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

This is an image of multiple specimens of Syringa reticulata ('Ivory Silk' cultivar) on an elevated garden bed, showcasing its prominent white flowers that are clustered.

Collections:

Common:

Japanese Tree Lilac

Scientific:

Syringa reticulata

'Ivory Silk'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

20-25 ft

Spread:

15-20 ft

Shape:

Rounded

Bloom:

Small, creamy white flowers bloom in 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 leaves (up to 5" long) have rounded bases and are dark green

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Reddish-brown, peeling bark with horizontal lenticels gradually turns gray with maturity

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Winter

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

3a - 7a

Other:

Fall Dig Safe

'Ivory Silk' is more compact than species and noted for its creamy white, fragrant, single flowers arranged in dense, terminal clusters.

This is an image of a flowering Syringa reticulata and its cream-colored flowers, located along a sidewalk.

Collections:

Common:

Japanese Tree Lilac

Scientific:

Syringa reticulata

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

20-30 ft

Spread:

15-20 ft

Shape:

Rounded

Bloom:

Small, creamy white flowers bloom in upright panicles (up to 12" long)

Blooming period:

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:

Reddish-brown, peeling bark with horizontal lenticels gradually turns gray with maturity

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Winter

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

3a - 7a

Other:

Fall Dig Safe
Pond Cypress

Common:

Pond Cypress

Scientific:

Taxodium ascendens

'Nutans'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

50-70 ft

Spread:

15-20 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Non-flowering

Fruit:

Produces rounded cones (up to 2" diameter)

Foliage:

Linear foliage has a needle-like, oblong shape that is a soft green

Fall:

Foliage turns an attractive orange to cinnamon-brown

Bark:

Gray-brown ridged bark

Special Qualities:

Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Requires Acid (5.0-7.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

5a - 9b

Other:

Fall Dig Safe

'Nutans' is a narrow conical cultivar noted for its very short, horizontal branching with drooping branchlets. 

This is an image of a Taxodium distichum ('Mickelson' cultivar) in an upright form, presenting its vibrant green, need-like foliage in a sidewalk setting.

Common:

Shawnee Brave™ Bald Cypress

Scientific:

Taxodium distichum

'Mickelson'

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

50-75 ft

Spread:

15-20 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Non-flowering

Fruit:

Rounded cones (~1" diameter) emerge purplish-green before turning brown at maturity

Foliage:

Yellowish-green, flat, needle-like foliage in two ranks (~1/4" long) have a soft and feathery feel

Fall:

Foliage turns an attractive orange to cinnamon-brown

Bark:

Fibrous, peeling bark provides much landscape interest during the winter

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Requires Acid (5.0-7.0)

Soil:

Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

5a - 10b

'Mickelson' differs from the species in its narrower, pyramidal shape and denser foliage. 

Tolerates deer and air pollution.

This is an image of multiple Taxodium distichum trees planted in a row, with green leaves that appear to be newly-budding.

Collections:

Common:

Bald Cypress

Scientific:

Taxodium distichum

Plant type:

Trees

Height:

40-70 ft

Spread:

20-45 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal

Bloom:

Non-flowering

Fruit:

Rounded cones (~1" diameter) emerge purplish-green before turning brown at maturity

Foliage:

Yellowish-green, flat, needle-like foliage in two ranks (~1/4" long) have a soft and feathery feel

Fall:

Foliage turns an attractive orange to cinnamon-brown

Bark:

Fibrous, peeling bark provides much landscape interest during the winter

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Requires Acid (5.0-7.0)

Soil:

Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

5a - 10b

SE US native, not NYC native. 

Tolerant of deer and air pollution.

English Yew

Common:

English Yew

Scientific:

Taxus baccata

'Repandens'

Plant type:

Shrub, Groundcover

Height:

2-4 ft

Spread:

6-15 ft

Shape:

Spreading

Bloom:

Non-flowering

Fruit:

Red, berry-like fruit that provides brilliant, contrasting color, but are poisonous if ingested

Foliage:

Foliage has a needle-like, oblong shape that is olive to dark green in color

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Bark is scaly in texture

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen

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:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

5a - 9b

'Repandens' is noted for its arching branches and spreading habit. 

Do not plant in/near playgrounds. All parts of this plant are poisonous if ingested, except for the fleshy part of the fruit.

Japanese Yew

Common:

Japanese Yew

Scientific:

Taxus cuspidata

'Capitata'

Plant type:

Trees, Shrub

Height:

10-25 ft

Spread:

5-10 ft

Shape:

Pyramidal Upright

Bloom:

Non-flowering

Fruit:

Female plants produce a red, berry-like fruit that provides a good food source for birds and brilliant, contrasting color

Foliage:

Foliage has a needle-like, oblong shape that is olive to dark green in color

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Bark is reddish-brown and scaly in texture

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Neutral (5.0-7.4)

Soil:

Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 7a

Other:

Fall Dig Safe

'Capitata' is similar to the species, but has a more pyramidal form. This is a dioecious plant (separate male and female plants).  

Do not plant in/near playgrounds. All parts of this plant are poisonous if ingested, except for the fleshy part of the fruit.

Anglo-Japanese Yew

Common:

Hicks Yew

Scientific:

Taxus x media

'Hicksii'

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

9-12 ft

Spread:

4-10 ft

Shape:

Upright

Bloom:

Non-flowering

Fruit:

Female plants produce a red, berry-like fruit that provides brilliant, contrasting color, but are poisonous if ingested

Foliage:

Foliage has a needle-like, oblong shape that is olive to dark green in color

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Bark is scaly in texture

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Requires Acid (5.0-7.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

4a - 7b

'Hicksii' is a dense, narrowly columnar cultivar. This is a dioecious plant (separate male and female plants). 

Do not plant in/near playgrounds. All parts of this plant are poisonous if ingested, except for the fleshy part of the fruit.

This cultivar is good for hedges.

This image of Taxus x media ('Densiformis' cultivar) exhibits its green needle foliage and in a street median, with surrounding grasses.

Common:

Dense Spreading Yew

Scientific:

Taxus x media

'Densiformis'

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

3-4 ft

Spread:

4-6 ft

Shape:

Compact

Bloom:

Non-flowering

Fruit:

Red, berry-like fruit that provides brilliant, contrasting color, but are poisonous if ingested

Foliage:

Foliage has a needle-like, oblong shape that is olive to dark green in color

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Bark is scaly in texture

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Requires Acid (5.0-7.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 7a

'Densiformis' is a semi-dwarf, female cultivar that has a dense, mound-like form, but spreads to 5-7' wide.

Do not plant in/near playgrounds. All parts of this plant are poisonous if ingested, except for the fleshy part of the fruit.

 

This is a photograph of many Taxus x media ('Wardii' cultivar) bushes planted within a median, which are full of dark-green needles and occasional red berries.

Common:

Ward's Yew

Scientific:

Taxus x media

'Wardii'

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

3-6 ft

Spread:

8-20 ft

Shape:

Compact

Bloom:

Non-flowering

Fruit:

Female plants produce a red, berry-like fruit that provides brilliant, contrasting color, but are poisonous if ingested

Foliage:

Foliage has a needle-like, oblong shape that is olive to dark green in color

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Bark:

Bark is scaly in texture

Special Qualities:

Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage, Evergreen

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Requires Acid (5.0-7.0)

Soil:

Sand, Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 7a

‘Wardii’ is a cultivar that features a low-growing, wide-spreading flattened top with pointed, oblong, dark green needle-like leaves. This is a dioecious plant (separate male and female plants).

Do not plant in/near playgrounds. All parts of this plant are poisonous if ingested, except for the fleshy part of the fruit.

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