Salt Tolerant Perennials

The cold, snowy and icy winters of the Midwest require the use (some would say ‘overuse’) of salt to clear roads and sidewalks. Salts accumulate over time in the soil along roads, sidewalks and driveways. It is washed away very slowly by warm weather rains and artificial watering.

The result is an accumulation of sodium in the soil. Plants subjected to these salty situations may not be able to take up water and may be damaged or even die, because of a sodium induced ‘drought’.

There are a few things that can be done to limit the damage. Try wrapping plants in burlap, constructing screens of burlap or plastic, avoid sodium near salt sensitive plants, and avoid shoveling salt laden snow onto adjacent plantings. Or replace salt sensitive plants with salt tolerant ones. Often the most salt tolerant plants are also those which also tolerate drought, which makes sense. Below is a list of perennials which are reputed to be salt tolerant. They will have the salt tolerant icon on the label.