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)
Calluna vulgaris 'Velvet Fascination'
Heather, Ling, Scots heather
Calluna vulgaris 'White Coral'
Heather, Ling, Scots heather
Calluna vulgaris 'Winter Chocolate'
Common Scotch heather
Campanula 'Birch Hybrid'
Dalmation Bellflower
Campanula 'E.K.Toogood'
Bellflower
Campanula 'Elizabeth'
Bellflower
Campanula 'Viking'
Bellflower
Campanula carpatica
Carpathian Tussock bellflower, Carpathian harebell
Campanula carpatica 'Blue Moonlight'
Carpathian Tussock bellflower, Carpathian harebell
Campanula carpatica 'Chewton Joy'
Carpathian Tussock bellflower, Carpathian harebell
Campanula carpatica 'Rapido Blue'
Carpathian Tussock bellflower, Carpathian harebell
Campanula carpatica f. alba
Carpathian bellflower, Tussock bellflower, Carpathian harebell
Campanula carpatica f. alba 'Weisse Clips'
Carpathian Tussock bellflower, Carpathian harebell
Campanula carpatica var. turbinata f. alba 'Jewel'
Carpathian Tussock bellflower, Carpathian harebell
Campanula portenschlagiana 'Resholt's Variety'
Dalmation bellflower, Wall harebell
Campanula poscharskyana
Serbian bellflower, Trailing bellflower
Campanula punctata f. rubriflora
Spotted bellflower
Campsis radicans
Virginia jasmine, Trumpet honeysuckle
Canna 'Assaut'
Canna lily
Canna 'En Avant'
Canna lily
Canna 'General Eisenhower'
Canna lily
Canna 'Lucifer'
Canna lily
Canna 'Oiseau d'Or'
Canna lily
Canna 'Panache'
Canna lily
Canna 'Phasion'
Canna lily
Canna 'President'
Canna lily
Canna 'Roi Humbert'
Canna lily
Canna 'Shenandoah'
Canna lily
Canna 'Striata'
Canna lily
Canna 'Verdi'
Canna lily
Canna 'Wyoming'
Canna lily
Carex arenaria
Sand sedge, Sedge
Carex comans 'Taranaki'
Hair sedge
Carex comans - bronze-leaved
New Zealand hairy sedge, Hair sedge, Green wig
Carex conica 'Snowline'
Hime-Kan-Suge, Miniature sedge, Evergreen miniature sedge
Carex flagellifera
Weeping brown New Zealand sedge
Carex morrowii 'Everglow'
Japanese Morrow's sedge, Kan suge
Carex oshimensis
Japanese sedge grass, Ohima kan suge
Carex oshimensis 'Everlime'
Japanese sedge grass, Ohima kan suge
Carex oshimensis 'Everoro'
Japanese sedge grass, Oshima kan suge
Carex riparia 'Variegata'
Variegated greater pond sedge, Greater Pond sedge
Carex testacea
Orange New Zealand sedge
Carpinus betulus
Common hornbeam, European hornbeam
Carpinus betulus
Common hornbeam, European hornbeam
Carpobrotus edulis
Ice plant, Cape Hottentot fig, Trailing hottentot fig, Pigface, Sour fig
Caryopteris incana 'Jason'
Common bluebeard
Cassinia 'Ward Silver'
Twisted cottonwood, Ward's cottonwood
Castanea sativa
Spanish chestnut, Sweet chestnut, European chestnut