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

An overhead image of a group of Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii ('Glauca' cultivar) plants, with green foliage, that is beginning to turn yellow/brown.

Common:

Sargent Juniper

Scientific:

Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii

'Glauca'

Plant type:

Groundcover

Height:

1.5-2 ft

Spread:

7-9 ft

Shape:

Spreading

Bloom:

Species does not flower

Fruit:

Dioecious. Male plants have brown cones. Female plants produce small, berry-like cones. Pale blue when immature, turning to a dark brown. Edible

Foliage:

Vigorous blue-green foliage. Aromatic, scale-like adult leaves and needle-like juvenile leaves in whorls of three

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Pale brown. Mature bark has ridges and furrows. Peels in thin strips

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

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

Moisture:

Med

'Glauca' is noted for its blue-green needles and grows slightly smaller than var. sargentii. 

An image of Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii bushes aligned in a row, showcasing its bright green foliage.

Collections:

  • Median Plants

Common:

Sargent Juniper

Scientific:

Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii

Plant type:

Shrub, Groundcover

Height:

1-2 ft

Spread:

8-10 ft

Shape:

Spreading

Bloom:

Species does not flower

Fruit:

Dioecious. Male plants have brown cones and the pollinated female plants produce bluish-black cones that are berry-like. Edible

Foliage:

Vigorous bright green to gray-green foliage. Aromatic, scale-like adult leaves and needle-like juvenile leaves in whorls of three

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Light brown, ridged and fissured, peeling in thin strips

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

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

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 9a

One of the best groundcovers, var. sargentii is known for its low-growing, creeping habit that can spread to 8-10' wide. Resistant to juniper blight.

An image of the Juniperus conferta ('Blue Pacific' cultivar) plant along a sidewalk, with blue-green needles.

Collections:

  • Median Plants

Common:

Blue Pacific Shore Juniper

Scientific:

Juniperus conferta

'Blue Pacific'

Plant type:

Shrub, Groundcover

Height:

0.5-1 ft

Spread:

4-6 ft

Shape:

Spreading

Bloom:

Species does not flower

Fruit:

Fleshy, blackish-blue, berry-like seed cones mature to a silvery color

Foliage:

Attractive, aromatic, awl-shaped, blue-green foliage featuring spiny-pointed blue-green needles in groups of three

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Yellowish-green in color

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

High

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Urban (rubble/fill), Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

6a - 9b

‘Blue Pacific’ is noted for having better blue foliage color, better ground cover form, denser foliage along the branches, and better resistance to winter injury.

Intolerant of wet soils.

Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltonii'

Common:

Creeping Juniper

Scientific:

Juniperus horizontalis

'Wiltonii'

Plant type:

Shrub, Groundcover

Height:

0.25-0.5 ft

Spread:

6-8 ft

Shape:

Spreading

Bloom:

Species does not flower

Fruit:

Fleshy seed cones (dark blue berries)

Foliage:

Primarily scale-like with some awl/needle-like needles appearing

Fall:

Acquires purple tones in cold months

Bark:

Reddish brown and peeling. Hard to see because of overlapping branches

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

High

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

3a - 9a

‘Wiltonii’ is a female cultivar noted for its excellent, dense, prostrate form. 

Juniperus horizontalis 'Plumosa'

Common:

Andorra Juniper

Scientific:

Juniperus horizontalis

'Plumosa'

Plant type:

Shrub, Groundcover

Height:

1-2 ft

Spread:

8-10 ft

Shape:

Spreading

Bloom:

Species does not flower

Fruit:

Fleshy seed cones (dark blue berries)

Foliage:

Primarily scale-like with some awl/needle-like needles appearing

Fall:

Acquires purple tones in cold months

Bark:

Reddish brown and peeling. Hard to see because of overlapping branches

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

High

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

3a - 9a

‘Plumosa’ is a compact form.

Juniperus horizontalis 'Bar Harbor'

Common:

Creeping Juniper

Scientific:

Juniperus horizontalis

'Bar Harbor'

Plant type:

Shrub, Groundcover

Height:

0.75-1 ft

Spread:

5-6 ft

Shape:

Spreading

Bloom:

Species does not flower

Fruit:

Fleshy seed cones (dark blue berries)

Foliage:

Scale-like with some awl/needle-like needles appearing. Typically green to blue-green during the growing season

Fall:

Needles turn somewhat purple in cold months

Bark:

Reddish brown and peeling. Hard to see because of overlapping branches

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

High

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

3a - 9a

‘Bar Harbor’ is a relatively fast-growing male cultivar which features blue-gray foliage that becomes purplish in winter.

Best when massed together to ensure good ground coverage.

Juniperus sabina ‘Broadmoor’

Collections:

  • Median Plants

Common:

Savin Juniper

Scientific:

Juniperus sabina

'Broadmoor'

Plant type:

Shrub, Groundcover

Height:

4-6 ft

Spread:

5-10 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal Spreading

Bloom:

Species does not flower

Fruit:

Globose, berry-like cones found on recurved stakes

Foliage:

Evergreen, scale-like leaves with blunt apex. Older branches have sharp pointed awl-like leaves. Crushed foliage releases an unpleasant aroma

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Hard to see as it is generally covered with needles

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

High

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

3b - 7b

‘Broadmoor’ is a dwarf, low-spreading, male cultivar.

Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star'

Common:

Singleseed Juniper

Scientific:

Juniperus squamata

'Blue Star'

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

1-3 ft

Spread:

1-4 ft

Shape:

Rounded

Bloom:

Male flowers are yellow and female are green

Fruit:

Elliptical cones that are 0.25-0.33" in diameter. Change from a reddish brown to almost black color when mature

Foliage:

Awl-shaped, sharply-pointed, gray-green to blue-green needles (to 5/16" long) appear in whorls of three. Each needle has a gray-white band

Fall:

Needles have a bronze or purple cast during cold months

Bark:

Reddish brown bark which exfoliates in thin flakes, often quite dramatically. Only a significant ornamental feature on old specimens with a large, upright form

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Unknown

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 8b

'Blue Star' is a dwarf evergreen shrub forming a globe-shaped mound of dense, sparkling silver-blue foliage that changes to a purplish heather-blue in winter. 

Plant closely together.

Juniperus virginiana 'Hillspire'

Common:

Red Cedar

Scientific:

Juniperus virginiana

'Hillspire'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

15-30 ft

Spread:

5-15 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal Compact

Bloom:

Male flowers are yellow while females are green. Males have 10-12 stamens

Blooming period:

Dec - Feb

Fruit:

Female trees produce round, gray to blackish-green berry-like cones (0.25" diameter) that ripen in fall the first year

Foliage:

Features bright green foliage which is attractive year-round

Fall:

No significant change in color

Bark:

Gray to reddish-brown bark exfoliates in thin shreddy strips on mature trees. Trunks are often fluted at the base. Heartwood is light brown and aromatic

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Urban (rubble/fill), Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

3b - 9b

Other:

Native

'Hillspire' is a male cultivar that has a symmetrical pyramidal habit with healthy green foliage.

A medium shot of a Juniperus virginiana ('Grey Owl' cultivar) bush that is sprawling on the ground, with silvery-green needles.

Common:

Red Cedar

Scientific:

Juniperus virginiana

'Grey Owl'

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

1-1.5 ft

Spread:

3-6 ft

Shape:

Spreading

Bloom:

Male flowers are yellow while females are green. Males have 10-12 stamens

Blooming period:

Dec - Feb

Fruit:

Female trees produce round, gray to blackish-green berry-like cones (0.25" diameter) that ripen in fall the first year

Foliage:

This cultivar bears fine, feathery foliage of a silver-blue color

Fall:

Foliage may turn brown-green in winter

Bark:

Gray to reddish-brown bark exfoliates in thin shreddy strips on mature trees. Trunks are often fluted at the base. Heartwood is light brown and aromatic

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Urban (rubble/fill), Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

3b - 9b

Other:

Native

'Grey Owl' is a female cultivar with a low spreading form. It produces profuse, glaucous, berry-like cones which are attractive to birds. 

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