Plant Lists - Plants that Tolerate Alkaline Soils

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 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
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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 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 nameJapanese Pagoda Tree
Arabic common name صوفورا
Group Deciduous tree
 

 

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