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)
Anemone x hybrida 'Whirlwind'
Japanese anemone, Hybrid anemone
Anthemis punctata subsp. cupaniana
Roman chamomile, Sicilian chamomile
Anthemis tinctoria 'E.C.Buxton'
Yellow chamomile, Dyer's chamomile, Ox-eye chamomile, Golden marguerite
Arbutus unedo
Killarney strawberry tree, Djina
Arbutus unedo f. rubra
Killarney strawberry tree, Djina
Armeria maritima 'Splendens'
Common thrift, Sea thrift, Ladies cushion, Maritime thrift
Artemisia 'Powis Castle'
Wormwood, Sage brush, Mugwort
Aster 'Little Carlow'
Blue wood aster, Beeweed
Aster lateriflorus 'Prince'
Calico aster, Starved aster, Farewell summer
Berberis 'Golden Dream'
Barberry
Berberis candidula
Whitish barberry, Paleleaf barberry
Berberis darwinii
Darwin's barberry
Berberis darwinii
Darwin's barberry
Berberis linearifolia 'Orange King'
Narrow-leaved berberis
Berberis microphylla 'Pygmaea'
Dwarf Magellan barberry
Berberis thunbergii
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii 'Golden Rocket'
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii 'Kobold'
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii 'Maria'
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii 'Orange Rocket'
Thunberg's orange barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii 'Tiny Gold'
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Atropurpurea Nana'
Crimson pygmy barberry, Little favourite, Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Golden Ring'
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Harlequin'
Thunberg's mottled barberry
Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Helmond Pillar'
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Rose Glow'
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis x frikartii 'Amstelveen'
Frikart's barberry
Berberis x lologensis 'Mystery Fire'
Lologensis barberry
Berberis x media 'Red Jewel'
Median hybrid barberry
Berberis x stenophylla
Rosemary barberry
Bergenia 'Abendglut'
Pigsqueak, Megasea
Bergenia 'Baby Doll'
Pigsqueak, Megasea
Bergenia 'Bressingham White'
Pigsqueak, Megasea
Bergenia 'Harzkristall'
Elephant ears, Megasea, Pigsqueak
Bergenia 'Rotblum'
Elephants ears, Megasea, Pigsqueak
Betula pendula
European white birch, Silver birch, Warty birch, Common birch
Brachyglottis compacta 'Sunshine'
Compact shrubby ragwort
Brachyglottis greyi
Grey's shrubby ragwort
Brachyglottis Walberton's Silver Dormouse = 'Walbrach'
Shrubby ragwort
Buddleja 'Miss Ruby'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja 'Morning Mist'
Butterfly bush, White leaf butterfly bush
Buddleja alternifolia
Alternate leaf butterfly bush, Fountain buddleia, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii 'Royal Red'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii 'White Profusion'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii Adonis Blue = 'Adokeep'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia