Plants that Tolerate Alkaline Soils
(plants recommended for irrigation with graywater)
Learn more about CSBE's Graywater Project
Soil pH ranges from neutral (7) to acid (below 7) to alkaline (above 7). Extreme pH levels in either direction negatively affect the availability of key nutrients required by plants.
Moderately alkaline soils (>7 to 9) are typically found in regions with low rainfall such as those of Jordan. Irrigation with graywater may increase the alkalinity of soils due to the presence of sodium, potassium, or calcium salts in the graywater, particularly from laundry detergents. Although most garden plants prefer neutral to slightly acidic or slightly alkaline soils, there are many plants that grow well in alkaline soils, and many of them are drought tolerant. The following list provides a selection of such plants.
Botanical name Acacia cyanophylla
English common name Mimosa
Arabic common name أكاشيا
Group Evergreen tree
Botanical name Acacia farnesiana
English common name Sweet Acacia
Arabic common name عنبر
Group Deciduous tree
Botanical name Acacia greggii
English common name Catclaw Acacia
Arabic common name ____
Group Deciduous tree
Botanical name Agave palmeri
English common name Foxtail Agave
Arabic common name أجاف
Group Succulent
Botanical name Albizia julibrissin
English common name Silk Tree
Arabic common name ألبيزيا
Group Deciduous tree
Botanical name Aloe nobilis
English common name Golden-tooth Aloe
Arabic common name ألوي
Group Succulent
Botanical name Bougainvillea sp.
English common name Bougainvillea
Arabic common name مجنونة
Group Evergreen vine
Botanical name Brachychiton populeneus
English common name Bottle Tree
Arabic common name بدة العفريت
Group Evergreen tree
Botanical name Buddleia davidii
English common name Butterfly Bush
Arabic common name طرف العروس
Group Deciduous shrub
Botanical name Caesalpinia gilliesii
English common name Bird of Paradise Bush
Arabic common name شوارب النمر
Group Deciduous shrub
Botanical name Ceratonia siliqua
English common name Carob
Arabic common name خروب
Group Evergreen tree
Botanical name Cereus peruvianus
English common name Apple Cactus
Arabic common name صبر
Group Cactus
Botanical name Chamaerops humilis
English common name European Fan Palm
Arabic common name شميروبس
Group Evergreen tree
Botanical name Cortaderia selloana
English common name Pampas Grass
Arabic common name حلفا
Group Ornamental grass
Botanical name Cupressus arizonica
English common name Smooth Arizona Cypress
Arabic common name سرو فضي
Group Evergreen tree
Botanical name Cupressus sempervirens
English common name Italian Cypress
Arabic common name سرو عمودي
Group Evergreen tree
Botanical name Dodonaea viscosa
English common name Purple Hop Bush
Arabic common name دودينيا حمراء
Group Evergreen shrub
Botanical name Eucalyptus camaldulensis
English common name Red River Gum
Arabic common name كينا
Group Evergreen tree
Botanical name Grevillea robusta
English common name Silk Oak
Arabic common name جرافيليا
Group Evergreen tree
Botanical name Iris sp.
English common name Bearded Iris
Arabic common name سوسن الصحراء
Group Evergreen perennial
Botanical name Lantana camara
English common name Lantana
Arabic common name أم كلثوم
Group Semi evergreen shrub
Botanical name Lantana montevidensis
English common name Trailing Lantana
Arabic common name أم كلثوم زاحفة
Group Perennial
Botanical name Laurus nobilis
English common name Sweet Bay
Arabic common name غار
Group Evergreen tree
Botanical name Lavadula angustifolia
English common name Lavender
Arabic common name لافندر
Group Evergreen shrub
Botanical name Lonicera japonica
English common name Japanese Honeysuckle
Arabic common name ياسمين عراقي
Group Evergreen vine
Botanical name Malephora crocea
English common name Ice Plant
Arabic common name ___
Group Succulent
Botanical name Morus
English common name Mulberry
Arabic common name توت
Group Deciduous tree
Botanical name Myrtus communis
English common name Myrtle
Arabic common name ريحان، آس
Group Evergreen shrub
Botanical name Nerium oleander
English common name Oleander
Arabic common name دفلة مقزمة
Group Evergreen shrub
Botanical name Nolina sp.
English common name Mexican Grass Tree
Arabic common name أرجيلة
Group Perennial
Botanical name Oenothera sp.
English common name Evening Primrose
Arabic common name ___
Group Perennial
Botanical name Olea europaea
English common name Olive
Arabic common name زيتون
Group Evergreen tree
Botanical name Opuntia ficus-indica
English common name Prickly Pear
Arabic common name صبر
Group Cactus
Botanical name Parkensonia aculeata
English common name Jerusalem Thorn
Arabic common name بركنسونيا
Group Deciduous tree
Botanical name Pennisetum setaceum
English common name Fountain Grass
Arabic common name حلفا حمراء
Group Ornamental grass
Botanical name Penstemon sp.
English common name Beard Tongue
Arabic common name ___
Group Perennial
Botanical name Petunia hybrida
English common name Common Garden Petunia
Arabic common name بتونيا
Group Perennial
Botanical name Phoenix dactylifera
English common name Date Palm
Arabic common name نخلة
Group Evergreen tree
Botanical name Pinus halepensis
English common name Aleppo Pine
Arabic common name صنوبر حلبي
Group Evergreen tree
Botanical name Pistacia atlantica
English common name Betoum
Arabic common name بطم أطلسي
Group Deciduous tree
Botanical name Prosopis sp.
English common name Mesquite
Arabic common name الغاف
Group Deciduous tree
Botanical name Punica granatum
English common name Pomegranate
Arabic common name رمان
Group Deciduous tree
Botanical name Robinia psuedoacacia
English common name Black Locust
Arabic common name روبينا
Group Deciduous tree
Botanical name Rosmarinus officinalis
English common name Rosemary
Arabic common name حصالبان
Group Evergreen shrub
Botanical name Salvia microphylla
English common name Sage
Arabic common name ميرامية زينة
Group Evergreen shrub
Botanical name Senecio cineraria
English common name Dusty Miller
Arabic common name فضية
Group Evergreen shrub or perennial
Botanical name Sophora japonica
English common name Japanese Pagoda Tree
Arabic common name صوفورا
Group Deciduous tree
Botanical name Syringa vulgaris
English common name Lilac
Arabic common name ___
Group Deciduous shrub
Botanical name Tamarix aphylla
English common name Tamarisk
Arabic common name إثل
Group Deciduous tree
Botanical name Tecomaria capensis
English common name Cape Honeysuckle
Arabic common name تكوماريا
Group Evergreen shrub or vine
Botanical name Vitex agnus-castus
English common name Chaste Tree
Arabic common name كف مريم
Group Deciduous tree
Botanical name Washingtonia filifera
English common name Washingtonia
Arabic common name واشنتونيا
Group Evergreen tree
Botanical name Yucca aloifolia
English common name Spanish Bayonet
Arabic common name حربة
Group Evergreen shrub
Botanical name Ziziphus spina-christi
English common name Jujube
Arabic common name سدر
Group Deciduous tree