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)
Armeria pseudarmeria (Formosa)
Estoril thrift, Pinkball thrift, False thrift
Aronia arbutifolia
Red chokeberry
Aronia arbutifolia 'Erecta'
Red chokeberry
Aronia melanocarpa
Black chokeberry
Aronia x prunifolia
Purple fruited chokeberry
Aronia x prunifolia 'Brilliant'
Purple fruited chokeberry
Arrhenatherum elatius subsp. bulbosum 'Variegatum'
Oat grass, Variegated bulbous oat grass, Bulbous oat grass, False oat grass, French rye
Artemisia abrotanum
Southernwood, Lad's love
Artemisia absinthium
Absinthe, Ware-moth, Common wormwood, Green ginger
Artemisia absinthium 'Lambrooke Mist'
Absinthe, Ware-moth, Common wormwood, Green ginger
Artemisia absinthium 'Lambrooke Silver'
Absinthe, Ware-moth, Common wormwood, Green ginger
Artemisia alba 'Canescens'
White sage
Artemisia arborescens
Tree artemisia, Tree wormwood
Artemisia arborescens 'Faith Raven'
Tree artemisia, Tree wormwood
Artemisia frigida
Prairie sagewort, Fringed sagebrush
Artemisia lactiflora
White mugwort
Artemisia lactiflora Guizho Group
White mugwort
Artemisia ludoviciana 'Silver Queen'
White sage, Cudweed, Western mugwort, Louisiana artemisia
Artemisia ludoviciana 'Valerie Finnis'
White sage, Cudweed, Western mugwort, Louisiana artemisia
Artemisia pontica
Roman wormwood, Small absinth, Old warrior
Artemisia schmidtiana
Angel's hair, Wormwood, Silvermound mugwort, Satiny wormwood
Artemisia schmidtiana
Angel's hair, Wormwood, Silvermound mugwort, Satiny wormwood
Artemisia stelleriana 'Boughton Silver'
Dusty miller, Beach wormwood, Old woman, Old miller
Asclepias tuberosa
Butterfly weed, Pleurisy root, Chigger flower, Indian paintbrush, Tuber root
Aster 'Coombe Fishacre'
Hybrid calico aster
Aster amellus
Italian Starwort, Perennial aster, European Michaelmas daisy, Italian aster
Aster amellus
Italian star-wort, Perennial aster, European Michaelmas daisy, Italian aster
Aster amellus 'Brilliant'
Italian star-wort, Perennial aster, European Michaelmas daisy, Italian aster
Aster amellus 'Framfieldii'
Italian star-wort, Perennial aster, European Michaelmas daisy, Italian aster
Aster amellus 'Jacqueline Genebrier'
Italian star-wort, Perennial aster, European Michaelmas daisy, Italian aster
Aster amellus 'King George'
Italian star-wort, Perennial aster, European Michaelmas daisy, Italian aster
Aster amellus 'Louise'
Italian star-wort, Perennial aster, European Michaelmas daisy, Italian aster
Aster amellus 'Nocturne'
Italian star-wort, Perennial aster, European Michaelmas daisy, Italian aster
Aster amellus 'Rosa Erfullung'
Italian star-wort, Perennial aster, European Michaelmas daisy, Italian aster
Aster amellus 'Rudolph Goethe'
Italian star-wort, Perennial aster, European Michaelmas daisy, Italian aster
Aster amellus 'Sonia'
Italian star-wort, Perennial aster, European Michaelmas daisy, Italian aster
Aster amellus 'Vanity'
Italian star-wort, Perennial aster, European Michaelmas daisy, Italian aster
Aster amellus 'Veilchenkonigin'
Italian star-wort, Perennial aster, European Michaelmas daisy, Italian aster
Aster ericoides
White heath aster, Frost-weed aster, Heath aster
Aster lateriflorus 'Buck's Fizz'
Calico aster, Starved aster, Farewell summer
Aster lateriflorus 'Lady in Black'
Calico aster, Starved aster, Farewell summer
Aster lateriflorus var. horizontalis
Calico aster, Starved aster, Farewell summer
Aster novae-angliae 'Andenken an Alma Potschke'
New England aster, Michaelmas aster
Aster novae-angliae 'Barr's Blue'
New England aster, Michaelmas aster
Aster novae-angliae 'Barr's Pink'
New England aster, Michaelmas aster
Aster novae-angliae 'Barr's Purple'
New England aster, Michaelmas aster
Aster novae-angliae 'Barr's Violet'
New England aster, Michaelmas aster
Aster novae-angliae 'Crimson Beauty'
New England aster, Michaelmas aster