Salt Tolerant Perennials

With our recent periods of frigid temperatures and icy conditions many of us are using de-icing salt materials on our walkways and driveways. These salts can contaminate surrounding soils and be very harmful to sensitive garden plants. One solution is to use alternate de-icing materials such as sand or kitty litter, although the effectiveness of these is limited. Another option is to plant more salt tolerant plants surrounding your walkways and driveways. Following is a list of perennials that show some level of salt tolerance:

Highly salt tolerant:

• Aquilegia (Columbine)

• Armeria (Sea Thrift)

• Dianthus (Pinks)

• Grass-Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ (Feather Reed Grass)

• Grass- Miscanthus (Maiden Grass)

• Grass- Schizachyrium (Little Blue Stem)

• Hemerocallis (Daylilies - this is GREAT news since you can visit us at the Farm and select from over 400 beautiful varieties!)

• Waldsteinia (Barren Strawberry)

Moderately Salt Tolerant:

• Achillea (Yarrow)

• Anthemis (Perennial Marguerite)

• Aster (Aster)

• Echinops (Globe Thistle)

• Erigeron (Fleabane)

• Euphorbia (Spurge)

• Helleborus (Lenten Rose)

• Heuchera (Coral Bells)

• Oenothera (Sundrops & Evening Primrose)

• Penstemon (Beard Tongue)

• Perovskia (Russian Sage)

• Phlox (Phlox)

• Sedum (Sedum)

• Sempervivum (Hens & Chicks)

• Stachys (Lamb’s Ear)

• Veronica (Speedwell)