Salt-Tolerant Plants

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
lupinelover Grove City, OH(Zone 6a) Dec 08, 2002

Courtesy of our County Extension Agent, a list of plants that are salt-tolerant, for those of us who live where it is sprayed or spread:

White Ash
Alpine Currant
Honeylocust
Chinese Juniper
Pin, Red and White Oak

Moderately salt-tolerant:
Arborrvitae
Crab Apple
Honeysuckle
Lilac
Redbud
Norway and Silver Maple

Salt-intolerant (often damaged or killed by salt)
Barberry
American Beech
Boxwood
Winged Euonymus
Red and Sugar Maple
Viburnum (some)
Canadian Hemlock
White Pine
Colorado and Norway Spruce

If you have any of these in places where they may be exposed to salt, you can either move them before spring leaf-out, or use alternatives to regular de-icing salt.

Alternatives: calcium chloride or calcium magnesium acetate; mix salt with sand, ashes or grit.

Do not use fertilizer for a de-icer because it tends to over-fertilize (and kill) lawn areas where it accumulates.

Post #425237
Quote
poppysue Westbrook, ME(Zone 5a) Dec 08, 2002

Good topic - especially this time of year when they're dumping truckloads of salt on the roads. I don't see rugosa roses on the list?? That's one that's used a lot around here.

Post #425242
Quote
lupinelover Grove City, OH(Zone 6a) Dec 08, 2002

Thanks Poppysue :)

Anyone else have additions?

Post #425431
Quote
Kathleen Panama, NY(Zone 5a) Dec 09, 2002

Rugosa roses are extremely road salt tolerant and they grow on the dunes along the east coast in spots (I've never been to the west coast, so can't speak to that). We had some ancient Rugosas right on the edge of the road and they were eight feet tall and full of blooms for 6 months of the year. We moved them away from the road last year and they are starting to make a resurgence. There was also a quince bush and a yellow locust and pink honeysuckle that did well there along with valerian and vinca. Lupines don't seem to mind living on the bank and we get salted heavily - it's a state highway and that is the modus operendi.

Post #425906
Quote
rootdoctor Harrisville, MI(Zone 5b) Dec 11, 2002

I once ask a man at the feedstore why he was buying Rocksalt in june,,he told me after a couple of harvests ,he would till his Asparagus under with some salt, made some sense to me because it seems to grow pretty good in ditchs on Michigan roads.

Post #427452
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Beginner Gardening Threads

Go to all Beginner Gardening threads
BACK TO TOP