9 Best Native Salt-Tolerant Trees

Yaupon Holly

Scientific Name: Ilex vomitoria
Average Height: 10 feet to 20 feet
Mature Limb Spread: 8 feet to 12 feet
Notes: Evergreen; red fruit; wet soils

Yaupon Holly with leaf detail

Persimmon

Scientific Name: Diospyros virginiana
Average Height: 35 feet to 60 feet
Mature Limb Spread: 20 feet to 35 feet
Notes: Edible fruit; strong fall color

Persimmon with leaf detail

Eastern Red Cedar

Scientific Name: Juniperus virginiana
Average Height: 40 feet to 50 feet
Mature Limb Spread: 8 feet to 20 feet
Notes: Evergreen; fast growing; blue, berry-like cones

Eastern Red Cedar with leaf detail

Inkberry

Scientific Name: Ilex glabra
Average Height: 5 feet to 10 feet
Mature Plant Spread: 5 feet to 8 feet
Notes: Evergreen; black fruit

Inkberry with leaf detail

Southern Magnolia

Scientific Name: Magnolia grandiflora
Average Height: 60 feet to 80 feet
Mature Limb Spread: 30 feet to 50 feet
Notes: Evergreen; fragrant, creamy flowers; maroon underside of leaf

Southern Magnolia with leaf detail

Southern Wax Myrtle

Scientific Name: Morella cerifera
Average Height: 20 feet to 25 feet
Mature Limb Spread: 8 feet to 10 feet
Notes: Semi-evergreen; hedging

Southern Wax Myrtle with leaf detail

Live Oak

Scientific Name: Quercus virginiana
Average Height: 40 feet to 80 feet
Mature Limb Spread: 60 feet to 100 feet
Notes: Evergreen; prefers moist to dry soils; massive but slow growing

Live Oak with leaf detail

Longleaf Pine

Scientific Name: Pinus palustris
Average Height: 60 feet to 120 feet
Mature Limb Spread: 30 feet to 40 feet
Notes: Full sun; evergreen needles

Longleaf Pine with needles detail

Dwarf Palmetto

Scientific Name: Sabal minor
Average Height: 2 feet to 10 feet
Mature Plant Width: 4 feet to 6 feet
Notes: Evergreen; fan-shaped

Dwarf Palmetto with leaf detail

About this page

As a coastal region, identifying native trees that can withstand high levels of salt is very important.

The top 10 most compatible and popular salt-tolerant trees and shrubs for the City of Wilmington are listed on this page.

This list was developed by the Wilmington Tree Commission in cooperation with the Arbor Day Foundation, the NC State Cooperative Extension.

Please contact your local nursery to determine if it has native plants in stock. Not all businesses are able to stock these plants, and some may only be available in certain seasons.

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