CHAPTER 38

LANDSCAPE ORDINANCE

ARTICLE I. GENERAL

Sec. 38-01. Intent. The terms and provisions of this ordinance are intended to accomplish the following public purposes:

A. To encourage the planting and protection of healthy trees, shrubs and groundcover and provide for the replacement (or replanting) of same when losses occur during necessary construction and development.

B. To generally enhance and protect the quality of life and general welfare of the City and its residents.

C. To preserve and enhance the historical, physical and aesthetic environment of the City.

D. To aid in the control of storm water runoff, the stabilization of soil by the reduction of erosion and sedimentation and the replenishment of groundwater supplies, thereby protecting the Kankakee River and its tributaries.

E. To enhance air quality by the removal of carbon dioxide, generation of oxygen and the filtering of air pollutants.

F. To reduce noise by providing buffers and screens.

G. To reduce energy consumption through the shade and windbreak effect of trees and other plant material.

H. To preserve and enhance food supplies and habitat for birds and other wildlife.

I. To protect and increase property values.

J. To prevent the clearing of land without replacement of valuable ecosystem.

Sec. 38-02 Scope and Enforcement.

A. The provisions of this ordinance shall apply generally and uniformly to all areas within the City of Kankakee except as specifically provided.

B. The provisions of this ordinance shall be cumulative and consistent with provisions of other ordinances of the City of Kankakee and of the Statutes of the State of Illinois, and to the extent consistent shall be applied and enforced simultaneously. Whenever inconsistent, the provision resulting in the maximum protection, preservation and planting of trees and other plant material shall govern, except where limited by law.

C. It is intended in particular that the provisions of this ordinance shall be applied cumulatively and simultaneously with the provisions of the City’s Zoning Ordinance and that no permits, variances or other approvals pursuant to such ordinances and codes shall be granted without also complying with the applicable provisions of this ordinance.

D. The provisions of this ordinance shall apply to all commercial, public, industrial, institutional and private development, with the exception of single and multiple family private dwellings; except where noted. These provisions shall also apply to all such development and rebuilding occurring after the effective date of this ordinance and any development that has not yet received final plat approval.

E. Whenever an existing use or structure on a lot shall be replaced or expanded, the development shall be subject to the provisions of this ordinance provided that the expansion exceeds twenty-five percent of the gross floor or lot area of the existing development or where the cost of improvements exceeds the value of the existing structure by fifty-percent. Existing value shall be determined by the value of the building as stated in the most recent tax bill, as provided by the owner. Owner shall also furnish the estimated costs of improvement.

F. All requirements specified in this ordinance are minimum specifications. The provision of landscaping in excess of the ordinance is encouraged. Landscape plans that exceed the minimum specifications but vary from it in configuration may be considered.

G. All conforming and legally non-conforming developments which are in existence on the effective date of this ordinance are strongly encouraged to comply with the standards set forth in these regulations within five years of said date.

Sec. 38-03 Definitions.

Buffer. A combination of physical space and vertical elements such as plants, fences or walls, the purpose of which is to separate and screen incompatible land uses from one another.

Canopy. The shaded cover created by spreading branches of a large deciduous tree.

Commercial grade shredded hardwood mulch. A dark brown, finely shredded wood product supplied to landscapers and garden centers for the purpose of mulching landscaped beds. This would not include the shredded, fresh wood from tree trimming or removal that is commonly available from municipalities and park districts.

Commercial strip. A strip of landscaping along the main thoroughfare, in front of a building.

Common name. The moniker by which a plant is most likely to be known locally, such as “honey locust.”

Deciduous. A woody plant that sheds its leaves annually.

Evergreen. A woody plant with foliage that persists and remains for more than two consecutive seasons.

Foundation shrubbery. Woody plants, evergreen or deciduous, used to soften and hide the foundation of a building or wall.

Groundcover. Plants other than turf grass used to cover large areas of planting beds. May be woody or herbaceous, evergreen or deciduous, but generally spreading in nature and not exceeding twenty-four inches in height.

Habitat. The natural elements of an ecosystem including food, shelter and nesting material from plants.

Herbaceous. Of plants with soft (not woody) top growth that generally dies back in winter (i.e...herbaceous perennials such as Hosta). Some herbaceous plants are evergreen or semi-evergreen in winter, retaining leaves until new growth appears in spring, such as Liriope.

Hose bib. A spigot or connection for a watering apparatus on a building or otherwise located on the property.

Landscaped area. An area that is covered by living plant material.

Latin name. A scientific name composed of the genus, species and cultivar or variety (where applicable) of a plant.

Maintenance area. Areas on the out lot or around the building that are used for trash, equipment or storage, excluding sheds and buildings.

Male clone. For the purposes of this ordinance, a woody plant that is propagated asexually, rather than sexually, thereby insuring male plants that do not bear fruit.

Mulch. Non-living organic material used in landscapes to retard moisture loss, control weeds and erosion and keep soil temperatures consistent for plant roots.

Nuisance weed trees. Fast growing trees that become invasive through seed dispersal, suckering and underground runners. Such trees that become an economic and physical liability to nearby property owners thus the term “nuisance.”

Perimeter strip. A continuous landscaped strip along all public right of ways, not including alleys.

Shade tree. A deciduous woody plant, usually with a single stem, that exceeds fifteen feet in height and provides shade when in leaf.

Shrub. A woody plant, deciduous or evergreen, characterized by multiple stems and branching from the base, usually not more than twelve feet in height at maturity.

Understory. Assemblages of naturally lower growing, woody and evergreen species which grow or exist below the canopy of trees.

Turf grass. Cool season grasses such as fescue, rye and bluegrass, seeded or sodded, to create a lawn that is mowed and kept free of invasive plants.

Vines. For the purpose of the ordinance, vines shall be defined as woody plants that cling to surfaces by means of aerial rootlets, twining or other tropic mechanisms of stem or petiole.

Sec. 38-04 Requirements.

A. Buffer Strips. Landscaped buffer strips shall be used in all instances of incompatible use. Incompatible use will be considered to exist when any new commercial, industrial, public or institutional development is sited along shared property lines or alleyways with existing residential properties, schools, places of worship, daycare facilities and parks, even in the event that these properties lie outside the corporate boundaries.

1. Landscaped buffer strips shall consist of at least one of following three options:

(a) A ten foot wide, heavily planted strip consisting of three planting layers: canopy, understory and groundcover. The strip shall be continuous along the shared property line or right of way and include shade trees at twenty-five foot intervals, an understory of deciduous or evergreen shrubs planted in clusters of three or more and spaced at four foot intervals and a groundcover planting of herbaceous plant material over remaining bed surface; or,

(b) A five foot wide bed along a solid surface wall, six foot minimum height, running continuously along the shared property line or right of way. Said wall must be planted with foundation shrubbery and vines to cover. Walls may be constructed of wood or masonry and may not be constructed of plastics or composites; or,

(c) A fifty foot wide planting of turf grass or groundcovering plant material running continuously along the shared property line or right of way, with shade trees planted at twenty-five foot intervals.

B. Perimeter Strips. Landscaped perimeter or commercial strips shall be planted in all parking areas in excess of five hundred square feet, as follows:

1. Perimeter landscaped parking strips shall be used continuously (excepting cut-ins) along all public right of ways, not including alleys, unless a continuous landscaped commercial strip at least ten feet deep, planted with canopy, understory and groundcovering plants is substituted along the main thoroughfare In any case, a minimum of fifteen percent of the parking area shall consist of landscaped parking strips.

2. Internal islands of landscaped parking strip shall be used at a minimum of seven and one-half percent of the vehicular use area, not including perimeter strips, of any parking lot in excess of thirty-thousand square feet. The landscaped area shall be designed, dispersed and located within and around the vehicular use areas to enhance the appearance and safety of the vehicular use area.

3. Perimeter landscape strips must be a minimum of five feet wide and consist of shade trees planted at twenty-five foot intervals, an understory planting of deciduous or evergreen shrubs or shade trees planted at twenty-five foot intervals and a ground-covering plant layer of turf grass or other herbaceous ground-covering plant material.

4. Internal landscaped islands shall be a minimum of one parking space in width and length and consist of a minimum of one shade tree and an under-story planting of deciduous or evergreen shrubs or a minimum of one shade tree and a ground-covering plant layer of turf grass or other herbaceous ground-covering plant material.

5. A commercial strip, when used instead of continuous perimeter strips shall be at least ten feet deep and run continuously along the main thoroughfare (excepting cut-ins) and consist of shade trees planted at twenty-five foot intervals, deciduous or evergreen shrubbery in clusters of three or more, planted no less than ten feet apart and turf grass or ground-covering plants in the remaining bed surface.

6. Landscaped strips consisting only of trees and shrubs, and not herbaceous ground-covers or turf, shall be mulched at a depth of six inches with commercial grade shredded hardwood mulch.

7. When tree spacing at twenty-five foot intervals is called for, it is assumed that a twenty-five foot bed will require two trees and that two smaller beds, separated by cut-ins, will be measured contiguously.

C. Materials. All landscape plant material used in the above outlined areas must be purchased and sized in accordance with The American Standard for Nursery Stock (most recent addition).

1. In addition, plant material to be installed must be selected for appropriateness to climate, soil types and suitability to use area. (See tables in Article II, Plant Selection)

2. Plant material to be installed must be healthy, free of insects, disease and significant physical damage.

3. A landscape plan shall be required, from either the developer or landscaper, as part of the development process and include the following:

(a) A scale drawing.

(b) Proposed structures and pavement.

(c) Proposed landscaped areas, showing location of all plant material and a list of plant material, using Latin and common names, quantities and sizes.

(d) Location of hose bibs and irrigation systems.

D. Maintenance.

1. Landscape care shall be the responsibility of the owner, tenant or their agent and include the following:

(a) Landscaping shall be maintained in good condition so as to present a neat, healthy and orderly appearance and shall be kept free of weeds and dead plant material.

(b) Any diseased, dead or dying plant must be removed and replaced with a plant of comparable size and quality, when possible.

(c) Watering must be done in a manner that allows plants to become established and prevents plants from dying; except during times that watering may be prohibited by local order.

(d) The City shall have the right to prune any tree or shrub on private property when it interferes with visibility of any traffic control device or sign: or when it creates a hazard to life or property.

(e) The City shall have the right to cause the removal of any tree or shrub on private property that harbors insects or diseases that pose a potential threat to the tree population of the City as determined by the City arborist.

2. Maintenance areas used for storage and trash must be enclosed by a solid wall of no less than six feet in height and covered by a planting of woody vines. Vines shall be used at a minimum spacing of one vine for every ten feet of surface width. Walls may be constructed of wood or masonry and may not be constructed of plastics or composites. Walls that are seated on concrete or asphalt, and provide no possibility for planting must be constructed of masonry.

3. A minimum of one hose bib for every ten-thousand square feet of developed lot shall be provided and a hose bib must be located no more than one-hundred feet from any landscaped area.

4. Nuisance weed trees, as outlined in Article II (see table of unacceptable trees) of this ordinance, shall be removed when such trees exceed a height of ten inches, pursuant to the BOCA International Property Maintenance Code, Section 302.4. This specific provision of this ordinance shall also apply to all commercial, public, industrial, institutional and private developments (excepting single and multiple family dwellings) existing within the City of Kankakee on the date said ordinance is adopted.

E. Retention, Natural Areas and Streams. It shall be the responsibility of the owner/developer or their agents of any development not having final approval on the date this ordinance is adopted to use reasonable care in protecting any wetland, stream or retention area which may be adversely affected by said development. The following minimum requirements must be met:

1. Landscaping shall be provided around the perimeter of all retention/detention ponds in the “above high water” areas. Naturalistic plantings of plants adapted to temporary flooding will be planted below “high water level.” (See Sec. 38-02)

2. Such naturalistic plantings will be comprised of a minimum of twenty plants per every one-hundred linear feet of perimeter, measured at mid level.

3. Any proposed development adjacent to the Kankakee River, its tributaries or drainage ditches which flow into the Kankakee River, which would result in paved areas in excess of five-thousand square feet shall be required to mitigate the effects of runoff by one of the following:

(a) Grading the lot to prevent run-off of storm water into the River, its tributaries or drainage ditches.

(b) Planting an integrated buffer strip, no less than ten feet in width and running the length of the lot along the River side, its tributaries or ditch side with trees, shrubs and groundcovers at the same density required for buffer strips in Sec. 38-04.

ARTICLE II. PLANT SELECTION

TABLE 1. TREES, RECOMMENDED
Latin Name	Common Name	Size	Comments
Acer campestre	Hedge Maple	small to med.	all soils, sun
Acer ginnala	Amur Maple	small to med.	all soils, sun to part shade
Acer nigrum	Black Maple	large	all soils, sun to part shade
Acer rubrum ‘Red Sunset’	Red Maple	large	no heavy clay, sun to part shade
Acer saccharum	Sugar Maple	large	no heavy clay, sun
Alnus glutinosa	Alder	large	wet soils, naturalizing, sun to part shade
Amelanchier x grandiflora	Serviceberry	small	adaptable, 4 seasons
Betula nigra	River Birch	med. to large	moist to wet soils
Betula pendula	White Birch	med.	bronze birch borer
Carpinus betulus	European Hornbeam	med.	excellent landscape tree
Carpinus caroliniana	Blue Beech	med.	all soils, sun to part shade
Celtis occidentalis	Hackberry	med. to large	all soils, sun to part shade
Cercis canadensis	Redbud	small	no heavy clay, sun
Cornus alternifolia	Pagoda Dogwood	small	sun to part shade
Cornus kousa	Chinese Dogwood	small	sun to part shade
Cornus mas	Cornelian Dogwood	small	all soils, sun
Chionanthus virginicus	Fringe Tree	small	all soils, sun to part shade
Crataegus crus‑galli	Cockspur Hawthorne	small to med.	all soils, sun
Crataegus phaenopyrum	Washington Hawthorne	small	all soils, sun
Fagus grandifolia	American Beech	large	no heavy clay, sun to part shade
Fagus sylvatica	European Beech	large	all soils, sun to part shade
Fraxinus americana	White Ash	large	all soils, sun
Fraxinus pennsylvanica	Green Ash	large	all soils, sun
Ginkgo biloba (male clones)	Ginkgo	large	all soils, sun
Gleditsia triacanthos var. inermis	Honey Locust	large	all soils, sun
Gymnocladus dioecus (male clones)	Kentucky Coffee	large	all soils, sun
Liriodendron tulipifera	Tulip Tree	large	naturalizing, sun
Liquidamber styraciflua	Sweet Gum	large	sun
Magnolia soulangiana	Magnolia	small	under used
Magnolia stellata	Star Magnolia	small	sun
Malus hybrids	Crab Apple	small to med.	all soils, sun
Pyrus calleryana	Callery Pear	med. to large	all soils, sun
Quercus alba	White Oak	large	all soils, sun
Quercus bicolor	Swamp White Oak	large	all soils, sun
Quercus elipsoidalis	Hill's Oak	large	all soils, sun
Quercus macrocarpa	Bur Oak	large	heavy soils, sun
Quercus muehlenbergii	Chinquapin	large	heavy soils, sun
Quercus palustris	Pin Oak	large	no alkaline soils, sun
Quercus prinus	Chestnut Oak	large	all soils, sun
Quercus robur	English Oak	med. to large	all soils, sun
Quercus rubra	Red Oak	large	best in sand, sun
Quercus vellutina	Black Oak	large	sand, sun
Syringa reticulata	Japenese Lilac	med.	all soils, sun
Taxodium distichum	Bald Cypress	large	moist soils, surface roots, sun
Tilia americana	Basswood	large	all soils, sun
Tilia cordata	Little Leaf Linden	med. to large	all soils, sun, beetle damage
Tilia x euchlora ‘Redmond’	Redmond Linden	large	all soils, sun

TABLE 2. TREES ACCEPTABLE, BUT NOT RECOMMENDED
Latin Name	Common Name	Size	Comments
Acer platanoides	Norway Maple	large	surface roots
Acer saccharinum	Silver Maple	large	surface roots
Aesculus hippocastanum	Horsechestnut	large	leaf scorch, fruit
Catalpa speciosa	Catalpa	large	messy, fruit
Cornus florida	Flowering Dogwood	small	anthracnose
Juglans nigra	Black Walnut	large	toxins, messy
Carya ovata	Shagbark Hickory	large	messy, fruit
Platanus occidentalis	Sycamore	large	messy
Prunus serotina	Black Cherry	large	short lived, messy
Robinia pseudoacacia	Black Locust	large	short lived, messy
Ulmus parvifolia	Lacebark Elm	large	Japanese beetle damage

TABLE 3. TREES, NOT ACCEPTABLE
Latin Name	Common Name	Size	Comments
Acer negundo	Boxelder	medium	insects, messy
Ailanthus altissima	Tree of Heaven	large	weedy
Elaegnus angustifolia	Russian Olive	small	diseases
Populus alba	White Poplar	medium	weedy, messy
Populus deltoides	Cottonwood	large	messy
Populus nigra ‘Italica’	Lombardy Poplar	medium	short lived
Morus alba	White Mulberry	large	weedy, messy
Morus rubra	Red Mulberry	large	weedy, messy
Salix alba	Weeping Willow	large	roots, messy
Salix matsudana tortuosa	Curly Willow	medium	roots, messy
Ulmus pumila	Siberian Elm	large	Japanese beetle damage
Ulmus rubra	Slippery Elm	large	messy, beetle damage

TABLE 4. SHRUBS RECOMMENDED
Latin Name	Common Name	Size	Comments
Amelanchier canadensis	Serviceberry	large	fall color, sun or part shade
Berberis thunbergii	Barberry	small	sun
Buxus microphylla	Boxwood	small to med	use hardy cultvars
Calycanthus floridus	Carolina Allspice	large	excellent under‑used large shrub
Caryopteris clandonensis	Bluebeard	small	dies back to ground
Clethra alnifolia	Summersweet	small	part shade
Coryllus avellana and cultivars	Filbert	med to large	part shade, naturalizing
Cotoneaster apiculatus	Cotoneaster	small	catches trash
Deutzia hybrids	Deutzia	small	under used
Exochorda x macrantha	Pearlbush	small to med	sun, under used
Fothergilla gardenia	Dwf. Fothergilla	small	likes acid soils
Fothergilla major	Fothergilla	med	likes acid soils
Hamamelis x intermedia	Witch Hazel	large	part shade
Hamamelis vernalis	Vernal Witch Hazel	large	part shade
Hydrangea arborescens	Smooth Hydrangea	med	not drought tolerant, afternoon shade
Hydrangea paniculata	Hardy Hydrangea	med to large	shallow roots
Hydrangea quercifolia	Oakleaf Hydrangea	med	part shade, rough winter texture
Hypericum frondosum	St. John's Wort	small	cut back hard to maintain
Ilex crenata	Japanese Holly	small	likes acid soils
Ilex glabra	Inkberry	small	likes acid soils
Ilex x meservae	Blue Holly	med	requires acid soils
Itea virginica	Sweetspire	med	part shade
Kerria japonica	Japanese Kerria	med	part shade, drought tolerant
Kolkwitzia amabilis	Beautybush	large	adaptable, large
Ligustrum species	Privet	med to large	fragrant
Philadephus virginalis	Mock Orange	large	fragrant
Physocarpus opulifolius	Ninebark	med	sun, good soils
Potentilla fruticosa	Bush Cinquefoil	small	requires regular pruning
Rhododendron hybrids	Rhododendron	med to large	shallow roots, part shade
Rhus glabra	Smooth Sumac	large	naturalizing
Rhus aromatica	Fragrant Sumac	spreading	great woody groundcover
Rhus typhina	Shining Sumac	small	naturalizing, requires sandy soil
Ribes alpinum	Alpine Currant	med	part shade
Rosa hybrids	Rose	med	use hardy, shrub types
Salix alba	Red Stem Willow	med	thin regularly to maintain
Salix caprea	French Pussy Willow	small	sun, cut back hard
Salix integra	Japanese Willow	med to large	cut back hard, sun for color
Salix purpurea and cultivars	Arctic Willow	small to med	naturalizing, shade or sun
Spirea japonica	Spirea	med	cut back hard to maintain
Spirea nipponica ‘Van Houte’	Bridal Veil Spirea	large	must not be sheared, large
Stephanandra incisa ‘Crispa’	Cutleaf Stehpanandra	spreading	shear to shape or naturalize, part shade
Syringa meyeri ‘Palabin’	Meyer Lilac	small	drought tolerant, fragrant
Syringa patula ‘Miss Kim’	Manchurian Lilac	med to large	some mildew
Viburnum hybrids	Viburnum	large	some suckering
Weigela florida	Weigela	med	possible dieback, short lived

TABLE 5. SHRUBS, ACCEPTABLE BUT NOT RECOMMENDED
Latin Name	Common Name	Size	Comments
Buddleia davidii	Butterfly Bush	4 ft	dieback, weedy
Cornus alba	Var. Dogwood	5 ft	suckers, ext.pruning required
Cornus stolonifera	Red Stem Dogwood	4 ft	suckers, extensive pruning required
Cotynus cogygria	Smoke Bush	20 ft	messy, dies back
Cotoneaster dammeri	Coral Berry	2 ft	marginally hardy
Euonymous fortunii and Cultivars	Euonymous	18 inches	crown gall
Forsythia hybrids	Forsythia	20 ft	dieback, suckers
Hibiscus syriacus	Rose of Sharon	10 ft	self seeds
Hydrangea macrophylla	Big Leaf Hydrangea	3 ft	marginally hardy
Hydrangea serrata	Jap. Toothed Hydrangea	3 ft	marginally hardy
Ilex verticillata	Winterberry	4 ft	requires moist acid soils
Pieris andromeda	Pieris	2 ft	requires acid soil, marg. hardy
Prunus cistena	Sand Cherry	15 ft	disease prone
Prunus glandulosa	Flowering Almond	15 ft	disease prone
Pyracantha	Firethorn	20 ft	disease prone, marg. hardy
Sambucus nigra	Elderberry	20 ft	weedy, fruit
Syringa vulgaris	Common Lilac	20 ft	suckers, requires ext. pruning
Yucca filamentosa	Yucca	3 ft	weedy, monocarpic

TABLE 6. SHRUBS NOT ACCEPTABLE
Latin Name	Common Name	Size	Comments
Lonicera japonica	Jap. Honeysuckle		illegal, invasive
Rhamnus species and cultivars	Buckthorn,Tallhedge		illegal invasive and disease prone

TABLE 7. EVERGREENS RECOMMENDED
Latin Name	Common Name	Size	Comments
Abies concolor	Concolor Fir	50 ft	No wet heavy soils
Juniperus chinensis	Juniper	8 ft
Juniperus horizontalis	Spreading juniper	spreader
Juniperus procumbens	Japanese juniper	spreader
Juniperus sabina	Sabin Juniper	spreader
Juniperus squamata	Blue star juniper	spreader
Juniperus scopulorum	Western blue juniper	30 ft
Picea abies	Norway Spruce	80 ‑ 100 ft	Fast
Picea glauca ‘Conica’	Dwarf Alberta spruce	5 ‑ 10 ft	no pruning necessary
Picea omorika & cultivars	Serbian spruce	25 ft	narrow, good drainage
Picea pungens	Colorado spruce	50 ft
Pinus mugho	Mugho pine	10 ft	drought tolerant
Pinus mugho ‘Mughoensis’	Dwarf Mugho Pine	4 ft	drought tolerant
Pinus nigra	Austrian pine	150 ft
Pinus strobus	White pine	100 ft	part shade
Taxus cuspidata	Yew	upright to 50 ft
Taxus x media cultivars	Yew	spreader
Thuga occidentalis cultivars	Globe Arborvitae	3 to 18 ft	no pruning required
Tsuga canendensis	Canadian Hemlock	75 ft	part sun, wind protection

TABLE 8. EVERGREENS ACCEPTABLE, BUT NOT RECOMMENDED
Latin Name	Common Name	Size	Comments
Chamaecyperus obtusa cultivars	False Cypress	4-18 ft	Good soils, protection & irrigation
Chamaecyperus pisifera cultivars	False Cypress	4-18 ft	Good soils, protection & irrigation
Microbiota dessucata	Siberian Cypress	2 ft	does not tolerate heat & humidity
Pinus sylvestris	Scotch Pine	50 ft	disease

TABLE 9. VINES RECOMMENDED
Latin Name	Common Name	Size	Comments
Aristolochia durior	Dutchman’s pipe		Shade
Celastrus scandens	American Bittersweet		Need male & female
Clematis paniculata	Sweet Autumn clematis
Clematis viticella and cultivars	summer flowering clematis		sun, some pruning required
Hedera helix	Baltic Ivy		Partial shade ‑ wind protection
Campsis radicans	Trumpet Creeper		large, requires support
Parthenocissus quinquefolia	Virginia Creeper		Native
Parthenocissus tricuspidata	Boston Ivy

TABLE 10. VINES ACCEPTABLE, BUT NOT RECOMMENDED
Latin Name	Common Name	Size	Comments
Hydrangea aromala petiolaris	Climbing Hydrangea		Japanese beetles
Lathyrus latifolius	Perennial Sweet Pea		Can be coarse after bloom
Lonicera japonica and sempervirens	Vine Honeysuckle		Aphids, pruning required

TABLE 11. VINES NOT ACCEPTABLE
Latin Name	Common Name	Size	Comments
Ampelopsis ‑ all species	Porcelin Vine		Invasive, Japanese beetles
Humulus lupulus	Hops		invasive, dies back
Polygonum aubertii	Silver fleece		Invasive

TABLE 12. GRASSES RECOMMENDED
Latin Name	Common Name	Size	Comments
Arundro donax	Giant Reed	15 ft	weedy if not maintained
Andropogan girardii	Big Bluestem	8 ft	native, drought tolerant
Calamagrostis arundinacea 'Karl Foerster'	Feather Reed	4 ft	must have water
Calamagrostis acutiflora ‘Overdam’	Varigated Feather Reed	3 ft	must have water
Calamagrostis acutiflora ‘Stricta’	Var Feather Reed	4 ft	must have water
Carex ‘Bowles Golden’	Golden Sedge	18 ‑ 24"	needs water
Carex morrowii ‘Ice Dance’	Goldband Sedge	12"	needs water
Festuca glauca	Blue Fescue	8"	drought & salt tolerant
Hakenechloa	Hakone Grass	18"	good soil & shade
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’	Maiden Grass	4 ‑ 6 ft	best maiden grass for part shade
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gracillimas’	Slender Maiden Grass	6 ft	late flowers ‑ tallest
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Sarabande’	Maiden Grass	5 ft	late flowers
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Purpurescens’	Red Maiden Grass	3 ft	borderline hardy
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus’	Porcupine Grass	4 ‑ 6 ft	tropical appearing
Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’	Switch Grass	4 ft
Panicum virgatum ‘Blues Series’	Switch Grass	5 ft
Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’	Switch Grass	5 ft
Sporobulus heterolepis	Dropseed	2 ft	best for naturalizing
Schizachrium scoparium	Little Bluestem	2 ft	naturalizing only
Sorghastrum nutans	Indian Grass	6 ft	native
Typha species	Cattail	4 to 8 ft	native, wetlands

TABLE 13. GRASSES ACCEPTABLE BUT NOT RECOMMENDED
Latin Name	Common Name	Size	Comments
Pennisitum ‑ all	Fountain Grass	1-4 ft	reseeds in irrigated plantings

TABLE 14. GRASSES NOT ACCEPTABLE
Latin Name	Common Name	Size	Comments
Australis phragmites	Phragmites		invasive weed
Imperata cylindrica ‘Red Baron’	Blood Grass		invasive weed, illegal
Miscanthus ‘floridulus’	Giant Maiden Grass		invasive weed
Miscanthus ‘Giganteus’	Giant Maiden Grass		invasive weed
Phalaris arundinacea			invasive weed
Sachariflorus eulalie	Eulalie Grass		invasive weed

TABLE 15. GROUNDCOVERS RECOMMENDED
Latin Name	Common Name	Size	Comments
Aegopodium	Bishops’ Weed		under used in commercial spaces, shade
Ajuga cultivars	Bugle Weed		part shade, requires moisture
Asarum canadensis	Wild Ginger		great for full shade
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides	Plumbago		great for sun or part shade
Convallaria majalis	Lily of the Valley		under used in commercial spaces for shade
Epimed. species	Barrenwort		dry shade, slow to establish
Euonymous fortunii	Wintercreeper
Galium odoratum	Sweet Woodruff		needs shade
Geranium species	Cranesbill		part to full shade
Liriope species	Lilyturf		part sun to shade, drough tolerant, evergreen
Polygonum ‘Border Jewel’ and ‘Reynoutrii’	Fleeceflower		drought tolerant, tough
Sedum	Stonecrop		drought tolerant, full sun
Thymus species	Thyme		needs moisture, full sun
Vinca minor	Periwinkle		shade

TABLE 16. GROUND-COVERS UNACCEPTABLE
Latin Name	Common Name	Size	Comments
Coronilla varia	Crown Vetch		invasive weed

(Ord 04-26, 4/19/04)