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 a general image of Viburnum carlesii ('Compactum' cultivar), featuring its snowball-like flowers and bright green foliage, leading to a receding city.

Common:

Koreanspice Viburnum

Scientific:

Viburnum carlesii

'Compactum'

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

2.5-4 ft

Spread:

2.5-4 ft

Shape:

Rounded

Bloom:

Pink-changing-to-white flowers which are arranged in snowball-like clusters (hemispherical cymes) to 3" across. Flowers are very fragrant

Blooming period:

Mar - Apr

Fruit:

Small, egg-shaped drupe. Color is red maturing to black. Matures August to September

Foliage:

Broad, ovate, serrate, dark green leaves (to 4" long) are infrequently flushed with copper

Fall:

Foliage usually turns dull red in fall, but may sometimes display attractive shades of wine-red to burgundy

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms

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:

Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4b - 7a

'Compactum' is a slow-growing, compact cultivar. 

This is an image of Viburnum dentatum ('Christom' cultivar), a lush green shrub that has toothed leaves and reddish-brown stems, positioned in front of a building.

Common:

Arrowwood Viburnum Blue Muffin®

Scientific:

Viburnum dentatum

'Christom'

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

3-5 ft

Spread:

3-4 ft

Shape:

Rounded Upright

Bloom:

Non-fragrant white flowers in flat-topped corymbs (to 4" diameter) appear in late spring

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Blue-black, berry-like drupes which are quite attractive to birds and wildlife

Foliage:

Ovate, toothed, glossy dark green leaves (to 4" long)

Fall:

Variable fall color ranges from drab yellow to attractive shades of orange and red

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 8a

Other:

Native

'Christom' is a compact cultivar noted for its straight stems and intense blue berries. 

This is a close-up image of Viburnum opulus, highlighting its shiny red berries, and green leaves with visible veins.

Common:

European Cranberrybush

Scientific:

Viburnum opulus

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

8-15 ft

Spread:

10-15 ft

Shape:

Rounded

Bloom:

Lacecap-type white flowers in spring in flat-topped 3" wide cymes of tiny fertile florets surrounded by larger sterile florets

Blooming period:

Apr - May

Fruit:

Drooping clusters of cranberry-like red berries (drupes) in fall. The berries (drupes) are technically edible, but are very bitter in taste and are not recommended for eating fresh off the shrub. Fruits tend to shrivel after frost

Foliage:

Three lobed, maple-like dark green leaves

Fall:

Foliage turns a sometimes attractive purplish red in fall

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:

Loam

Moisture:

Med to Wet

Hardiness:

3b - 8a
Blackhaw Viburnum

Common:

Black-haw Viburnum

Scientific:

Viburnum prunifolium

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

12-15 ft

Spread:

6-12 ft

Shape:

Upright

Bloom:

Non-fragrant white flowers in flat-topped corymbs (to 4.5" diameter) appear in spring

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Blue-black, berry-like drupes which often persist into winter and are quite attractive to birds and wildlife. Fruits are edible and may be eaten off the bush when ripe or used in jams and preserves

Foliage:

Ovate, finely toothed, glossy dark green leaves (to 4" long)

Fall:

Leaves turn attractive shades of red and purple in fall

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:

Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

3b - 9a

Other:

Native
Leatherleaf Viburnum

Common:

Leatherleaf Viburnum

Scientific:

Viburnum rhytidophyllum

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

6-10 ft

Spread:

6-10 ft

Shape:

Upright

Bloom:

Flat cymes of creamy white flowers

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Berries in early fall which first appear red and then change to a glossy black

Foliage:

Ovate-oblong to ovate-lanceolate leaves are dark green, somewhat shiny and puckered

Fall:

No significant change in fall color. Typically semi-evergreen in the New York City area

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun to Full Shade

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 8a

Specimen plant that has some drought tolerance once established. May need to be protected from wind

European Cranberrybush

Common:

European Cranberrybush

Scientific:

Viburnum trilobum

'Compactum'

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

4-6 ft

Spread:

4-6 ft

Shape:

Rounded Spreading

Bloom:

Lacecap-type white flowers in spring in flat-topped 3" wide cymes of tiny fertile florets surrounded by larger sterile florets

Blooming period:

May

Fruit:

Drooping clusters of cranberry-like red berries (drupes) in fall. The berries (drupes) are technically edible, but are very bitter in taste and are not recommended for eating fresh off the shrub. Fruits tend to shrivel after frost

Foliage:

Three lobed, maple-like, dark green leaves

Fall:

Red to purple fall color

Bark:

Waxy, gray-brown bark

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Bark

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:

Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

3b - 8a

'Compactum' is a compact form that grows much shorter (up to 4-6') compared to the species (up to 8-15'). 

Also known as Viburnum opululs 'Compactum'

Lantanaphyllum Viburnum

Common:

Lantanaphyllum Viburnum

Scientific:

Viburnum x rhytidophylloides

'Willowwood'

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

10-12 ft

Spread:

10-12 ft

Shape:

Upright

Bloom:

Flat cymes (to 4" across) of creamy white flowers bloom in spring. Flowers have a somewhat unpleasant fragrance

Blooming period:

Apr - May

Fruit:

Berries (drupes) which first appear green, then bright red before finally maturing to glossy black

Foliage:

Leathery, thick, wrinkled, ovate-oblong, dark green leaves (to 4"-8" long) are light green beneath

Fall:

Foliage lasts well into winter and may turn a brownish green

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Showy Fruit, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

Medium

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

5a - 8a

'Willowwood' is noted for its lustrous green foliage and arching habit. 

This is an image of a blanket of Vinca minor plants, illustrating its dark green foliage and bright green stems that surround the base of a tree.

Common:

Periwinkle

Scientific:

Vinca minor

Plant type:

Groundcover

Height:

0.25-0.5 ft

Spread:

0.5-1.5 ft

Shape:

Spreading

Bloom:

Tubular, lavender blue, phlox-like flowers appear in spring and continue intermittently throughout summer into fall

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant

Foliage:

Smooth, evergreen leaves (to 1.5" long) spread quickly to form an attractive groundcover

Fall:

No significant change in fall color

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage

Level of Maintenance:

Medium

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Light:

Full Sun to Part Shade

Salt:

High

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

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

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

4a - 8a

Other:

Has Invasive Tendencies
This is an image of Vitex agnus-castus, a leafy plant with teardrop-shaped leaves and spiky, purple flowers growing on its ends.

Common:

Lilac Chastetree

Scientific:

Vitex agnus-castus

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

8-10 ft

Spread:

5-8 ft

Shape:

Vase-Like

Bloom:

Tiny, fragrant, lavender to pale violet flowers appearing in loose panicles (to 12" long) in mid to late summer

Blooming period:

Jul - Aug

Fruit:

Ornamentally insignificant

Foliage:

Aromatic, compound, palmate, grayish-green leaves with 5-7 lance-shaped leaflets (each leaflet to 6" long)

Fall:

Insignificant change in fall color

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, 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:

Sand, Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Dry to Med

Hardiness:

6a - 9a

Other:

Has Invasive Tendencies

Yearly pruning is needed as blooms only occur on new growth. 

Weigela

Common:

Weigela

Scientific:

Weigela

'Minuet'

Plant type:

Shrub

Height:

2-3 ft

Spread:

3-4 ft

Shape:

Rounded

Bloom:

Purplish-red flowers with yellow throats. The funnel-shaped flowers bloom profusely in spring, with a sparse and scattered repeat bloom sometimes occurring in mid to late summer. Flowers are slightly fragrant

Blooming period:

May - Jun

Fruit:

Smooth capsule, 2 valved, 1" long. Seeds unwinged

Foliage:

Purple-tinged, elliptic to ovate leaves retain good color throughout the growing season

Fall:

Insignificant change in fall color

Bark:

Gray-brown bark with rows of hair between nodes

Special Qualities:

Showy Blooms, Distinctive Foliage, Distinctive Bark

Level of Maintenance:

Low

Season of Interest:

Spring, Summer

Light:

Full Sun Only

Salt:

Low

pH:

Acid to Alkaline (5.0-8.0)

Soil:

Loam, Clay

Moisture:

Med

Hardiness:

4a - 8a

'Minuet' is noted for its compact size, purple-tinged foliage, and purplish-red flowers with yellow throats.

Attractive to hummingbirds

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