Salt Tolerant Shrubs for Screening
We live in a pine forest, have a nice lawn and a large perennial garden. We would like to plant some shrubs as a screen on the east side of our home next to the driveway where we pile snow for the winter. The hydrangeas that are growing there are doing fine but not tall enough to create the privacy we need. Would lilacs do well here? We do not want anymore evergreens. Do you have any suggestions?
Lilacs need at least 6 hours of sun to thrive and flower. Look for mildew resistant varieties like Miss Kim and Palabin. Lilacs will tolerate the salt that may be a problem near the driveway. Hedge cotoneaster (Cotoneaster lucidus) is another large shrub tolerant of salt with great fall color that can also provide screening. Arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) is an upright shrub with creamy flowers in spring, blue fruit the birds love and great fall color. It tolerates sun and part shade and so far appears to be resistant to viburnum borer. Chokeberry (Aronia) is another possibility. The white flowers are followed by red or black fruit and beautiful fall color. Golden Glory Cornelian cherry dogwood (Cornus mas) is a large upright shrub with yellow blooms, red fruit the birds like and reddish-purple fall color. Minimize salt exposure for the last three shrubs listed. These are just a few possibilities.
Related
Upcoming
Events & Webinars
April 23, 2026
Iowa State University
More information
April 25, 2026
Pasquesi Home & Gardens
Lake Bluff, IL
April 26, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 2, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 6, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Adding Native Plants
to Any Size Gardening Space
Register here
May 7, 2026
Wauwatosa Public Library
Wauwatosa, WI
Register here
May 9, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 10, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 13, 2026
Roots & Branches
West Bend, WI
Register here
May 16, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 17, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 20, 2026
Herb Container Workshop
Pewaukee, WI
Register here
May 21, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Planting & Care of Your Rain Garden
Register here
June 3, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Managing Your Landscape
with Pollinators in Mind
Register here
June 10, 2026
Enjoy Life Active Aging Symposium
Brookfield, WI
More information
July 9, 2026
Ebert's 50th Anniversary Celebration
Ixonia, WI
August 6-16, 2026
Wisconsin State Fair
We Energies Energy Park, West Allis, WI
Sept. 3, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Tree Planting and Care
Register here
Sept. 12, 2026
Knowledge in Bloom Conference
Milwaukee, WI
Register here
Sept. 17, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Fall Landscape Care and Planting
Register here
WATCH ON-DEMAND WEBINARS
MORE UPCOMING EVENT DETAILS


