Plants for Salty Soil

There are various reasons you, as a gardener, might have to deal with salty soil, that is, soil rich in sodium (salt is sodium chloride, NaCl). Maybe you garden near a body of salt water, like an ocean, and salt spray is regularly deposited on the soil. Or if you live in a dry climate, salt just naturally tends to build up over eons, leaving the soil permanently salty. In rainier climates, those with over 20 inches (50 cm) of precipitation per year, salt tends to be leached out of the soil, but can still be found in excess in spots near roadways, driveways and sidewalks that are treated with de-icing salt in winter.

You’ve been told that that, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Well, when life gives you salty soil, plant salt-resistant plants! It’s as simple as that.

The following plants are adapted, to various degrees, to salty soils. Some will also tolerate salt spray.

Highly salt tolerant — ???

Moderately salt tolerant — ??

Slightly salt tolerant—?

Salt-Resistant Trees

1. American holly ?? (Ilex opaca) zone 6
2. American hop hornbeam ?? (Ostrya virginiana) zone 3
3. Amur cork tree ??(Phellodendron amurense) zone 3
4. Amur maple ?? (Acer tataricum ginnala) zone 2b
5. Arizona cypress?? (Cupressus arizonica) zone 7
6. Atlas cedar ?? (Cedrus atlantica) zone 7
7. Austrian pine ??? (Pinus nigra) zone 4
8. Bald Cypress ??? (Taxodium distichum) zone 5b
9. Black cherry ?? (Prunus serotina) zone 2b
10. Black locust ?? (Robinia pseudacacia) zone 4b
11. Black tupelo ?? (Nyssa sylvatica) zone 6
12. Buckeye ??? (Aesculus spp.) zones 3b to 6, according to species
13. Catalpa ?? (Catalpa spp.) zone 5b
14. Chaste tree ?? (Vitex agnus-castus) zone 6
15. Cherry birch ?? (Betula lenta) zone 4
16. Chinese podocarpus ??? (Podocarpus macrophyllus) zone 7
17. Chokecherry ??? (Prunus virginiana) zone 2b
18. Colorado blue spruce ??? (Picea pungens) zone 3
19. Crape myrtle ?? (Lagerstroemia spp.) zones 7 to 10, according to species
20. Deodar cedar ?? (Cedrus deodara) zone 7
21. Devilwood ??? (Osmanthus americanus) zone 6
22. Eastern red cedar ??? (Juniperus virginiana) zone 3
23. Ginkgo ?? (Ginkgo biloba) zone 3
24. Golden raintree ??(Koelreuteria paniculata) zone 6
25. Gray birch ?? (Betula populifolia) zone 3
26. Green ash ??? (Fraxinus americanus) zone 3
27. Hackberry ??? (Celtis occidentalis) zone 3
28. Honey locust ??? (Gleditsia triacanthos) zone 4
29. Horsechestnut ??? (Aesculus hippocastanum) zones 4b
30. Elm ??? ( Ulmus spp.) zones 3 to 7, according to species
31. Italian cypress ?? (Cupressus sempervirens) zone 7
32. Jack pine ??? (Pinus banksiana) zone 1
33. Japanese black pine ??? (Pinus thunbergii) zone 6
34. Japanese cedar ? (Crytomeria japonica) zone 6
35. Japanese zelkova ?? (Zelkova serrata) zone 6
36. Kentucky coffeetree ?? (Gymnocladus dioica) zone 4b
37. Larch ??? (Larix spp.) zones 2 to 3, according to species
38. Large-toothed aspen ?? (Populus grandidentata) zone 2b
39. Live oak ??? (Quercus virginiana) zone 8
40. Loquat ?? (Eriobotyria japonica) zone 8
41. Mulberry ?? (Morus spp.) zones 4 to 8, according to species
42. Northern cottonwood ??? (Populus deltoides) zone 3
43. Norway maple ?? (Acer platanoides) zone 4
44. Norway spruce ?? (Picea abies) zone 3
45. Oak ?? or ??? (Quercus spp.) zones 3 to 10, according to species
46. Olive ?? (Olea europaea) zone 9
47. Ornamental pear ? to ?? (Pyrus spp.) zones 2b to 6, according to species
48. Paper birch ?? (Betula papyrifera) zone 3
49. Pitch pine ??? (Pinus rigida) zone 5
50. Quaking aspen ?? (Populus tremuloides) zone 1b
51. River birch ?? (Betula nigra) zone 3
52. Russian olive ??? (Elaeagnus angustifolia) zone 2b
53. Serviceberry ?? (Amelanchier spp.) zones 3 to 5, according to species
54. Silver maple ? (Acer saccharinum) zone 3
55. Sourwood ?? (Oxydendrum arboreum) zone 6
56. Southern magnolia ?? (Magnolia grandiflora) zone 7
57. Sugarberry ?? (Celtis laevigata) zone 6
58. Sweet bay ?? (Magnolia virginiana) zone 6
59. Tamarisk ?? (Tamarix spp.) zones 4 to 8, according to species
60. Trident maple ?? (Acer buergerianum) zone 5
61. Wax myrtle ??? (Morella cerifera, syn.Myrica cerifera) zone 7
62. White spruce ? (Picea glauca) zone 1

Salt-Resistant Shrubs

1. Abelia ? (Abelia x grandiflora) zone 5
2. Alpine currant ??? (Ribes alpinum) zone 3
3. American Beautyberry ? (Callicarpa americana) zone 6
4. American elder ?? (Sambucus canadensis) zone 3
5. Angel’s trumpet ? (Brugmansia spp.) zone 8
6. Bayberry ??? (Myrica pensylvanica) zone 5b
7. Beach plum ??? (Prunus maritima) zone 3
8. Bearberry ??? (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) zone 2
9. Beautybush ?? (Kolkwitzia amabilis) zone 4b
10. Bigleaf hydrangea ?? (Hydrangea macrophylla) zone 6b
11. Blueberry ?? (Vaccinium spp.) zones 2 to 7, according to species
12. Boxwood ?? to ??? (Buxus spp.) zones 4 to 8, accordingly to species
13. Bridalwreath spirea ??? (Spiraea x vanhouttei) zone 3
14. Buckthorn ??? (Frangula alnus, syn. Rhamnus frangula) zone 4b
15. Buffaloberry ??? (Shepherdia spp.) zone 2
16. Burning bush ??? (Euonymus alatus) zone 4b
17. Bush honeysuckle ?? to ??? (Lonicera spp.) zones 2 to 5, according to species
18. Butcher’s broom ??? (Ruscus officinalis) zone 7
19. Butterfly bush ? (Buddleia davidii) zone 6
20. Buttonbush ???( Cephalanthus occidentalis) zone 3b
21. Camellia ? (Camellia spp.) zones 6b to 10, according to species
22. Carolina rose ??? (Rosa carolina) zone 4
23. Chinese holly ?? (Ilex cornuta) zone 7
24. Chokeberry ? (Aronia spp.) zone 4
25. Common juniper ??? (Juniperus communis) zone 3
26. Coralberry ??? (Symphoricarpos spp.) zones 3 to 6, according to species
27. Cotoneaster ? to ?? (Cotoneaster spp.) zones 2 to 8, according to species
28. Creeping juniper ?? (Juniperus horizontalis) zone 3
29. Devil’s walking stick ??? (Aralia spinosa) zone 5a
30. Fatsia ?? (Fatsia japonica) zone 8
31. Firebush ?? (Hamelia patens) zone 9
32. Firethorn ?? (Pyracantha spp.) zone 6
33. Flowering quince ?? (Chaenomeles spp.) zone 4
34. Forsythia ?? (Forsythia spp.) zones 4 to 6, according to species
35. Fragrant daphne ?? (Daphne odora) zone 7
36. Gardenia ? (Gardenia jasminoides) zone 8
37. Golden dewdrop ? (Duranta erecta) zone 10
38. Gray Dogwood ??? (Cornus racemosa) zone 2b
39. Groundsel Bush ??? (Baccharis halmifolia) zone 6
40. Heavenly bamboo ? (Nandina domestica) zone 6
41. Hedge bamboo ?? (Bambusa multiplex) zone 9
42. Hydrangea ?? (Hydrangea spp.) zones 3 to 7, according to species
43. Indian hawthorn ??? (Rhapiolepis spp.) 8
44. Inkberry holly ?? (Ilex glabra) zone 4
45. Japanese aucuba ?? (Aucuba japonica) zone 7
46. Japanese barberry ? (Berberis thunbergii) zone 3b
47. Japanese euonymus ?? (Euonymus japonicus) zone 6b
48. Japanese pittosporum ??? (Pittosporum tobira) zone 8
49. Japanese privet ?? (Ligustrum japonicum) zone 8
50. Japanese spirea ?? (Spiraea japonica, syn. S. bumalda) zone 3
51. Leatherleaf mahonia ?? (Mahonia bealei) zone 7
52. Lilac ?? (Syringa spp.) zones 3 to 6, according to species
53. Mockorange ?? (Philadelphus spp.) zones 3 to 6, according to species
54. Ninebark ??? (Physocarpus spp.) zones 3 to 5, according to species
55. Oleander ??? (Nerium oleander) zone 8
56. Potentilla ??? (Dasiphora fruticosa, syn. Potentilla fruticosa) zone 2
57. Pussywillow ?? (Salix discolor) zone 2
58. Red osier dogwood ??? (Cornus sericea, syn. C. stolonifera) zone 2
59. Rose of Sharon ?? (Hibiscus syriacus) zone 6
60. Rosemary ??? (Rosmarinus officinalis) zone 7
61. Rugosa rose ??? (Rosa rugosa) zone 2b
62. Salt tree ??? (Halimodendron halodendron) zone 3
63. Savin juniper ?? (Juniperus sabina) zone 3
64. Scotch Broom ??? (Cytisus scoparius) zone 6
65. Sea Buckthorn ??? (Hippophae rhamnoides) zone 2b
66. Shore juniper ??? (Juniperus conferta) zone 8
67. Siberian peashrub ??? (Caragana arborescens) zone 2
68. Silverberry ??? (Elaeagnus commutata) zone 3
69. Snowberry ??? (Symphoricarpos spp.) zone 3
70. Spicebush ?? (Lindera benzoin) zone 5
71. St. Johns Wort ??? (Hypericumspp.) zones 4 to 7, according to species
72. Sumac ??? (Rhus spp.) zones 3 to 7, according to species
73. Summersweet ?? (Clethra alnifolia) zone 4
74. Sweet gale ??? (Myrica gale) zone 2b
75. Texas sage ?? (Leucophyllum frutescens) zone 8
76. Thorny elaeagnus ??? (Elaeagnus pungens) zone 7
77. Turk’s cap ?? (Malvaviscus spp.) zone 8
78. Viburnum ?? to ??? (Viburnum spp.) zones 2 to 7, according to species
79. Virginia Rose ??? (Rosa virginiana) zone 6
80. Weigela ? (Weigela spp.) zones 3 to 6, according to species
81. Winged euonymus ??? (Euonymus alatus) zone 4b
82. Winterberry ? (Ilex verticillata) zone 3
83. Yaupon ??? (Ilex vomitoria) zone 8
84. Yucca ??? (Yucca spp.), zones 3 to 10, according to species

Salt-Resistant Vines

1. American Bittersweet ?? (Celastrus scandens) zone 3
2. Bougainvillea ?? (Bougainvillea spp.) zone 9
3. Carolina jessamine ?? (Gelsemium sempervirens) zone 7
4. Climbing fig ?? (Ficus pumila) zone 9
5. Confederate jasmine ?? (Trachelospermum jasminoides) zone 8
6. Coral honeysuckle ?? (Lonicera sempervirens) zone 4
7. Fox grape ?? (Vitis labrusca) zone 3
8. Goldflame honeysuckle ?? (Lonicerax heckrotii) zone 5
9. Ivy ?? (Hedera spp.) zones 5 to 7, according to species
10. Leadwort ? (Plumbago auriculata) zone 8
11. Trumpetcreeper ? (Campsis radicans) zone 5
12. Virginia creeper ?? (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) zone 3
13. Winter creeper ??? (Euonymus fortunei) zone 6b

Salt-Resistant Perennials

1. Agave ??? (Agave spp.) zones 7 to 12, according to species
2. Aloe ?? (Aloe spp.) zones 8 to 10, according to species
3. Anemone ?? (Anemone spp.) zones 2 to 7, according to species
4. Asparagus ??? (Asparagus officinalis) zone 3
5. Autumn sage ? (Salvia greggii) zone 7
6. Baby’s breath ??? (Gypsophila paniculata) zone 3
7. Barren strawberry ??? (Waldsteinia spp.) zone 4
8. Beach pea ??? (Lathyrus maritimus) zone 6
9. Beach wormwood ?? (Artemisia stelleriana) zone 3
10. Bearded iris ?? (Iris x germanica) zone 3
11. Beardtongue ?? (Penstemon digitalis) zone 3
12. Beebalm ?? (Monarda didyma) zone 3
13. Bergenia ?? (Bergenia crassifolia) zone 3
14. Bird’s foot trefoil ??? (Lotus caniculatus) zone 3
15. Black-eyed Susan ? (Rudbeckia hirta) zone 3
16. Blanket flower ??? (Gaillardia x grandiflora) zone 3
17. Blazing star ? (Liatris spicata) zone 3
18. Bleeding heart ?? (Lamprocapnos spectabilis, syn. Dicentra spectabilis) zone 3
19. Blue bluestem ?? (Andropogon gerardii) Zone 4
20. Blue false indigo ? (Baptisia australis) zone 3
21. Blue fescue ? (Festuca glauca and others) zone 3
22. Blue Leadwort ?? (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides) zone 6
23. Blue lyme grass ??? (Leymus arenarius, syn. Elymus arenarius) zone 3
24. Blue oat grass?? (Helictotrichon sempervirens) zone 3
25. Blue panic grass ? (Panicumvirgatum) zone 4b
26. Blue vervain ?? (Verbena hastata) zone 3
27. Bottlebrush sedge ? (Carex comosa) zone 4
28. Butterfly weed ?? (Asclepias tuberosa) zone 4
29. Canada mayflower ??? (Maianthemum canadense) zone 2
30. Canadian goldenrod ? (Solidago canadensis) zone 2
31. Candytuft ?? (Iberis sempervirens) zone 3
32. Canna ? (Canna spp.) zone 8
33. Catmint ??? (Nepeta spp.) zone 4
34. Cattail ? (Typha spp.) zones 1 to 5, according to species
35. Cheddar pink ?? (Dianthus gratianopolitanus) zone 3
36. Chinese fountain grass ??? (Pennisetum alopercuroides) zone 5
37. Columbine ?? (Aquilegia spp.) zone 3
38. Common evening primrose ???(Oenothera biennis) zone 3
39. Common reed ??? (Phragmites australis) zone 3
40. Common yarrow ?? (Achillea filipendulina) zone 3
41. Coral Bells ?? (Heuchera spp.) zone 4
42. Coreopsis ? (Coreopsis verticillata) zone 3
43. Creeping Liriope ??? (Liriope spicata) zone 6
44. Crinum lily ?? (Crinum spp.) zone 7
45. Cushion Spurge ??? (Euphorbia polychroma, syn. E. epithymoides) zone 3
46. Daylily ??? (Hemerocallis spp.) zone 3
47. Echinaea ? (Echinaea spp.) zone 3
48. Evening primrose ?? (Oeonothera spp.) zones 2 to 5, according to species
49. False red aloe ?? (Hesperaloe parviflora) zone 6
50. Feather reed grass ??? (Calamagrostis x acutifolia) zone 3
51. Fernleaf yarrow ?? (Achillea millefolium) zone 3
52. Firecracker plant ?? (Russelia equisetifolia) zone 9
53. Foam flower ? (Tiarella cordifolia) zone 4
54. Foxglove ? (Digitalis purpurea) zone 4
55. Garden chrysanthemum ?? (Chrysanthemumxmorifolium) zones 3 to 8, according to cultivar
56. Ginger lily ?? (Hedychium spp.) zones 7 to 10
57. Globe thistle ?? (Echinops spp.) zone 4
58. Hardy ice plant ?? (Delosperma spp.), zones 3 to 10, according to species
59. Heath aster ??? (Symphyotrichum ericoides, syn. Aster ericoides) zone 3
60. Hens and chicks ?? (Sempervivum spp.), zones 3 to 5, according to species
61. Heuchera ?? (Heuchera spp.) zone 4
62. Holly fern ? (Cyrtomium spp.) zones 5 to 8, according to species
63. Hosta ? (Hosta spp.) zone 3
64. Houseleek ?? (Sempervivum spp.), zones 3 to 5, according to species
65. Hummingbird plant ?? (Dicliptera suberecta) zone 7
66. Indian grass?? (Sorghastrum nutans) zone 2
67. Lady’s mantle? (Alchemilla mollis) zone 3
68. Lamb’s Ear ?? (Stachys byzantina) zone 3
69. Lantana ??? (Lantana spp.) zone 10
70. Lavander ?? (Lavandula angustifolia) zone 6
71. Lavender cotton ??? (Santolina chamaecyparissus) zone 6
72. Lenten rose ?? (Helleborus spp.) zone 4
73. Liriope ?? (Liriope muscari) zone 6
74. Little bluestem ?? (Schizachyrium scoparium) zone 3
75. Maiden grass ??? (Miscanthus sinensis) zones 4 to 6, according to cultivar
76. Marsh fern ??? (Thelypteris palustris) zone 2b
77. Marshmallow ??? (Althaea officinalis) zone 3
78. Meadow Rue ?? (Thalictrum spp.) zones 3 to 6, according to species
79. Mexican heather ??( Cuphea hyssopifolia) zone 9
80. Mexican petunia ? (Ruellia simplex, syn. R. brittoniana) zone 8
81. Milk thistle ?? (Silybum marianum) zone 5
82. Mondograss ??? (Ophiopogon japonicus) zone 6
83. Muhly grass ?? (Muhlenbergia spp.) zone 6
84. Narcissus (daffodil, jonquil) ? (Narcissus spp.) zones 3 to 8, according to species
85. New England aster ??? (Symphyotrichon novae-angliae) zone 3
86. New York aster ??? (Symphyotrichon novi-belgii) zone 3
87. New Zealand flax ??? (Phormium spp.) zone 9
88. Nippon daisy ?? (Nipponanthemum nipponicum) zone 5
89. Northern sea oats ?? (Chasmanthium latifolium) zone 5
90. Obedient plant ?? (Phystostegia virginiana) zone 3
91. Orange coneflower ? (Rudbeckia fulgida)  zone 3
92. Oriental Poppy ? (Papaver orientale) zone 3
93. Oyster Plant ??? (Mertensia maritima) zone 3
94. Pachysandra ??? (Pachysandra terminalis) zone 3
95. Pearly everlasting ? (Anaphalis margaritacea) zone 2
96. Peony ?? (Paeonia spp.) zone 3
97. Perennial hibiscus ? (Hibiscus moscheutos) zone 5
98. Periwinkle ? (Vinca minor) zone 4
99. Prairie cord grass ??? (Spartina pectinata) zone 4
100. Prairie dropseed ??? (Sporobolus heterolepis) zone 3
101. Prickly pear ??? (Opuntia compressa, syn. O. humifusa) zone 5
102. Red hot poker ? (Knipofia spp.) zones 5 to 8, according to species
103. Red valerian ?? (Centranthus ruber) zone 4
104. Ribbon grass ?? (Phalaris arundincaea) zone 2
105. Rock Soapwort ?? (Saponaria ocymoides) zone 2
106. Rose mock vervain ? (Glandularia canadensis, syn. Verbena canadensis) zone 6
107. Russian sage ??? (Perovskia atriplicifolia) zone 3
108. Sea campion ??? (Silene uniflora) zone 3
109. Sea holly ??? (Eryngium spp.) zone 3
110. Sea kale ??? (Crambe maritima) zone 4
111. Sea lavender ?? (Limonium latifolium) zone 3
112. Sea thrift ?? (Armeria maritima) zone 3
113. Seaside goldenrod ??? (Solidago sempervirens) zone 3
114. Sedum ?? and ??? (Sedum spp. et Telephium spp. ) zones 3 to 10, according to species
115. Silver and gold ??? (Chrysanthemum pacificum) zone 7
116. Silver mound ?? (Artemisia schmidtiana) zone 3
117. Snakeroot?? (Actaea racemosa, syn. Cimicifuga racemosa) zone 3
118. Sneezeweed ?? (Helenium autumnale) zone 4
119. Snow-in-summer ?? (Cerastium tomentosum) zone 3
120. Soft rush ?? (Juncus effusus) zone 2
121. Spike veronica ?? (Veronica spicata) zone 3
122. Tall Bellflower ?? (Campanula americana) zone 4
123. Three-toothed cinquefoil ?? (Sibbaldiopsis tridentata, syn. Potentilla tridentata) zone 2
124. Thyme ? (Thymus vulgaris) zone 4
125. Tufted hair grass ??? (Deschampsia cespitosa) zone 3
126. Wood aster ??? (Eurybia divaricates, syn. Aster divaricata) zone 3
127. Wormwood ?? (Artemisia absinthium) zone 4
128. Yellow flag iris ??? (Iris pseudacorus) zone 3

Salt-Tolerant Annuals

1. Baby sun rose ?? (Aptenia cordifolia)
2. Blue Daze ? (Evolvulus glomeratus)
3. Calendula ?? (Calendula spp.)
4. Coleus ? (Coleus scutellarioides)
5. Dusty miller ??? (Jacobaea maritima, syn. Senecio cineraria)
6. Gazania ?? (Gazania rigens)
7. Gladiolus ?? (Gladiolus spp.)
8. Joseph’s Coat ? (Alternanthera ficoidea)
9. Madagascar Periwinkle ? (Catharanthus roseus)
10. Moss rose ? (Portulaca grandiflora)
11. Pentas ? (Pentas lanceolata)
12. Petunia ?? (Petunia x aktinsiana)
13. Portulaca ? (Portulaca grandiflora)
14. Tall verbena ?? (Verbena bonariensis)
15. Thorn-apple (Datura stramonium)
16. Zinnia ? (Zinnia spp.)