• Topics: Environmental Horticulture  | Salt Tolerant Plants  | Groundcover Selection  |  Black, Robert J 

Salt-Tolerant Plants for Florida¹

Introduction

If you think that the state or Florida offers a wealth of plant material and good growing environment, you're right. But try gardening near or on the Atlantic and the Gulf coasts, and you may have problems. Winds carry salt spray inland, leaving salt deposits on plants. Salt causes water to move out of the plants in a process called exosmosis. Especially on young leaves, this often results in the marginal burning and loss of leaves in non-salt-tolerant plants. Plant damage may also result from driving rains and frequently heavy surf.

Coastal soil composition adds to gardening problems. Sand along the coast generally lacks organic matter or any other nutrient- and moisture-holding material, although this lack can be partly overcome by the addition of organic matter. Also, alkaline soils may lock up vital mineral nutrients needed for plant growth.

Salt tolerance of a plant relates to resistance and ability to grow under conditions of (1) high winds, (2) salt spray, (3) alkaline soils, and (4) infertile, sandy soils. The tolerance of a given plant to salt may be affected if any of the four conditions become extreme.

The tables included here provide a guide to selecting landscape plants for Florida's beach areas or areas with high levels of water salinity. In each table, plants are listed by common and Latin name and are divided into categories such as trees and shrubs. Within each category plants are grouped according to degree of salt tolerance. The range in Florida is indicated by: N = North, C = Central, S = South.

Salt-Tolerant plants are highly resistant to salt drift and can be used in exposed environments.

Moderately Salt-Tolerant plants tolerate some salt spray but grow best when protected by buildings, fences, or plantings of more salt-tolerant species.

Slightly Salt-Tolerant plants have poor tolerance and should be always used well back of exposed areas and be protected by buildings, fences, or plantings of more salt-tolerant species.

Many common plants are listed, although numerous less common plants are not included. Extremely salt-sensitive plants have been excluded. Information is given on the range of growth in Florida and approximate plant height at maturity.

• Table 1 . Salt-Tolerant Trees for Florida

• Table 2 . Salt-Tolerant Palms for Florida

• Table 3 . Salt-Tolerant Shrubs for Florida

• Table 4 . Salt-Tolerant Ground Covers for Florida

• Table 5 . Salt-Tolerant Vines for Florida

NOTE: Scientific plant names in the tables are correct according to the source Hortus Third, A Concise Dictionary of Plants Cultivated in the United States and Canada, revised and expanded by the Staff of the Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium, New York State University at Cornell University. Macmillian Publishing Co., Inc., 1976.

Tables

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer-Chancy, Interim Dean.

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