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

A medium shot of the Aronia melanocarpa bush with glossy, green leaves, and dark-colored berries.

Common:

Black Chokeberry

Scientific:

Aronia melanocarpa

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

3-6 ft

Spread:

3-6 ft

Shape:

Rounded Spreading Upright

Bloom:

Small clusters of white 5-petaled flowers

Blooming period:

May

Fruit:

Heavy clusters of purplish-black berries ripen in late summer to early fall and persist well into winter. Edible; unappetizing to birds

Foliage:

Leaves emerge a medium green and turn a deep, glossy green as the season progresses. Elliptic to obovate, growing 2"-3" long, with finely toothed margins

Fall:

Leaves turn an attractive purple/red in fall. Black berries also emerge in the fall and feature prominently

Bark:

Ornamentally insignificant. Brown

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Fall Color

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay, Heavy Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Wet

Hardiness:

3a - 8a

Other:

Native, Pollinator

Best flowering, fruiting, and fall color occur in full sun. Plant will sucker profusely.

Performs well in the right-of-way.

Asarum canadense

Common:

Wild Ginger

Scientific:

Asarum canadense

Plant type:

Perennial, Groundcover

Height:

0.5-1 ft

Spread:

1-1.5 ft

Shape:

Spreading Mounded

Bloom:

Cup-shaped, purplish-brown flowers (1" wide). Attractive, but typically hidden by the foliage

Blooming period:

Apr - May

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant

Foliage:

Two downy, heart- or kidney-shaped, veined, dark green, basal leaves grow up to 6" wide

Fall:

Ornamentally insignificant

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Part Sun to Full Shade

Salt:

None

pH:

Requires Acid (5.0-7.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

4a - 6a

Other:

Native

Ideal groundcover, but a slow-grower. Prefers moist, acidic soils in heavy shade.

Stems and roots when crushed smell like ginger, although it is not related to culinary ginger (Zingiber officinale)

Eaten by the pipevine swallowtail butterfly.

Asclepias exaltata

Common:

Poke Milkweed

Scientific:

Asclepias exaltata

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

3-5 ft

Spread:

1-2 ft

Shape:

Upright

Bloom:

Flowers are bicolored. Umbels with multiple flowers weep down with each flower on a long pedicel. Petals are green or pale purple, while the hoods and column are white or light pink. Aromatic

Blooming period:

Jun - Aug

Fruit:

Erect seedpods (follicles) that are up to 6" long and 0.75" across. They are narrowly lanceoloid in shape. Seeds are released during the fall

Foliage:

Opposite pairs of medium to dark green and glabrous leaves about 3-8" long and 1-3" across occur along the stem. They are lanceolate-elliptic to ovate and smooth along their margins

Fall:

Seed pod provides ornamental interest. Cut to the ground in early spring

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

3a - 7a

Other:

Native, Pollinator

Thrives in dappled or indirect sunlight.

Attracts bumblebees and butterflies (host plant for the monarch butterfly).

A full-shot of the Asclepias incarnata plant, highlighting its long leaves and a cluster of its pink flowers.

Common:

Swamp Milkweed

Scientific:

Asclepias incarnata

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

4-5 ft

Spread:

2-3 ft

Shape:

Upright

Bloom:

Small, fragrant, pink to mauve flowers (uncommonly white), each with five reflexed petals and an elevated central crown appear in tight clusters at the ends of stems in summer

Blooming period:

Jul - Aug

Fruit:

Attractive seed pods (to 4" long) which split open when ripe releasing silky-haired seeds easily carried by the wind

Foliage:

Foliage is slow to emerge in spring. Slender willow like, narrow, lance-shaped green leaves grow 3-6" long

Fall:

Seed pod provides ornamental interest. Cut to the ground in early spring

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Wet

Hardiness:

3a - 6a

Other:

Native, Pollinator

Attractive to butterflies, bees, and wasps. Host plant for the monarch butterfly.

Stems and leaves contain a milky sap that exudes when plants are damaged.

High tolerance of soil compaction. While tolerant of drought, prefers sunny sites with moist or saturated soils.

Asclepias purpurascens

Common:

Purple Milkweed

Scientific:

Asclepias purpurascens

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

2-3 ft

Spread:

1-3 ft

Shape:

Upright

Bloom:

Tiny, deep rose-pink-purple flowers appear in many-flowered umbels. Each tiny flower (to 0.75" long) has 5 reflexed petals and 5 purple heads

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Flowers give way to smooth seed pods (up to 6" long) which split open when ripe releasing their numerous silky-tailed seeds for dispersal by the wind

Foliage:

Heavy, pointed, short-stalked, ovate to oblong-lanceolate, opposite dark green leaves (to 8" long)

Fall:

Seed pod provides ornamental interest. Cut to the ground in early spring

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit

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:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Wet

Hardiness:

3a - 8a

Other:

Native, Pollinator

Similar to common milkweed (A. syriaca), except its flowers are a deep rose pink and its leaves are more pointed.

Attractive to butterflies, bees, and wasps. Host plant for the monarch butterfly.

Performs well in poor, dry soils and is drought tolerant.

A general image of the Asclepias syriaca plant, showcasing its green leaves, appearing to be located on a median.

Common:

Common Milkweed

Scientific:

Asclepias syriaca

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

2-6.5 ft

Spread:

0.75-1 ft

Shape:

Upright

Bloom:

Domed, slightly drooping clusters (umbels) of fragrant, pinkish-purple (rarely white) flowers appear mostly in the upper leaf axils, usually with 2-5 clusters per plant

Blooming period:

Jun - Aug

Fruit:

Flowers give way to prominent, green warty seed pods (2-4" long) which split open when ripe releasing their numerous silky-tailed seeds for dispersal by the wind

Foliage:

Single-stemmed with thick, broad-oblong, reddish-veined, light green leaves (up to 6" long) with a lighter, sometimes white underside

Fall:

Seed pod provides ornamental interest. Cut to the ground in early spring

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

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

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

3a - 9a

Other:

Native, Pollinator

Tolerant of fill soils, disturbance, and concrete debris. Easily grown and fast to establish. Often forms colonies in the wild.

Attractive to butterflies, bees, and wasps. Host plant for the monarch butterfly.

Stems and leaves contain a milky sap that exudes when plants are damaged.

Butterfly Weed

Collections:

Common:

Butterfly Weed

Scientific:

Asclepias tuberosa

'Hello Yellow'

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

1.5-3 ft

Spread:

1-2 ft

Shape:

Upright

Bloom:

Flat-topped clusters of bright yellow flowers atop upright to reclining, hairy stems. Deadheading may promote another bloom.

Blooming period:

Jul - Aug

Fruit:

Attractive spindle-shaped seed pods (3"-6" long) which split open when ripe, typically in fall, releasing silky-tailed seeds for dispersal by the wind

Foliage:

Narrow, lance-shaped, medium to dark green leaves

Fall:

Seed pod provides ornamental interest. Cut to the ground in early spring

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Summer

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Low

pH:

Requires Acid (5.0-7.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

3a - 9a

Other:

Native, Pollinator

'Hello Yellow' is noted for its bright yellow flowers.

Attractive to butterflies, bees, and wasps. Host plant for the monarch butterfly.

DEP Full Sun Plan 1

An image of Asclepias tuberosa in the orange variety, displaying both its flowers and leaves on the sidewalk.

Collections:

Common:

Butterfly Weed

Scientific:

Asclepias tuberosa

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

1-3 ft

Spread:

1-1.5 ft

Shape:

Upright Clumping

Bloom:

Clusters of bright orange to yellow-orange flowers atop upright to reclining, hairy stems

Blooming period:

Jun - Aug

Fruit:

Spindle-shaped seed pods (3"-6" long) which split open when ripe releasing silky-tailed seeds for dispersal by the wind

Foliage:

Narrow, lance-shaped, medium to dark green leaves

Fall:

Seed pod provides ornamental interest. Cut to the ground in early spring

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Low

pH:

Requires Acid (5.0-7.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

3a - 9a

Other:

Native, Pollinator

Adapted to coarse and medium soils, but no tolerance of soil compaction. Performs best in dry, open habitats, in full sun. Slow to establish. New growth emerges late in spring.

Attractive to butterflies, bees, and wasps. Host plant for the monarch butterfly.

DEP Full Sun Plan 1.

Asclepias verticillata

Common:

Whorled Milkweed

Scientific:

Asclepias verticillata

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

1-2.5 ft

Spread:

1-2 ft

Shape:

Upright

Bloom:

Flowers bloom in small flat-topped clusters in the upper leaf axils and stem ends. Greenish-white flowers are fragrant

Blooming period:

Jun - Sep

Fruit:

Flowers give way to smooth, narrow seed pods (up to 3" long) which split open when ripe, typically in the fall, releasing numerous silky-tailed seeds

Foliage:

Single-stemmed, unbranched, with long, narrow, sessile, needle-like, linear leaves (each 2-3" long) in whorls of 3 to 6 at each node along the stems

Fall:

Seed pod provides ornamental interest. Cut to the ground in early spring

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit

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:

Urban (rubble/fill), Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

4a - 9a

Other:

Native, Pollinator

Flowers best in full sun. Performs best in well-drained, sandy loams. Drought tolerant.

Attractive to butterflies, bees, and wasps. Host plant for the monarch butterfly.

Asclepias viridiflora

Common:

Green Comet Milkweed

Scientific:

Asclepias viridiflora

Plant type:

Perennial

Height:

1-3 ft

Spread:

0.25-1 ft

Shape:

Upright

Bloom:

Flowers occur in two inch clusters (nodding umbels) in the upper leaf axils. Each cluster contains 20-80 greenish flowers

Blooming period:

Jun - Sep

Fruit:

Narrow, upright, smooth, green seedpods are about 4" long and pointed at both ends

Foliage:

Stems are typically solitary or in pairs and bear opposite leaves growing up to 4" long. Leaves may vary in shape depending on soil moisture, but are short-pubescent to nearly glaborous, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate and medium green

Fall:

Seed pod provides ornamental interest. Cut to the ground in early spring

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

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/Drought

Hardiness:

3a - 9b

Other:

Native, Pollinator

Broken leaves and stems produce a milky latex.

Attractive to butterflies, bees, and wasps. Host plant for the monarch butterfly.

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