Coastal / seaside gardens
Strong winds, salty air and difficult soil (clay, chalky, sandy or acidic) can make coastal gardening a challenge. But there are things which you can do to help. Most importantly create a windbreak to filter the wind. The best windbreaks "filter" the wind rather than blocking it completely. You can of course use man-made structures such as a fence but equally a living windbreak works well. If your garden gets the wind straight off the coast you will ideally need a fence (60% solid, 40% open). Next a living windbreak comprised of a hedge or dense groupings of tough trees or large shrubs. You can have a further living windbreak of smaller trees or shrubs. Within this protective border you can add plants that cope with your soil type and be protected from the worst of the coastal environment. ; Top tip: Reduce wind rock by staking new plants really well, in particular trees, shrubs and some perennials, to protect them from the wind as they get established and their roots a chance to develop. Also prune appropriately and at the right times of year, to reduce wind rock.
Best coastal & seaside plants
18 plants
Coastal garden - acidic soil
4232 plants
Coastal garden - chalky soil
3169 plants
Coastal garden - clay soil
1447 plants
Coastal garden - sandy soil
1466 plants
All plants (4733)
Lycium barbarum
Chinese boxthorn, Goji berry, Common matrimony vine
Lythrum salicaria
Purple loosestrife, Spiked loosestrife
Magnolia
Mahonia aquifolium 'Apollo'
Oregon grape, Holly grape, Holly leaved barberry
Miscanthus sinensis
Chinese silver grass, Eulalia grass, Susuki, Japanese silver grass
Miscanthus sinensis 'Ferner Osten'
Chinese silver grass, Eulalia grass
Monarda 'Cambridge Scarlet'
Bergamot, Bee balm, Oswego Tea, Scarlet Bergamot
Myosotidium hortensia
Giant forget-me-not, Chatham Island forget-me-not, Antarctic forget-me-not
Nepeta
Catmint, Catnip
Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant'
Catmint, Catnip
Nepeta grandiflora 'Summer Magic'
Caucasus catmint, Giant catmint
Nepeta racemosa 'Walker's Low'
Persian catmint
Oenothera speciosa Twilight = 'Turner01'
White evening primrose, Showy evening primrose
Olearia macrodonta
New Zealand holly, Toothy New Zealand holly
Olearia x haastii
Haast's daisy bush
Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens'
Japanese mondo grass
Osteospermum
African daisy
Osteospermum 'Cannington Roy'
African daisy
Osteospermum 'Lady Leitrim'
African daisy
Osteospermum jucundum
Pleasing African daisy
Ozothamnus
Papaver
Poppy
Papaver 'Allegro'
Oriental poppy
Papaver 'Beauty of Livermere'
Oriental poppy
Papaver 'Patty's Plum'
Oriental poppy
Papaver 'Royal Wedding'
Oriental poppy
Papaver orientale
Oriental poppy
Parahebe
Irregular hebe
Parahebe catarractae 'Avalanche'
Waterfall parahebe
Parthenocissus
Virginia creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Virginia creeper, Woodbine, American ivy, Five leaved ivy
Parthenocissus tricuspidata 'Veitchii'
Japanese creeper, Boston ivy
Pennisetum
Fountain grass
Pennisetum advena 'Rubrum'
Purple fountain grass
Pennisetum glaucum 'Purple Baron'
Ornamental millet, Pearl millet
Pennisetum x advena 'Fireworks'
Variegated Fountain grass
Penstemon
Beard tongue
Penstemon 'Andenken an Friedrich Hahn'
Beard tongue
Penstemon 'Blackbird'
Beard tongue
Penstemon 'Hewell Pink Bedder'
Beard tongue
Penstemon 'King George V'
Beard tongue
Penstemon 'Pensham Amelia Jane'
Beard tongue
Penstemon 'Purple Bedder'
Beard tongue
Penstemon 'Rubicundus'
Red penstemon
Penstemon 'Stapleford Gem'
Beard tongue
Penstemon 'White Bedder'
Beard tongue
Perovskia 'Blue Spire'
Azure sage
Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Little Spire'
Russian sage, Azure sage