Salt Tolerant Plants for Florida Landscapes

Expanding urbanization along Florida's coastlines has resulted in increased construction of individual residences, condominiums, and commercial establishments. This surge in construction has produced a concomitant need and demand for landscaping to solve not only a esthetic but functional problems in design. Unfortunately, there are many environmental stresses present in these are as which predispose plant material s to decline and eventual death. Perhaps the most commonly thought of stress is salinity---both soil and foliar related. Yet it should be understood that the specific salt tolerance of a given plant is related to its ability to withstand not only salinity but a number of other environmental stresses. There are a number of adverse qualities of coastal soils which contribute to poor success in establishing landscape plants. Coastal soils are generally: high in excess soluble salts, alkaline in pH, and sandy with poor nutrient and water holding capacity. Excess soluble salts result from a multiplicity of causes: inundation of coastal soils with saline or brackish water; salt water intrusion in to the fresh water aquifer and subsequent upward movement of salts by evaporation; irrigation with water of poor quality (saline); and overfertilization combined with poor watering practices. Contents: Introduction Trees Palms Shrubs Dwarf Shrubs, Groundcovers and Vines Appendix References Index