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Plants that Grow Well at the Shore
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These plants demonstrate a tolerance of salt spray and sandy, well-drained soils. If you're looking for plants to landscape your shore house this list is a good place to start.
Perennials
Achillea spp. (Yarrow)
Artemisia spp. (Wormwood)
Astilbe spp. (False Spirea)
Calamagrostis x acutiflora (Feather Reedgrass)
Dianthus spp. (Pinks)
Hedera spp. (Ivy)
Hemerocallis spp. (Daylily)
Heuchera spp. (Coral Bells)
Hibiscus moscheutos (Mallow)
Hosta spp. (Plantain Lily, Hosta)
Iris siberica (Siberian Iris)
Kniphofia spp. (Red Hot Poker)
Lonicera sempervirens (Honeysuckle)
Monarda didyma (Bee Balm)
Oenothera spp. (Evening Primrose)
Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage)
Rudbeckia spp. (Black-eyed Susan)
Sedum spp. (Stonecrop)
Stachys spp. (Lamb's Ear)
Yucca filamentosa (Adam's Needle)
Trees and Shrubs
Amelanchier spp. (Serviceberry)
Aronia arbutifolia (Chokeberry)
Berberis thunbergii (Japanese Barberry)
Buddleia spp. (Butterfly Bush)
Clethra alnifolia (Summersweet)
Cornus alba (Tatarian Dogwood)
Cornus amomum (Silky Dogwood)
Cornus sericea (Redstem Dogwood)
Euonymus spp. (Euonymus)
Forsythia spp. (Forsythia)
Hydrangea spp. (Hydrangea)
Ilex glabra (Inkberry Holly)
Juniper spp. (Juniper)
Nyssa sylvatica (Black Gum)
Picea glauca (White Spruce)
Picea pungens (Colorado Spruce)
Pinus mugo (Mugo Pine)
Platanus x acerifolia (London Planetree)
Spiraea spp. (Spirea)
Symphoricarpos spp. (Snow Berry, Coral Berry)
Syringa spp. (Lilac)
Thuja x 'Green Giant' (Green Giant Arborvitae)
Viburnum dentatum (Arrowwood Viburnum)
Tips for Planting at the Shore
Plant with Tree Saver to add biostimulants, mycorrhizal fungi innoculum, and water retentive gel to the root zone of your plant. This will help the plant deal with the stresses caused by sandy soils and the presence of salt.
Water well during root establishment. Your plant will be most vulnerable during the first growing season. Provide regular, through watering to encourage deep root formation.
Consider adding organic matter to the soil if it contains too much sand.
Sources: Compiled from experience and information from the Morton Arboretum. For more information visit us on the web at www.behmerwald.com