Plants for Coastal Areas

Salty soil is common in coastal areas, which can make planting difficult as many plants won’t tolerate large quantities of salt. There are, however, quite a few plants that can tolerate salt. That being said, we do not recommend planting in areas that receive tidal flooding. If tidal flooding occurs, we recommend flushing the root system out with water from the spigot after the tidal water has receded to remove excess salt.

Below is a list of plants that are adaptive to higher salt content in soils. Varieties listed may not be available at all times.

Annuals

  • Begonia
  • Calendula
  • Dusty Miller
  • Gazania
  • Geranium
  • Kalanchoe
  • Ornamental Cabbage and Kale
  • Petunia
  • Portulaca
  • Snapdragon
  • Vinca
  • Zinnia

Perennials & Herbs

  • Alyssum
  • Agapanthus (Lily of the Nile)
  • Armeria (Thrift)
  • Artemisia
  • Aster
  • Bellflower
  • Butterfly Weed (Milkweed)
  • Candytuft
  • Columbine
  • Cornflower
  • Daylily
  • Dianthus
  • English Ivy
  • Euphorbia
  • Gailardia
  • Geranium (Perennial Variety)
  • Goldenrod
  • Helleborus
  • Hens & Chicks
  • Hibiscus
  • Ice Plant (Deleosperma)
  • Iris
  • Knautia
  • Lantana
  • Lavender
  • Joe Pye Weed
  • Lantana
  • Malva
  • Nepeta
  • Oregano
  • Penstemon
  • Pachysandra
  • Phlox
  • Rosemary
  • Russian Sage
  • Salvia
  • Scabiosa
  • Sedum
  • Stachys
  • Verbena
  • Virginia Bluebells
  • Yarrow

Grasses

  • Carex Grass
  • Feather Reed Grass
  • Liriope
  • Lovegrass
  • Miscanthus (Maiden Grass)
  • Mondo Grass
  • Muhly Grass
  • Needle Grass
  • Pampas Grass
  • Pennisetum
  • Sea Oats Grass

Shrubs

  • American Holly
  • Blue Pacific Juniper
  • Carissa Holly
  • Clethra
  • Cotoneaster
  • Forsythia
  • Hydrangea
  • Indian Hawthorn
  • Ligustrum
  • Mockorange
  • Oleander
  • Pittosporum
  • Quince
  • Rose of Sharon
  • Rosa Rugosa
  • St Johns Wort
  • Viburnum (Native varieties)
  • Wax Myrtle
  • Yaupon Holly
  • Yucca

Trees

  • Bald Cypress
  • Black Pine
  • Chokeberry
  • Crape Myrtle
  • Gingko
  • Junipers (Some varieties)
  • Live Oak
  • Palms
  • River Birch
  • Serviceberry
  • Vitex