Best Salt-Tolerant Shade Perennials for Your Garden
Living in the Northeast, dealing with snowplows treating roadways with deicer creates a challenge for curb plantings due to saline soil runoff. Similarly, those with shady coastal gardens know the struggle of finding salt- and shade-tolerant species.
If you’re facing these challenges or have similar conditions, this article is for you. Let’s explore 21 attractive perennials that can handle saline soil and low light conditions.
Let’s get started with our top picks:
21 Salt-Tolerant Shade Perennials
- Astilbe
- Bergenia
- Blue Flag Iris
- Coleus
- Columbine
- Coral Bells
- Daylily
- False Lamium
- Hellebore
- Hosta
- Japanese Forest Grass
- Japanese Spurge
- Lady Fern
- Lady’s Mantle
- Lamium
- Lily Turf
- Mondo Grass
- New England Aster
- Periwinkle
- Solomon’s Seal
- Virginia Creeper
Let’s dive into each of these wonderful options:
1. Astilbe
Astilbe, or false spirea, thrives in Zones 3 to 9, preferring partial shade and moist, well-draining soil. With variations in height and fluffy blossoms in pink, red, and white, Astilbe brings a unique touch to your garden.
Recommended Variety: Younique Pink™ (A. x ‘Verspink’)
2. Bergenia
Known as pigsqueak, Bergenia is a flowering ground cover that’s hardy in Zones 2 to 9. With glossy leaves turning bronze in the fall and vibrant pink, purple, red, or white flowers in spring, Bergenia adds a pop of color to your garden.
Recommended Variety: ‘Miss Piggy’
3. Blue Flag Iris
With bluish-purple petals and a preference for wet soil and part shade to full sun locations in Zones 3 to 9, the Blue Flag Iris brings elegance to any garden.
4. Coleus
Coleus, an ornamental foliage plant, thrives in part to full shade locations with ruffled leaves in deep burgundy, hot pink, and chartreuse combinations. Perfect for adding a splash of color to shaded areas.
Recommended Variety: ColorBlaze® ‘Dipt in Wine’
5. Columbine
Known for its delicate foliage and flowers in orange, pink, purple, and more, Columbine blooms in spring to summer and attracts hummingbirds and bees.
Recommended Variety: Aquilegia canadensis ‘Colorado Blue’
6. Coral Bells
Adding a touch of elegance, Coral Bells prefer part shade to full sun, with rose blossoms and silvery foliage in ‘Paris’ variety.
Recommended Variety: ‘Paris’
7. Daylily
With funnel-shaped flowers in various colors and a preference for part shade, Daylilies bloom from summer to fall, providing a vibrant display in your garden.
Recommended Variety: ‘Ice Carnival’
Stay tuned for more exciting salt-tolerant shade perennials in the next section.
