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)
Castanea sativa 'Variegata'
Spanish chestnut, Sweet chestnut, European chestnut
Catananche caerulea 'Alba'
Cupid's dart
Catananche caerulea 'Amor Blue'
Cupid's dart
Catharanthus roseus
Ramgoat rose, Madagascar periwinkle, Old maid, Rosy periwinkle
Catharanthus roseus 'Cora'
Ramgoat rose, Madagascar periwinkle, Old maid, Rosy periwinkle
Ceanothus x delileanus 'Gloire de Versailles'
California lilac, Redroot, French hybrid ceanothus
Ceanothus x pallidus 'Perle Rose'
California lilac, Redroot
Celastrus orbiculatus
Oriental bittersweet, Staff vine
Celastrus scandens
Bittersweet vine, Staff tree, Waxwork, American bittersweet
Centaurea 'Amethyst on Ice'
Knapweed, Star thistle
Centaurea 'Caramia'
Knapweed, Star thistle
Centaurea 'Jordy'
Knapweed
Centaurea 'Silver Feather'
Silver Feather knapweed
Centaurea bella
Beautiful knapweed
Centaurea cyanus
Cornflower, Blue-bottle, Batchelor's buttons
Centaurea cyanus 'Black Ball'
Cornflower, Blue-bottle, Batchelor's buttons
Centaurea cyanus 'Blue Diadem'
Cornflower, Blue-bottle, Batchelor's buttons
Centaurea cyanus 'Polka Dot Mix'
Cornflower, Blue-bottle, Batchelor's buttons
Centaurea dealbata
Perennial cornflower, Persian cornflower, Whitewash cornflower
Centaurea dealbata 'Steenbergii'
Perennial cornflower, Persian cornflower, Whitewash cornflower
Centaurea glastifolia
Woad-leaved knapweed
Centaurea montana 'Alba'
Mountain knapweed, Perennial cornflower, Mountain bluet, Perennial bachelors buttons
Centaurea montana 'Amethyst Dream'
Mountain knapweed, Perennial cornflower, Mountain bluet, Perennial bachelor's buttons
Centaurea montana 'Amethyst in Snow'
Mountain knapweed, Perennial cornflower, Mountain bluet, Perennial bachelors buttons
Centaurea montana 'Carnea'
Mountain knapweed, Perennial cornflower, Mountain bluet, Perennial bachelor's buttons
Centaurea montana 'Gold Bullion'
Mountain knapweed, Perennial cornflower, Mountain bluet, Perennial bachelor's buttons
Centaurea montana 'Purple Heart'
Mountain knapweed, Perennial cornflower, Mountain bluet, Perennial bachelor's buttons
Centaurea pulcherrima
Most beautiful knapweed
Centaurea scabiosa
Greater knapweed
Centaurea simplicicaulis
Unbranched knapweed
Centranthus ruber
Red valerian, Setwall, Jupiter's beard, Drunken sailor, Pretty betsy, Foxes' beard
Centranthus ruber 'Albus'
Red valerian, Setwall, Jupiter's beard, Drunken sailor, Pretty betsy, Foxes' beard
Centranthus ruber var. coccineus
Red valerian, Setwall, Jupiter's beard, Drunken sailor, Pretty betsy, Foxes' beard
Cerastium tomentosum
Dusty miller, Snow in summer
Ceratostigma griffithii
Burmese plumbago
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
Autumn flowering shrubby plumbago
Ceratostigma willmottianum Desert Skies = 'Palmgold'
Chinese plumbago, Leadwort
Ceratostigma willmottianum Forest Blue = 'Lice'
Chinese plumbago, Leadwort
Cercis siliquastrum
Judas tree
Cestrum elegans
Red cestrum, Purple cestrum
Cestrum parqui
Willow leaved jessamine
Chamaecyparis obtusa
Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Crippsii'
Cripp's Hinoki cypress, Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Kamarachiba'
Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Kosteri'
Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Lycopodioides'
Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Mariesii'
Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Aurea'
Dwarf Hinoki cypress