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)
Bergenia 'Snowblush'
Pigsqueak, Megasea
Bergenia 'Sunningdale'
Pigsqueak, Megasea
Bergenia 'Vorfruhling'
Pigsqueak, Megasea
Bergenia 'Walter Keinli'
Pigsqueak, Megasea
Bergenia 'Wintermarchen'
Pigsqueak, Megasea
Bergenia ciliata
Winter begenia
Bergenia ciliata 'Dumbo'
Winter bergenia
Bergenia cordifolia
Heartleaf bergenia, Pigsqueak
Bergenia cordifolia 'Purpurea'
Heartleaf bergenia, Pigsqueak
Bergenia cordifolia 'Rosa Zeiten'
Heartleaf bergenia, Pigsqueak
Bergenia cordifolia 'Winterglut'
Heartleaf bergenia, Pigsqueak
Bergenia crassifolia
Large leaf saxifrage, Winter blooming bergenia, Leatherleaf bergenia, Siberian tea
Bergenia purpurascens
Purple bergenia
Bergenia purpurascens var. delavayi
Purple bergenia
Bergenia x schmidtii
Old hybrid bergenia
Betula pendula
European white birch, Silver birch, Warty birch, Common birch
Betula pendula 'Laciniata'
Swedish birch, European white birch, Silver birch, Warty birch, Common birch
Betula pendula 'Purpurea'
Purple leaf birch, European white birch, Silver birch, Warty birch, Common birch
Betula pendula 'Tristis'
European white birch, Silver birch, Warty birch, Common birch
Betula pendula 'Youngii'
Young's weeping birch, Weeping birch, European white birch, Silver birch, Warty birch, Common birch
Bidens aurea
Tickseed, Beggars tick, Stick tight, Bur marigold, Spanish needles
Bidens aurea 'Golden Eye'
Tickseed, Beggars tick, Stick tight, Bur marigold, Spanish needles
Bolboschoenus maritimus
Sea club rush
Bouteloua gracilis
Mosquito grass, Signal-arm grass, Blue grama
Brachyglottis 'Drysdale'
Drysdale's shrubby ragwort
Brachyglottis 'Moira Reid'
Shrubby ragwort
Brachyglottis bidwilli
Bidwill's shrubby ragwort
Brachyglottis compacta
Compact shrubby ragwort
Brachyglottis elaeagnifolia
Elaeagnus leaved groundsel
Brachyglottis huntii
Rautini
Brachyglottis monroi
Monroi's ragwort
Briza maxima
Rattle grass, Shivering grass, Great quaking grass
Briza media
Common quaking grass, Didder grass, Totter grass, Cow quakes, Dillies, Doddering dickies
Briza media
Common quaking grass, Didder grass, Totter grass, Cow quakes, Dillies, Doddering dickies
Briza media 'Golden Bee'
Common Quaking grass
Briza media 'Limouzi'
Common Quaking grass
Briza media 'Russells'
Common quaking grass, Didder grass, Totter grass, Cow quakes, Dillies, Doddering dickies
Buddleja 'Blue Chip'
Buddleia, Butterfly bush
Buddleja 'Lilac Chip'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja 'Lochinch'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja 'Longstock Pride'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja 'Pink Delight'
Hybrid summer lilac, Hybrid butterfly bush
Buddleja 'White Chip'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja auriculata
Eared buddleja, Weeping buddleja, Treursalie, Buddleia
Buddleja colvilei
Colvile's buddleja
Buddleja crispa
Curled leaf buddleja, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Buddleja davidii 'African Queen'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia