By Julie McConnell, UF/IFAS Extension Bay County
One of the benefits of living along the coastline is the gentle sea breeze that always seems to swirl around us. As refreshing as that can be to people outside on a hot day, salt particles carried in wind can wreak havoc on sensitive plants. When you are assessing your landscape site to match it with appropriate plants, be sure to factor in salt spray.
Determine which areas of your landscape have the highest potential exposure and choose plants with high to moderate salt tolerance for those areas.
Here are some trees and shrubs that perform well in Northwest Florida and have moderate to high salt tolerance. These selections are good candidates for areas with a high likelihood of being impacted by salt spray and may be used as a windbreak to shelter less salt tolerant species.
Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), Tree, EV. Native tree with glossy green leaves and large, fragrant, white flowers
Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria), Tree, EV. Native bush-like tree with small olive-green leaves. Female hollies have red berries. Weeping varieties available.
Live Oak (Quercus virginiana), Tree, EV. Native oak tree with wide, spreading canopy.
American Holly (Ilex opaca), Tree, EV. Small native tree. Female hollies have red berries.
Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum), Tree, DEC. Native tree that can grow in areas that flood or are dry. Shaggy reddish bark, delicate light green leaves.
Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera), Small tree/large shrub, EV. Native bushy small tree or large shrub. Attractive to birds and can tolerate flooding.
Oleander (Nerium oleander), Shrub, EV. Evergreen shrub with showy flowers available in several colors. Note that all parts of plant are poisonous if ingested or burned.
Beautyberry (Callicarpaamericana), Shrub, DEC. Native shrub that has tiny lavender flowers in the spring that lead to bright purple berries in the fall.
Pineapple Guava (Acca sellowiana), Shrub, EV. Evergreen shrub with bluish green leaves, edible flowers and fruit.
Junipers (Juniper spp.), Shrubs or groundcovers, EV. Many types available with various needle coloration and growth habit.
Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata), Shrub/Herbaceous perennial, EV-DEC. In cold winters this shrub may die back to the ground for the winter. Light green foliage and blue flowers.
Beach sunflower (Helianthus debilis), Shrub/Herbaceous perennial, EV-DEC. Native plant with sprawling habit that also reseeds. Great plant to fill in hot, dry, open areas. Yellow flowers most of the spring and summer. This plant is very drought tolerant once established and dislikes regular irrigation.
Foliage Key: EV Evergreen leaves, DEC Deciduous (all leaves drop seasonally).
For more Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ guidance, contact our office at 850.248.8091.
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