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)
Yucca
Yucca elephantipes
Spineless yucca, Giant yucca, Elephant yucca
Yucca filamentosa
Adam's needle yucca, Spoonleaf yucca, Silkgrass, Adam's thread
Yucca filamentosa 'Bright Edge'
Adam's needle yucca, Spoonleaf yucca, Silkgrass, Adam's thread
Yucca glauca
Great plains yucca, Soapweed yucca, Plains soapweed, Bear grass, Small soapweed
Yucca gloriosa 'Variegata'
Spanish dagger, Roman candle, Palm lily, Moundlily yucca, Soft tipped yucca
Zantedeschia
Arum lily, Calla lily, Altar lily
Zantedeschia 'Odessa'
Arum lily, Calla lily
Abelia chinensis
Chinese abelia
Abelia mosanensis
Korean abelia
Abelia parvifolia
Schumann's Abelia
Abelia parvifolia 'Bumblebee'
Schumann's abelia
Abelia x grandiflora 'Compacta'
Glossy abelia, Large-flowered abelia
Abelia x grandiflora 'Francis Mason'
Glossy abelia, Large flowered abelia
Abelia x grandiflora 'Gold Spot'
Glossy abelia, Large flowered abelia
Abelia x grandiflora 'Sparkling Silver'
Glossy abelia, Large-flowered abelia
Abelia x grandiflora Confetti = 'Conti'
Glossy abelia, Large-flowered abelia
Abelia x grandiflora Lady Liberty = 'KeyLib'
Glossy abelia, Large-flowered abelia
Abelia x grandiflora Sunshine Daydream = 'Abelops'
Glossy abelia, Large-flowered abelia
Acacia paradoxa
Kangaroo thorn, Hedge wattle
Acacia pataczekii
Wally's wattle, Pataczek's wattle
Acacia retinodes
Wirilda, Mimosa de quatre saisons
Acca sellowiana
Pineapple guava, Guava
Acca sellowiana 'Triumph'
Pineapple guava, Guava
Acer platanoides
Norway maple
Acer platanoides
Norway maple
Acer platanoides 'Crimson King'
Purple leaved Norway maple, Norway maple
Acer platanoides 'Faassen's Black'
Norway maple
Acer pseudoplatanus
Sycamore, Scots Plane, Great maple
Acer pseudoplatanus
Sycamore, Scots plane, Great maple
Acer pseudoplatanus 'Atropurpureum'
Copper sycamore, Purple leafed sycamore, Sycamore, Scots Plane, Great maple
Acer pseudoplatanus 'Brilliantissimum'
Shrimp leaved maple, Sycamore, Scots Plane, Great maple
Acer pseudoplatanus 'Negenia'
Sycamore, Great maple
Acer pseudoplatanus 'Worley'
Golden sycamore
Acer pseudoplatanus f. variegatum 'Esk Sunset'
Sycamore, Scots plane, Great maple, Variegated sycamore
Acer pseudoplatanus f. variegatum 'Leopoldii'
Sycamore, Scots Plane, Great maple
Acer pseudoplatanus f. variegatum 'Prince Handjery'
Sycamore, Scots Plane, Great maple
Acer pseudoplatanus f. variegatum 'Simon-Louis Freres'
Sycamore, Scots Plane, Great maple
Achillea 'Apfelblute'
Ornamental yarrow
Achillea 'Coronation Gold'
Ornamental yarrow
Achillea 'Desert Eve Light Yellow'
Ornamental yarrow
Achillea 'Desert Eve Terracotta'
Ornamental yarrow
Achillea 'Fanal'
Ornamental yarrow
Achillea 'Feuerland'
Ornamental yarrow
Achillea 'Inca Gold'
Ornamental yarrow
Achillea 'Martina'
Ornamental yarrow
Achillea 'Pineapple Mango'
Ornamental yarrow
Achillea 'Pink Grapefruit'
Ornamental yarrow