BACKYARDS ON THE BAY A yard care guide for the coastal homeowner

The following is a list of coastal plants developed by the Coastal Resources Management Council that can tolerate the conditions of the coastal zone. Since coastal areas vary, not all plants are suitable for each coastal area. Determine the type of coastal area you live in (for example a protected cove versus an exposed beach front) and then select the plants from the following list that are suitable to those conditions.

When purchasing these plants, refer to the scientific name. Do not buy hybrids. You can identify hybrids if a third name has been added to the Latin name such as Ilex glabra compacta.

The plants listed below are listed as sustainable in URI’s Sustainable Trees and Shrubs for Southern New England. Sustainable plants thrive in the landscape with a minimal amount of fertilizer, pesticides and maintenance. They also do not require supplemental water once established.

Common Name/+ Scientific name *wildlife value +sustainable plant	Growth Conditions	Characteristics
Perennial Plants
Butterfly Weed* Asclepias tuberosa	Requires full sun. Grows well in sandy soil.	Height: 1-2 feet Flower: Flat flower clusters, brilliant orange; June-July
New England Aster* Aster novae-angliae	Requires full sun to partial shade. Needs moist, fertile, organic soil.	Height: 1-6 feet per year Flower: Blue/purple/pink; August-October Long lasting, large flowers; many leaves coming out of stem; very adaptable; heat tolerant.
Boneset* Eupatorium perfoliatum	Grows best in partial to full sun. Requires wet to moist soil.	Height: 3-5 feet Flower: White; July-August Flowers grow in clusters; wrinkled leaves that unite at base of stem.
Pearly Everlasting Gnaphalium obtusifolium	Grows well in dry soil. Requires full sun.	Height: 1-3 feet Flower: White; July-September Flower in a flat cluster of white papery blossoms; long leaves colored a grayish green.
Wild Lupine Lupinas perennis	Grows well in dry soil.	Height: 1-2 feet Flower: Blue/violet; April-July Pea-like flowers.
New England Blazing-Star* Liatris borealis	Requires full to partial sun. Can grow in wet to well drained soils.	Height: 1-3 feet Flower: Rose/purple Member of daisy family; large flower heads.
Evening Primrose Oenothera biennis	Requires full sun. Grows in dry to poor soil.	Height: 1-3 feet Flower: Yellow; June Reddish stem.
Seaside Goldenrod Solidago sempervirens	Grows best in full sun. Prefers well drained to dry soil. Salt tolerant.	Height: 2-3 feet Flower: Yellow; July-September Thick, bright flowers: combines well with grasses, asters, and bayberry.
Wet Meadow Plants
Tussock Sedge* Carex stricta	Requires full sun. Tolerates acidic soils.	Height: up to 3.5 feet Grass-like sedge which forms large hummocks.
Joe-Pye Weed* Eupatorium maculatum	Prefers partial to full sun. Needs wet to moist soil.	Height: 2-4 feet Flower: flat toppled pink/purple, July-September
Blue flag* Iris versicolor	Requires full sun for flowers. Prefers acidic soil.	Height: up to 4 feet Flower: Blue/violet; May-July Sword shaped leaves.
New York Ironweed* Vernonia noveboracensis	Prefers full sun and wet to moist soil.	Height: 5-8 feet Flower: Deep-purple aster-like flowers, August-September
Native Grasses
Switch grass Panicum virgatum	Prefers full sun yet tolerates some shade. Grows well in dry soil.	Height: up to 6.5 feet Forms clump and has attractive seed head in fall and winter.
Little Bluestem* Schizachyrium scoparium	Drought tolerant. In dry or moist soils.	Height: 1.5-4 feet Bunch grass; foliage turns from blue-green to coppery in the fall.
Big Bluestem* Andropogon gerardii	Very drought tolerant.	Height: 3-8 feet Bunch grass, flowers to August to October.
Poverty grass* Danthonia spicata	Sandy disturbed sites.	Height: .5-2 feet Bunch grass; flowers June to July.
Shrubs: the following shrubs are tolerant of a wide variety of conditions
Arrowwood + Viburnum dentatum*	Requires partial to full sun, moist to dry soils. Tolerates drought. pH preference=5.1-7.0	Height: 6-12 feet Growth rate:1-2 feet/year Flower: Wide clusters of white flowers in June Dense foliage, reddish in the fall; blue berries in August; great site adaptability and very durable.
Blueberry, high bush* Vaccinium corymbosum	Grows in full sun to partial shade; more shade equals fewer berries. Prefers moist, acidic soil.	Height: 6-12 feet Growth rate: 1 feet/year Flower: White/pinkish bell; May-June Attractive flowers in dense clusters; scarlet fall foliage; red winter stem color.
Inkberry holly+ Ilex glabra*	Tolerates partial shade. Prefers moist to wet, acidic soils.	Height: 6-8 feet Growth rate:1 feet/year Small-leaved evergreen shrub; narrow, spineless leaves about 2 in. long; black berries from September to spring (only females); grows upright and leggy.
Huckleberry Gaylussacia baccata		Height: up to 3 feet Flower: Reddish, dense flower Edible black berries; bright, red foliage in the fall.
Virginia Creeper* Parthenocissus quinquefolia	Grows in the sun or shade.	Height: up to 25 feet Growth rate: up to 10 feet/year A tall climbing vine; large 5-lobed leaves; shiny, dark green leaves; bright red fall foliage and dark purple berries.
Black Chokeberry+ Aronia melanocarpa*	Grows in shade and full sun; more shade equals fewer berries. Tolerates any soil, adapted to wetter areas.	Height: 4-5 feet Growth rate: slow Flower: White; late spring Glossy, oval dark green leaves; purple/black berries ripen in late summer; reddish fall foliage.
Shrubs: sunny, dry sites
Sweet Fern+ Comptonia peregrina	Grows in full sun to light shade. Tolerant of dry soil.	Height: 2-3 feet Growth rate: Slow Flower: catkins A grayish green color; aromatic fern-like leaves.
Virginia Rose* Rosa virginiana	Requires full sun and well-drained soil. Salt tolerant. Can grow directly along edge of salt marsh.	Height: 3-6 feet Flower: Pink roses; July-August Fragrant, wild roses; bright fall foliage; spreads to create a thicket; red barked canes which stay colored throughout the winter season.
Bayberry+ Myrica pensylvanica*	Grows in full sun to partial shade. Male and female flowers on separate plants. Salt tolerant.	Height: 8-10 feet Growth rate:1-2 feet/year Semi-evergreen shrub; leaves colored green in summer and purple in the fall; fragrant, waxy silver/gray berries.
Shrubs: shady moist sites
Sweet Pepperbush+ Clethra alnifolia*	Flowers best in partial shade and full sun. Grows well in damp soil.	Height: 6-9 feet Growth rate:1 foot/year Flower: Pink/white; July-August Fragrant flowers; glossy leaves that turn golden in the fall.
Witch Hazel Hamamelis virginiana	Grows in partial to full sun. Prefers fertile, organic, acid soil and moisture.	Height: 20-25 feet Flower: Yellow; October-December Yellow flowers appear while leaves are falling in the fall. Beautiful yellow foliage.
Spice bush* Lindera benzoin	Male and female flowers on separate plants. Tolerates drought.	Height: up to 15 feet Growth rate:1 foot/year Very dark bark; yellow flower clusters in early spring; scarlet fruits in August; yellow fall foliage.
Shrubs: sites with no salt spray
Mountain Laurel+ Kalmia latifolia*	Grows in full sun to partial shade. Requires acidic, organic, moist soil and good drainage.	Height: 7-15 feet Growth rate: slow Flower: White/pink; May and June Adaptable evergreen shrub; has the ability to create dense thickets; susceptible to leaf spots; root rots if site is poorly drained or over watered.
Sheep Laurel+ Kalmia angustifolia	Grows best in moist soil. Grow in either full sun or partial shade.	Height: 1-3 feet Flower: Crimson/pink in clusters; June Semi-evergreen shrub; narrow drooping gray-green leaves.
Swamp Azalea* Rhododendron viscosum	Prefers acidic, moist soil. Requires partial shade.	Height: 3-8 feet Growth rate 6-12 feet/year Flower: White, very fragrant; July A deciduous shrub; susceptible to disease and insect damage yet cold tolerant.
Winterberry holly+ Ilex verticillata*	Prefers partial to full sun and wet to moist soil. Thrives in acidic soil. Intolerant to drought.	Height: 6-12 feet Growth rate: Slow/1 foot per year Small red berries in late fall and winter; male/female flowers on separate plants; requires both sexes for berry production; red berries attract wildlife.
Shrubs: beach sites
Beach Plum+ Prunus maritima	Grows well in sandy, acidic soil. Salt tolerant.	Height: up to 8 feet Growth rate: slow Flower: Pinkish, white; May Low growing shrub; red and yellow plums ripen in summer; used for jelly; reddish fall foliage.
Trees: dry, shady or sunny sites
Red Oak* Quercus rubra	Requires full sun and well drained, acidic soil.	Height: 50-90 feet Growth rate: Medium-fast Rounded top with spreading branches; large leaves with pointed lobes; great red foliage in the fall; heat tolerant.
Black Oak* Quercus velutina	Requires full sun and well drained, acidic soil.	Height: 50-60 feet Growth rate: Fast Brown foliage in the fall; blocky bark and fuzzy buds; many of its leaves stay on into the winter saving time on raking.
Black Cherry* Prunus serotina	Requires full sun and moist to well-drained soil.	Height: 40-60 feet Growth rate: Fast Flower: White Grows black berries; seed tends to be spread far and wide by birds; valuable timber; adaptable.
Sassafras* Sassafras albidum	Prefers partial to full sun and well-drained soil.	Height: 30-60 feet Growth rate: Medium Dark green leaves of three different shapes; bright yellow and orange fall color; birds are to the purple berries.
Pitch Pine* Pinus rigida	Requires full sun. Does well in poor soils. Tolerates drought.	Height: 50-75 feet Growth rate: 2-3 feet/year Flower: Red/purple cone; May A three needle species; medium sized evergreen tree.
Red Cedar* Juniperus virginiana	Salt tolerant. Requires full sun and well-drained soil.	Height: 30-50 feet Growth rate: Medium Conical shaped evergreen with prolific blue berries.
Trees: moist sites, both shady and sunny
Red Maple* Acer rubrum	Grows best in moist, acidic conditions.	Height: 75-100 feet Growth rate: 18-25 feet in 10 years Red fall foliage; clusters of small red flowers in spring; inhospitable to plants within it’s drip line; male and female flowers on separate plants.
Pagoda Dogwood Cornus alternifolia	Requires partial sun or full shade.	Height: up to 25 feet tall Growth rate: slow to moderate Flower: Cream; June Small native tree; blue fruits in summer; deep red foliage; heat tolerant; susceptible to borers and fungus disease.
Shadbush* Amelanchier canadensis	Tolerates full shade. Prefers moist conditions, yet tolerates drought. Salt tolerant. Can grow directly along edge of salt marsh.	Height: 35-50 feet Growth rate: 2.5 feet/year Flower: White; April Multi-stemmed large shrub with striped gray bark.
Pussy Willow Salix discolor	Prefers moist to wet soil, yet tolerates drier conditions. Salt tolerant. Can grow along edge of salt marsh.	Height: up to 20 feet Growth rate: fast Flower: gray catkins turning yellow at maturity; silvery leaves.
Trees: sites with no salt spray
Eastern White Pine* Pinus strobus	Prefers partial to full sun. Moist to dry soil.	Height: 50-80 feet Growth rate: Fast