Salt Tolerant Flowers & Plants in Texas

• The gulf coast of Texas requires plants that can tolerate fairly salty conditions. The plants are exposed to salt in the soil and as salt spray from the ocean if they are close enough to the water. Plants that tend to do well in salty conditions also fare well in the hot and humid climate found in the coastal region of Texas.

Trailing Lantana

• Trailing lantana (Lantana montevidensis) is a spreading annual that can grow as tall as 1 foot high and 6 feet wide. The plant has vibrant flowers ranging in shade from lavender to full purple and white. Trailing lantana blooms from mid spring through the first frost of the year. It does not require vast amounts of water, and it can tolerate full sun to partial shade. Trailing lantana is very attractive to butterflies, and it makes a good ground cover.

Pampas Grass

• Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) is a perennial ornamental grass. It propagates quickly and has large spiked flowers. Pampas grass can have pink or beige blooms, which dry well for use in decorative arrangements. Pampas grass blooms from summer through fall. It can grow as tall as 12 feet high and can spread as far as 6 feet wide. Pampas grass likes full sunlight and is drought tolerant, with low water requirements.

Virginia Creeper

• Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), a woody vine, is limited in growth only by its supporting structures. Given enough support, Virginia creeper can grow up to 40 feet long. Virginia creeper blooms in May and June with white or green flowers. It prefers full sun to partial shade and has low water needs. Virginia creeper is a drought tolerant vine.

Yucca

• Yucca (Yucca rupicola) is another drought-tolerant plant that does not require much water to retain its foliage. It is very attractive to butterflies. Yucca grows as tall as three feet high and has white bell-like flowers. The flower spikes can grow as tall as 5 feet high. The yucca plant blooms from April through June. The leaves grow light hairs that help to cool the plant. Yucca tolerates full sun to part shade.