Salt tolerant plants

Yes, the salt spray from the sea or ocean will cause most plants to die. Salt affects the plant’s ability to take up water and will dehydrate a plant over time. If you have ever left salt open in your home for a period of time you have no doubt seen that it soaks up water and gets hard. It works the same way with plants and will steal the water from them, not allowing them to take up nutrients and eventually they will die.

Yes, there are a number of salt tolerant plants that will do well in a coastal environment. These are plants that have adapted to the salty air and conditions along our tropical coastlines. If you are looking for a salt tolerant shrub, the Coccoloba uvifera or Sea Grape as most people know it, makes a great shrub. It is classified as a tree, but can be kept trimmed to a tall shrub and makes a great privacy barrier. It would also fall under the category of a salt tolerant evergreen.

There are many salt tolerant trees that do very well along the coast. One of the most elegant is the Royal Poinciana. You will need plenty of room for this beauty as it can span about 40 feet when full grown, but will make a statement on your property. One of the best salt tolerant fruit trees is the pomegranate. There are several varieties that do just fine with the salt air. If you are a plant lover and live along the coast, you will be happy to find that there are many salt tolerant flowering plants, ground covers and trees to beautify your landscape.

Many of tropical plants, which are situable for coastal planting, are available for purchase in our online store. We ship all across the USA. If you are in the Southwest Florida, Ft. Myers area, the best way to find the perfect rare tropical plant for your garden is to visit our Garden Center located at 13890 Orange River Blvd., Ft. Myers, FL 33905. Our dedicated and knowledgeable staff will help you select the best plants for your personal situation.