Salt Tolerance of Ornamental Shrubs, Trees, and Ground Cover

Maas (1990) (a)

- Very Sensitive -

Common Name Botanical Name Max permissible (b) ECe; dS/m
Star jasmine Trachelospermum jasminoides 1-2
Pyrenees cotoneaster Cotoneaster congestus 1-2
Oregon grape Mahonia Aquifolium 1-2
Photinia Photinia x Fraseri 1-2

- Sensitive -

Common Name Botanical Name Max permissible (b) ECe; dS/m
Pineapple guava Feijoa Sellowiana 2-3
Chinese holly,cv. Burford Ilex cornuta 2-3
Rose, cv. Grenoble Rosa sp. 2-3
Glossy abelia Abelia x grandiflora 2-3
Southern yew Podocarpus macrophyllus 2-3
Tulip tree Liriodendron Tulipifera 2-3
Algerian ivy Hedera canariensis 3-4
Japanese pittosporum Pittosporum Tobira 3-4
Heavenly bamboo Nandina domestica 3-4
Chinese hibiscus Hibiscus Rosa-sinensis 3-4
Laurustinus, cv. Robustum Viburnum Tinusm 3-4
Strawberry tree, cv. Compact Arbutus Unedo 3-4
Crape Myrtle Lagerstroemia indica 3-4

- Moderately Sensitive -

Common Name Botanical Name Max permissible (b) ECe; dS/m
Glossy privet Ligustrum lucidum 4-6
Yellow sage Lantana Camara 4-6
Orchid tree Bauhinia purpurea 4-6
Southern Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora 4-6
Japanese boxwood Buxus microphylla var. japonica 4-6
Xylosma Xylosma congestum 4-6
Japanese black pine Pinus Thunbergiana 4-6
Indian hawthorn Raphiolepis indica 4-6
Dodonaea, cv. atropurpurea Dodonaea viscosa 4-6
Oriental arborvitae Platycladus orientalis 4-6
Thorny elaeagnus Elaeagnus pungens 4-6
Spreading juniper Juniperus chinensis 4-6
Pyracantha, cv. Graberi Pyracantha Fortuneana 4-6
Cherry plum Prunus cerasifera 4-6

- Moderately Tolerant -

Common Name Botanical Name Max permissible (b) ECe; dS/m
Weeping bottlebrush Callistemon viminalis 6-8
Oleander Nerium oleander 6-8
European fan palm Chamaerops humilis 6-8
Blue dracaena Cordyline indivisa 6-8
Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis 6-8
Aleppo pine Pinus halepensis 6-8
Sweet gum Liquidamabar Styraciflua 6-8

- Tolerant -

Common Name Botanical Name Max permissible (b) ECe; dS/m
Brush cherry Syzygium paniculatum >8 (c)
Ceniza Leucophyllum frutescens >8 (c)
Natal plum Carissa grandiflora >8 (c)
Evergreen Pear Pyrus Kawakamii >8 (c)
Bougainvillea Bougainvillea spectabilis >8 (c)
Italian stone pine Pinus pinea >8 (c)

- Very Tolerant -

Common Name Botanical Name Max permissible (b) ECe; dS/m
White iceplant Delosperma alba >10 (c)
Rosea iceplant Drosanthemum hispidum >10 (c)
Purple iceplant Lampranthus productus >10 (c)
Croceum iceplant Hymenocyclus croceus >10 (c)

Notes:

(a) Species are listed in order of increasing tolerance based on appearance as well as growth reduction.
(b) Salinities exceeding the maximum permissible ECe may cause leaf burn, loss of leaves, and/or excessive stunting.
(c) Maximum permissible ECe is unknown. No injury symptoms or growth reduction was apparent at 7 dS/m. The growth of all iceplant was increased by soil salinity of 7 dS/m.