Adopt-A-Median Plant List

There are a number of different plants to choose from to plant in the median.When selecting plants for your adopted median the most critical consideration is height. The vegetation in a median must not grow taller than two feet to avoid vision hazards. The occasional narrow spike of height is permitted as long as the planting remains see-through.

We also ask that volunteers use plants that are perennial (live for more than one season), salt-tolerant, and drought-tolerant. There are dozens of native short-grasses, sedges, and ground cover plants that both meet height criteria and thrive in these conditions. We strongly encourage the use of native plants due to their ecological value.

Type of PlantScientific NameCommon NameGrowth HabitFull SunPartial SunShade
WildflowerAnemone canadensisCanada anemoneGround coverxx 
WildflowerGeranium maculatumWild geraniumGround coverxxx
WildflowerFragaria virginianaWild strawberryGround coverxxx
WildflowerRuella humilisWild petuniaGround coverx  
WildflowerCampanula rotundifoliaHarebellIndividualxx 
WildflowerGeum triflorumPrairie smokeIndividualxx 
WildflowerLiatris asperaRough blazing starIndividualxx 
WildflowerLupinus perennisLupineIndividualxx 
WildflowerAllium cernuumNodding onionIndividualxx 
WildflowerDrymocallis argutaPrairie cinquefoilIndividualxx 
WildflowerCoreopsis lanceolataSand coreopsisIndividualx  
WildflowerRudbeckia hirtaBlack-eyed SusanIndividualxx 
WildflowerBlephilia ciliataDowny wood mintPatch-formingxx 
WildflowerSymphyotricum ericoidesHeath asterPatch-formingxx 
WildflowerVerbena strictaHoary vervainPatch-formingxx 
WildflowerCoreopsis palmataPrairie coreopsisPatch-formingxx 
WildflowerMonarda punctataSpotted bee-balmPatch-formingxx 
WildflowerAsclepias verticillataWhorled milkweedPatch-formingxx 
WildflowerAsclepias tuberosaButterfly milkweedTidy clumpxx 
WildflowerPolemonium reptansJacob's ladderTidy clumpxxx
Grasses & SedgesBromus kalmiiPrairie bromeSee-through grassxx 
Grasses & SedgesBouteloua curtipendulaSideoats gramaTidy clumpxx 
Grasses & SedgesSporobulus heterolepisPrairie dropseedTidy clumpxx 
Grasses & SedgesSchizachyrium scopariumLittle bluestemTidy clumpxx 
Grasses & SedgesCarex vulpinoideaBrown fox sedgeTidy clumpxx 
Grasses & SedgesCarex molestaField oval sedgeTidy clumpxxx
Grasses & SedgesCarex sprengeliiLong-beaked sedgeTidy clump xx
ShrubsAmorpha canescensLeadplantShrub-likexx 
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