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)
Buddleja davidii Nanho White = 'Monite'
Orange eye butterfly bush, Summer lilac, Butterfly bush, Buddleia
Callistemon linearis
Narrow leafed bottle brush
Callistemon Masotti 'Mini Red'
Bottlebrush hybrid
Callistemon rugulosus
Rugged bottle brush
Calluna vulgaris
Common Scotch heather
Calluna vulgaris 'Tib'
Common Scotch heather
Calluna vulgaris 'Wickwar Flame'
Common Scotch heather
Campanula carpatica
Carpathian bellflower, Tussock bellflower, Carpathian harebell
Campanula carpatica 'Blaue Clips'
Carpathian bellflower, Tussock bellflower, Carpathian harebell
Campanula portenschlagiana
Dalmation Wall harebell
Campanula portenschlagiana
Dalmation bellflower, Wall harebell
Campanula portenschlagiana 'Catharina'
Dalmation bellflower, Wall harebell
Campanula poscharskyana
Serbian bellflower, Trailing bellflower
Campanula poscharskyana 'Stella'
Serbian bellflower, Trailing bellflower
Campanula punctata
Spotted bellflower
Campsis radicans 'Flamenco'
Virginia jasmine, Trumpet honeysuckle
Campsis radicans f. flava
Virginia jasmine, Trumpet honeysuckle
Canna 'City of Portland'
Canna lily
Carex comans
New Zealand hairy sedge, Hair sedge, Green wig
Carex comans 'Frosted Curls'
Frosted curls hair sedge, New Zealand hairy sedge, Hair sedge, Green wig
Carex oshimensis 'Evergold'
Evergold Japanese sedge, Japanese sedge grass, Oshima kan suge
Carex oshimensis 'Everillo'
Japanese sedge grass, Oshima kan suge
Carex testacea
Orange New Zealand sedge
Carex testacea 'Prairie Fire'
Orange New Zealand sedge
Catananche caerulea
Blue cupidone, Cupid's dart
Ceanothus 'Autumnal Blue'
California lilac, Redroot
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. repens
Creeping blue blossom, Blue blossom, Blue brush
Centaurea 'John Coutts'
John Coutts cornflower, Cornflower
Centaurea montana
Mountain knapweed, Perennial cornflower, Mountain bluet, Perennial bachelor's buttons
Ceratostigma willmottianum
Chinese plumbago, Leadwort
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Fernspray Gold'
Golden fernspray cypress, Hinoki cypress
Choisya ternata
Mexican orange blossom
Choisya ternata 'Brica'
Mexican Orange Blossom
Choisya ternata Sundance = 'Lich'
Mexican orange blossom
Choisya x dewitteana 'Aztec Gold'
Mexican orange blossom, Golden Mexican orange blossom
Choisya x dewitteana 'Aztec Pearl'
Mexican orange blossom, Golden Mexican orange blossom
Choisya x dewitteana White Dazzler = 'Londaz'
Mexican orange blossom, Golden Mexican orange blossom
Cistus salviifolius
Sage leaf rock rose
Cistus x argenteus 'Silver Pink'
Rock rose, Sun rose
Cistus x hybridus
Hybrid rock rose, Jaras
Cistus x hybridus Little Miss Sunshine = 'Dunnecis'
Hybrid rock rose, Jaras
Cistus x pulverulentus
Powdered rock rose
Cistus x pulverulentus 'Sunset'
Powdered rock rose
Cistus x purpureus
Purple cistus, Orchid rock rose, Jaras
Cistus x purpureus 'Alan Fradd'
Purple cistus, Orchid rock rose
Clematis montana
Mountain clematis
Clematis montana
Mountain clematis
Clematis montana var. grandiflora
Mountain clematis