List of Semi Salt-Tolerant Plants

Trees

• Several hollies (Ilex spp.) tolerate moderate amounts of salt. The American (I. opaca), dahoon (I. cassine), Foster’s (I. x attenuata “Fosters”), myrtle leaf (I. cassine var. myrtifolia) and Nellie Stevens (I. x. “Nellie Stevens”) hollies grow between 20 and 30 feet tall and have glossy, spiny, evergreen foliage. The Arizona and Leyland cypresses (Cupressus arizonica and sempervirens) also tolerate moderately salty sites. These evergreens grow to 30 feet tall and thrive in sunny, dry sites. Flowering ornamentals include the Carolina cherry laurel (Prunus caroliniana), a 30-foot evergreen that blooms with white flowers in late winter, and the Japanese snowbell (Styrax japonicus), a deciduous tree that blooms with fragrant, white, spring blossoms. Other choices include the chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus), Christmas palm (Veitchia merrillii), royal palm (Roystonea elata), Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) and weeping fig (Ficus benjamina).

Shrubs

• Several cultivars of Chinese juniper (Juniperus chiniensis), slow-growing evergreens that thrive in sunny, well-draining sites, tolerate moderate salt. Shrubs range from the 6-foot, blue-foliaged Angelica Blue to the 30-inch Golden Glow with bright yellow leaves. Some species in the Mahonia genus also tolerate moderate salt. These shade-loving evergreens include the leatherleaf (M. bealei), an 8-foot-tall shrub that blooms with bright-yellow flowers and the Oregon grape holly (M. aquifolium), a 6-foot-tall plant with spiny leaves that produces blue-black berries. Other moderately salt-tolerant shrubs include the bottlebrush (Callistemon rigidus), flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa), ixora (Ixora coccinea) and scarlet bush (Hamelia patens).

Ornamental Grasses

• Several types of ornamental grass thrive in moderately salty sites. These include switch or panic grass (Panicum virgatum), a 6-foot-tall native grass that has blue-green foliage and produces red-purple fall flowers. This grass also tolerates moist to dry soils and spreads quickly. Fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) grows to 4 feet tall and tolerates drought and partially shaded sites. This fine, green grass turns yellow in fall and blooms with purple-to-white inflorescences.

Flowers

• Perennials that thrive in moderately salty sites include the fern leaf and common yarrows (Achillea filipendulina and millefolium). Both thrive in sunny, well-drained sites and produce golden-yellow flowers. For sandy, salty sites, plant sea thrift (Armeria maritime), a 12-inch perennial that produces pink blossoms from spring through summer, or hardy ice plant (Delosperma cooperi), a 6-inches perennial that produces purple-pink summer blooms. Salt-tolerant annuals include Mexican heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia), which grows from 6 to 24 inches tall and blooms spring and summer with sprays of white, pink and purple blossoms. Other moderately salt-tolerant flowers include evening primrose (Oenothera caespitosa), hosta (Hosta spp.) and tawny daylily (Hemerocallis fulva).