Salt Tolerant Shrubs

The snowy and icy winters of the Midwest require the use (or ‘over use”?) of salt to clear roads, driveways and sidewalks, along which salt accumulates In the soil over time. Warm weather rains and watering systems slowly wash away these deposits, but sodium accumulates in the soil. Plants In these areas may experience a sodium-induced ‘drought’, where they are unable to take up water. Often the most salt tolerant plants are also those which tolerate drought. Below are some shrubs which are reputed to be salt tolerant, to varying degrees.

ARONIA+ LONICERA++
BERBERIS++ PINUS
mugo++
BUDDLEIA+ POTENTILLA++
BUXUS
microphylla+
PRUNUS
cistena+
CHAENOMELES+ RHUS
aromatica++
CLETHRA
alnifolia+
RIBES+
CORNUS
racemosa+
sericea+
ROSA
rugosa++
COTINUS
coggygria+
SPIRAEA++
COTONEASTER++ SYMPHORICARPUS++
FORSYTHIA++ SYRINGA++
HIBISCUS
syriacus+
TAXUS+
HYPERICUM++ VIBURNUM
dentatum+
lantana+
prunifolium+
trilobum+
HYDRANGEA++ YUCCA
ILEX
glabra+
verticillata+
 

+ tolerant
++ very tolerant