apr

Fruit:

Tiny seeds are produced in single-seeded samaras that have a flattened papery wing

Foliage:

Medium green leaves (up to 4") are ovate-elliptical double serrated margins and asymmetrical bases

Fall:

Undistinguished yellow fall color

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Dry to Wet

Hardiness:

4b - 9b

Other:

Fall Dig Safe, ALB Host

'New Harmony' has the classic vase form of the American elm and has a high level of tolerance to Dutch elm disease. 

This is an image of a young Ulmus ('Morton Glossy' cultivar) that has a columnar stature, accompanied by its glossy, green leaves.

Common:

Triumph™ Elm

Scientific:

Ulmus

'Morton Glossy'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

50-60 ft

Spread:

35-40 ft

Shape:

Oval Upright

Bloom:

Ornamentally insignificant

Blooming period:

Mar - Apr

Fruit:

Tiny seeds are produced in single-seeded samaras that have a flattened papery wing

Foliage:

Dark green leaves (up to 4") are ovate-elliptical double serrated margins and asymmetrical bases

Fall:

Undistinguished yellow fall color

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Wet

Hardiness:

4a - 9b

Other:

Fall Dig Safe, ALB Host

'Morton Glossy' has good resistance to Dutch elm disease, elm yellows, and elm leaf beetle. It is known to be easy to transplant, quick to establish, and adaptable to most soil types.

American Elm

Common:

American Elm

Scientific:

Ulmus

'Jefferson'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

40-70 ft

Spread:

40-50 ft

Shape:

Vase-Like Upright

Bloom:

Ornamentally insignificant

Blooming period:

Mar - Apr

Fruit:

Tiny seeds are produced in single-seeded samaras that have a flattened papery wing

Foliage:

Dark green leaves (up to 4") are ovate-elliptical double serrated margins and asymmetrical bases

Fall:

Undistinguished yellow fall color

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Dry to Wet

Hardiness:

5a - 9b

Other:

Fall Dig Safe, ALB Host

'Jefferson' was originally cloned in 1993 from a long-established elm located on the National Mall in Washington D.C. The result is a cultivar that has excellent resistance to Dutch elm disease and is considered to be sterile.  

Ulmus hybrid ‘Sapporo Autumn Gold’

Collections:

  • Median Plants

Common:

Sapporo Autumn Gold Elm

Scientific:

Ulmus

'Sapporo Autumn Gold'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

45-60 ft

Spread:

25-40 ft

Shape:

Rounded Vase-Like

Bloom:

Ornamentally insignificant

Blooming period:

Mar - Apr

Fruit:

Tiny seeds are produced in single-seeded samaras that have a flattened papery wing

Foliage:

Dark green leaves (up to 4") are ovate-elliptical double serrated margins and asymmetrical bases

Fall:

Leaves turn a warming yellow in autumn before they drop

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), Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Wet

Hardiness:

3a - 9b

Other:

Fall Dig Safe, ALB Host

'Sapporo Autumn Gold' is a cross between Ulmus pumila and Ulmus japonica that has a very high resistance to Dutch elm disease. However, it can be severely damaged by the elm leaf beetle.

When young, this tree produces vigorous side shoots that need to be kept pruned off.

Elm

Collections:

Common:

Elm

Scientific:

Ulmus

'Frontier'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

30-40 ft

Spread:

20-30 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal Upright

Bloom:

Ornamentally insignificant

Blooming period:

Mar - Apr

Fruit:

Rarely produces fruit. Tiny seeds are produced in single-seeded samaras that have a flattened papery wing

Foliage:

Dark green leaves (up to 4") are ovate-elliptical double serrated margins and asymmetrical bases

Fall:

Leaves turn a rich, purple-red

Bark:

Gray bark with orange markings

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Urban (rubble/fill), Loam

Moisture:

Dry to Wet

Hardiness:

4a - 9b

Other:

Fall Dig Safe, ALB Host

'Frontier' has good resistance to Dutch elm disease and elm yellows. It is noted for its rich, reddish-purple fall color. 

This is an image of a young Ulmus ('Morton' cultivar) that has a tall trunk and upright branches with green leaves.

Collections:

Common:

ACCOLADE™ Elm

Scientific:

Ulmus

'Morton'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

50-60 ft

Spread:

30-40 ft

Shape:

Vase-Like

Bloom:

Ornamentally insignificant

Blooming period:

Mar - Apr

Fruit:

Tiny seeds are produced in single-seeded samaras that have a flattened papery wing

Foliage:

Dark green, glossy leaves (up to 4") are ovate-elliptical double serrated margins and asymmetrical bases

Fall:

Leaves turn an attractive yellow in fall

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Dry to Wet

Hardiness:

5a - 8b

Other:

Fall Dig Safe, ALB Host

'Morton' is noted for being very resistant to Dutch elm disease and elm leaf beetle. It is susceptible to phloem necrosis, wetwood, wilts, rots, cankers, and leaf spots. 

American Elm

Collections:

Common:

American Elm

Scientific:

Ulmus americana

'Princeton'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

50-70 ft

Spread:

30-50 ft

Shape:

Vase-Like

Bloom:

Ornamentally insignificant

Blooming period:

Mar - Apr

Fruit:

Tiny seeds are produced in single-seeded samaras that have a flattened papery wing

Foliage:

Dark green leaves (up to 4") are ovate-elliptical double serrated margins and asymmetrical bases

Fall:

Undistinguished yellow fall color

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Dry to Wet

Hardiness:

3a - 9b

Other:

Native, Fall Dig Safe, ALB Host

'Princeton' exhibits good resistance to Dutch elm disease and elm beetles.

Stormwater tolerant

An image of a large Ulmus americana tree that dominates most of the frame, with its dense leaves and apartment buildings in the background.

Collections:

Common:

American Elm

Scientific:

Ulmus americana

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

60-80 ft

Spread:

40-70 ft

Shape:

Vase-Like

Bloom:

Ornamentally insignificant

Blooming period:

Mar - Apr

Fruit:

Single-seeded samaras surrounded by a flat, papery wing emerge after blooms and mature in the fall

Foliage:

Rough-textured, ovate-elliptic, dark green leaves (to 6" long) have toothed margins and asymmetrical bases

Fall:

Undistinguished yellow fall color

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Summer

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

3a - 9a

Other:

Native, Fall Dig Safe, ALB Host
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