The Greenbelt Native Plant Center (GNPC), a facility of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, is a 13–acre greenhouse, nursery, and seed bank complex located on Staten Island, NY.

Salt-Tolerant Species

The following species include those whose native habitats have a specific brackish or saline water level and/or can tolerate salt spray. These species may prove useful in coastal or roadside plantings, depending on their other cultural requirements.

Download the Salt-Tolerant Species List (PDF, 45 KB)

Trees

  • Betula papyrifera– Paper birch
  • Betula populifolia– Gray birch
  • Celtis occidentalis– Hackberry
  • Juniperus virginiana– Eastern red cedar
  • Magnolia virginana– Sweet bay magnolia
  • Nyssa slyvatica– Black tupelo
  • Pinus rigida– Pitch pine
  • Populus deltoides– Eastern cottonwood
  • Prunus serotina– Black cherry
  • Quercus alba– White oak
  • Quercus bicolor– Swamp white oak
  • Quercus coccinea– Scarlet oak
  • Quercus palustris– Pin oak
  • Quercus rubra– Red oak
  • Quercus stellata– Post oak
  • Quercus velutina– Black oak

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Shrubs/Vines

  • Amelanchier arborea– Common serviceberry
  • Amelanchier canadensis– Canadian serviceberry
  • Aronia arbutifolia– Red chokeberry
  • Aronia melanocarpa– Black chokeberry
  • Baccharis halmifolia– Groundsel tree
  • Cephalanthus occidentalis– Buttonbush
  • Clethra alnifolia– Sweet pepperbush
  • Gaylussacia baccata– Black huckleberry
  • Ilex glabra– Inkberry
  • Iva fructescens– Saltmarsh elder
  • Lindera benzoin– Spicebush
  • Myrica pensylvanica– Bayberry
  • Prunus maritima– Beachplum
  • Rhus copallinum– Winged sumac
  • Rhus glabra– Smooth sumac
  • Rhus typhina– Staghorn sumac
  • Rosa carolina– Pasture rose
  • Rosa virginiana– Low pasture rose
  • Salix discolor– Pussy willow
  • Sambucus canadensis– Black elderberry
  • Vaccinium angustifolium– Lowbush blueberry
  • Vaccinium corymbosum– Highbush blueberry
  • Vibernum dentatum– Southern arrowwood
  • Vitis labrusca– Fox grape

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Herbs

  • Arctostaphylos uva–ursi– Bearberry
  • Cakile edethula– Sea rocket
  • Eupatorium album– White thoroughwort
  • Hibiscus moscheutos– Marsh mallow
  • Lathyrus maritimus– Beach pea
  • Lechea maritima– Beach pinweed
  • Limonium carolinianum– Marsh rosemary
  • Maianthemum canadense– Canada mayflower
  • Oenthera biennis– Common evening primrose
  • Opuntia humifusa– Eastern prickly pear
  • Solidago sempervirens– Seaside goldenrod
  • Symphyotrichum novi–belgii– New York aster

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Graminoids

  • Ammophila brevigulata– Beachgrass
  • Distichlis spicata– Saltgrass
  • Juncus gerardii– Blackgrass
  • Panicum amarum– Bitter panicgrass
  • Panicum virgatum– Switchgrass
  • Schizachyrium scoparium– Little bluestem
  • Scirpus maritimis– Seaside bulrush
  • Scirpus pungens– Common threesquare
  • Scirpus robustus– Saltmarsh rush
  • Scirpus validus– Soft stem bulrush
  • Spartina alternifolia– Smooth cordgrass
  • Spartina patens– Saltmeadow grass
  • Spartina pectinata– Prairie cordgrass

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Aquatics

  • Pontederia cordata– Pickerelweed
  • Sagittaria latifolia– Broadleaf arrowhead
  • Typha latifolia– Broadleaf cattail

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Ferns

  • Thelypteris palustris– Marsh fern

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