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)
Potentilla fruticosa 'Elizabeth'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Goldfinger'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Kobold'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Pink Beauty'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Primrose Beauty'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Tangerine'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa Marian Red Robin = 'Marrob'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa Princess = 'Blink'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Prunus
Cherry
Pulsatilla vulgaris var. rubra
Meadow anemone, Common pasque flower, Coventry bells, Flaw flower
Pyracantha
Firethorn
Pyracantha 'Golden Charmer'
Firethorn
Pyracantha 'Mohave'
Firethorn
Pyracantha 'Orange Charmer'
Firethorn
Pyracantha 'Orange Glow'
Firethorn
Pyracantha 'Soleil d'Or'
Firethorn
Pyracantha coccinea 'Red Column'
Firethorn, Buisson ardent, Scarlet firethorn
Quercus robur
Common oak, English oak, Pedunculate oak
Rhodanthemum 'Casablanca'
Moroccan daisy
Rhodanthemum 'Marrakech'
Moroccan daisy
Rhodanthemum catanache 'Sunshine Peach'
Moroccan daisy
Rhododendron
Rhododendron ponticum 'Variegatum'
Purple rhododendron, Ponticum rhododendron
Ribes
Currant, Gooseberry
Ribes sanguineum 'King Edward VII'
Flowering currant, Winter currant, California gooseberry
Romneya coulteri
California Tree poppy, Matilija poppy, White bush poppy
Rosa 'American Pillar'
Rambling rose
Rosa 'Goldfinch'
Rambling rose
Rosa 'Roseraie de l'Hay'
Rugosa rose
Rosa 'Seagull'
Rambling rose
Rosa rugosa 'Alba'
Rugosa rose
Rosa Wild Edric = 'Aushedge'
Rugosa rose
Rubus
Blackberry, Bramble
Rudbeckia
Coneflower
Rudbeckia fulgida 'Little Gold Star'
Black-eyed Susan, Orange coneflower, Prairie coneflower
Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm'
Black-eyed Susan, Orange coneflower, Prairie coneflower
Rudbeckia hirta 'Prairie Sun'
Coneflower
Rudbeckia laciniata 'Herbstsonne'
Cut leaf coneflower
Rudbeckia Summerina Yellow = 'ETRdb-02'
Coneflower
Salix caprea 'Kilmarnock'
Kilmarnock Willow, Goat willow, Great Sallow, Pussy willow, Florist's willow
Salvia
Sage
Salvia 'Amistad'
Sage
Salvia 'Hot Lips'
Cherry sage, James hybrid salvia
Salvia 'Royal Bumble'
Hybrid sage, Autumn sage, Texas sage
Salvia 'Wendy's Wish'
Hybrid sage
Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'
Anise-scented sage
Salvia microphylla
Cherry sage, Graham's sage
Salvia nemorosa
Wild sage, Violet sage, Wodland sage, Perennial salvia