Avant Gardening

Rough Wisconsin Landscape – Salt Tolerant Plants

Gardening | Landscaping

Our climate can be crazy! From freezing rain to temperatures in the 40’s in January… it’s difficult to predict what it’s going to do next! With the recent freezing rain and the need to spread sand (and salt in most cases) we thought we’d share a list of plants that are salt tolerant.

Excess salt in the soil upsets a plant’s ability to move water and results in desiccation and, for some plants, eventually death. Aerial salt spray leaves particles on the leaves, stems, and buds and when the water evaporates causes plant disfigurement and/or death.

Wisconsin landscape winter salt tolerant plants Wisconsin landscape winter salt tolerant plants

Although no salt is good – these plants are usually tough enough to withstand it. Plants that evolved in the presence of high saline environments (think seaside) have tolerance to these environments.  When planning for areas with potential of high salt damage (near roads, driveways, and sidewalks) consider using some of the plants listed below that demonstrate these tolerances.

Salt Tolerant Plants

  1. Aesculus hippocastanum (Horsechestnut)
  2. Amelanchier spp. (Serviceberry)
  3. Aronia melanocarpa (Black Chokeberry)
  4. Celtis occidentalis (Hackberry)
  5. Chioanthus virginicus (White Fringetree)
  6. Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo)
  7. Gleditsia triacanthos (Honeylocust)
  8. Gymnocladus dioicus (Kentucky Coffeetree)
  9. Ilex glabra (Inkberry)
  10. Ilex verticillata (Winterberry)
  11. Juniperus chinensis (Chinese Juniper)
  12. Juniperus communis (Common Juniper)
  13. Juniperus horizontalis (Creeping Juniper)
  14. Juniperus virginiana (Eastern Red Cedar)
  15. Larix decidua (Common Larch)
  16. Picea pungens (Colorado Spruce)
  17. Prunus serotina (Black Cherry)
  18. Quercus alba (White Oak)
  19. Quercus bicolor  (Swamp White Oak)
  20. Quercus macrocarpa (Bur Oak)
  21. Rhus typhina (Staghorn Sumac)
  22. Sambucus canadensis (Elderberry)
  23. Symphoricarpos albus (Snowberry)
  24. Syringa reticulata (Japanese Tree Lilac)
  25. Syringa vulgaris (Common Lilac)
  26. Taxodium distichum (Baldcypress)
  27. Ulmus americana ‘Valley Forge’ (American Elm)
  28. Viburnum dentatum (Arrowwood Viburnum)
  29. Viburnum prunifolium (Blackhaw Viburnum)
  30. Yucca filamentosa (Adam’s Needle)
  31. Yucca glauca (Soapweed)