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)
Trachelospermum
Chinese jasmine
Trachelospermum asiaticum 'Summer Sunset'
Asiatic jasmine
Trachelospermum jasminoides
Star jasmine, Confederate jasmine, Chinese star jasmine, Luo shi
Trachycarpus fortunei
Chusan Palm, Chinese Windmill Palm, Fan palm, Hemp palm
Ulex europaeus 'Flore Pleno'
Double flowered gorse
Vaccinium
Bilberry, Blueberry, Cranberry
Vaccinium ashei 'Pink Lemonade'
Highbush blueberry, American blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum
Highbush blueberry, American blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum
Highbush blueberry, American blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum 'Blue Crop'
Highbush blueberry, American blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum 'Duke'
Highbush blueberry, American blueberry
Verbascum bombyciferum
Silk-bearing mullein
Veronica
Speedwell, Bird's eye
Veronica spicata 'Ulster Blue Dwarf'
Silver speedwell
Viburnum
Arrow wood
Viburnum davidii
David viburnum, Evergreen viburnum
Viburnum odoratissimum var. awabuki
Sweet viburnum
Viburnum opulus
Guelder rose, European cranberry bush
Viburnum opulus 'Compactum'
Guelder rose, European cranberry bush
Viburnum opulus 'Roseum'
Guelder rose, European cranberry bush
Viburnum rhytidophyllum
Wrinkle leaved viburnum, Leather leaf viburnum
Viburnum tinus
Laurustinus
Viburnum tinus 'Eve Price'
Laurustinus
Viburnum tinus 'Gwenllian'
Laurustinus
Viburnum tinus 'Purpureum'
Laurustinus
Viburnum tinus Spirit = 'Anvi'
Laurustinus
Viburnum x bodnantense 'Charles Lamont'
Bodnant viburnum, Winter viburnum
Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn'
Bodnant viburnum, Winter viburnum
Viburnum x burkwoodii 'Anne Russell'
Burkwood viburnum, Dawn viburnum
Vinca
Periwinkle, Trailing myrtle
Vinca major 'Variegata'
Greater periwinkle, Band plant, Running myrtle, Large periwinkle, Band plant
Vinca major 'Wojos Jem'
Greater periwinkle, Large periwinkle
Vinca minor
Lesser periwinkle, Lesser creeping myrtle, Common perwinkle
Vinca minor 'Atropurpurea'
Lesser periwinkle, Lesser creeping myrtle, Common perwinkle
Vinca minor 'Gertrude Jekyll'
Lesser periwinkle, Lesser creeping myrtle, Common perwinkle
Vinca minor 'Illumination'
Lesser periwinkle, Lesser creeping myrtle, Common perwinkle
Vinca minor f. alba
Lesser periwinkle, Lesser creeping myrtle, Common perwinkle
Vitex agnus-castus
Chaste berry, Abraham's balm, Monk's pepper tree
Wisteria
Wisteria floribunda
Japanese wisteria
Wisteria floribunda 'Rosea'
Japanese wisteria
Wisteria sinensis
Chinese wisteria
Wisteria sinensis 'Prolific'
Chinese wisteria
x Halimiocistus sahucii
Sahuci hybrid sun rose
X heucherella
Foamy bells
x Heucherella 'Redstone Falls'
Foamy bells
x Heucherella 'Solar Eclipse'
Foamy bells
x Heucherella 'Sweet Tea'
Foamy bells