FDOT's Plant Material Selection Criteria   

[The following are the Florida Department of Transportation's plant
         material selection criteria as published in the Florida Administrative
               Code and current through February 1, 1998.  They appear as
             Rule 14-40.004, under Chapter 14-40 (Highway Landscaping).]

14-40.004 Plant Material Selection.

     All plants used on Department right of way must be approved by the
District Secretary of the District in which the landscaping project is planned, or
his designee.  General criteria are as follows:

     (1)  Use native plants and wildflowers wherever possible.  Use exotic
plants only to serve a specific limited purpose, e.g., as an accent or specimen
planting.

     (2)  Select plants to harmonize with the natural environmental factors
associated with the planting site, e.g., salt tolerant; sun-loving; able to withstand
heat, drought, or windy conditions.  Be aware the roadside environment is
extremely hostile to many otherwise desirable plants.

     (3)  Do not plant on State Highway rights of way plants which may
eventually cause hazards or unusual maintenance problems, e.g., Australian Pine
(Casuarina cunninghamia).

     (4)  Do not plant on State Highway rights of way certain exotic plants,
such as the Punk Tree (Melaleuca leucadendron), Brazilian Pepper (Schinus
terebinthifolias), Australian Mimosa (Mimosa pigra) and Chinese Tallow
(Sapium sebiferum), or others which directly compete with and displace desirable
native plants.

     (5)  Prepare, grade, and apply all landscape materials according to Florida
Department of Transportation Standard Specification Section 580,
"Landscaping", 1991 Edition, or other special provisions specified in the
approved Memorandum of Agreement.  Standard Specification Section 580,
"Landscaping", 1991 Edition, is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part
of these rules.  Copies of Standard Specification Section 580 are available at no
more than cost pursuant to Section 120.53(2)(a), Florida Statutes, from the
Florida Department of Transportation Maps and Publications Sales, 605
Suwannee Street, Mail Station 12, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0450.