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)
Aster novae-angliae 'Harrington's Pink'
New England aster, Michaelmas aster
Aster novae-angliae 'Herbstschnee'
New England aster, Michaelmas aster
Aster novae-angliae 'Lye End Beauty'
New England aster, Michaelmas aster
Aster novae-angliae 'Marina Wolkonsky'
New England aster, Michaelmas aster
Aster novae-angliae 'Purple Cloud'
New England aster, Michaelmas aster
Aster novae-angliae 'Purple Dome'
New England aster, Michaelmas aster
Aster novae-angliae 'Rubinschatz'
New England aster, Michaelmas aster
Aster novae-angliae 'Septemberrubin'
New England aster, Michaelmas aster
Aster novae-angliae 'St Michael's'
New England aster, Michaelmas aster
Aster spectabilis
Seaside purple aster, Low showy aster, Purple wood aster, Eastern showy aster
Aster thomsonii
Thomson's aster
Aster thomsonii 'Nanus'
Thomson's aster
Aster tongolensis 'Beggarten'
East indies aster
Aster tongolensis 'Wartburgstern'
East indies aster
Aster umbellatus
Flat topped white aster
Astrantia major Sparkling Stars White = 'Westarwit'
Masterwort
Athrotaxis laxifolia
Yellow twig athrotaxis, Summit athrotaxis
Atriplex halimus
Tree purslane
Atriplex hortensis var. rubra
Orach, Mountain spinach, Orache
Aurinia saxatilis
Gold tuft, Golden alyssum
Baccharis genistelloides 'Green Coral®'
Carqueja
Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonso Karrii'
Bamboo 'Alphonse Karr', Hedge bamboo
Baptisia australis
Blue false indigo, Plains false indigo, Blue wild indigo
Berberis 'Boughton Red'
Barberry
Berberis 'Georgei'
Barberry
Berberis 'Goldilocks'
Barberry
Berberis 'Red Tears'
Barberry
Berberis darwinii 'Compacta'
Darwin's compact barberry
Berberis dictyophylla
Nettle leaf barberry
Berberis empetrifolia
Crowberry barberry
Berberis gagnepainii
Gagnepains barberry
Berberis julianae
Chinese barberry, Wintergreen barberry
Berberis linearifolia
Narrow leaved berberis
Berberis linearifolia
Narrow leaved berberis
Berberis linearifolia 'Jewel'
Narrow leaved berberis
Berberis soulieana
Soulieana barberry
Berberis temolaica
Temolaica barberry
Berberis thunbergii 'Diabolic'
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii 'Golden Torch'
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii 'Green Carpet'
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii 'Orange Ice'
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii 'Pow-wow'
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii 'Silver Beauty'
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii 'Somerset'
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii 'Starburst'
Pink and cream leaf barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii Bonanza Gold = 'Bogozam'
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii f. atropupurea 'Erecta'
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Aurea'
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry