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)
Elaeagnus pungens 'Forest Gold'
Oleaster
Elaeagnus pungens 'Frederici'
Oleaster, Thorny elaeagnus
Elaeagnus pungens 'Goldrim'
Oleaster, Thorny elaeagnus
Elaeagnus pungens 'Hosoba-fukurin'
Oleaster
Elaeagnus pungens 'Variegata'
Oleaster
Elaeagnus umbellata
Oleaster, Autumn olive
Elaeagnus x ebbingei
Oleaster, Hybrid oleaster
Elaeagnus x submacrophylla 'Coastal Gold'
Hybrid oleaster
Elymus magellanicus
Wild rye, Lyme grass, Wheatgrass, Magellan wheatgrass, Blue wheatgrass
Encephalartos ferox
Holly leafed cycad
Erica arborea var. alpina
Tree heath, Tree heather
Erica carnea
Heather, Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea 'Adrienne Duncan'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea 'Ann Sparkes'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea 'Challenger'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea 'Heathwood'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea 'King George'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea 'March Seedling'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea 'Margery Frearson'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea 'Myretoun Ruby'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea 'Nathalie'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea 'Pink Spangles'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea 'Praecox Rubra'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea 'R. B. Cooke'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea 'Vivellii'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea 'Wintersonne'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea f. alba 'Golden Starlet'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea f. alba 'Ice Princess'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea f. alba 'Isabell'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea f. alba 'Springwood White'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea f. aureifolia 'Westwood Yellow'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea f. aureifolia 'Winter Gold'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica lusitanica
Portugese heath, Spanish heath
Erica vagans
Cornish heath, Wandering heath
Erica vagans
Heather, Cornish heath, Wandering heath
Erica vagans 'Birch Glow'
Cornish heath, Wandering heath
Erica vagans 'Mrs D.F. Maxwell'
Cornish heath, Wandering heath
Erica vagans 'Rubra'
Cornish heath, Wandering heath
Erica vagans f. alba 'Cornish Cream'
Cornish heath, Wandering heath
Erica vagans f. aureifolia 'Valerie Proudley'
Cornish heath, Wandering heath
Erica x veitchii 'Exeter'
Tree heath, Veitch's heath
Erica x veitchii 'Gold Tips'
Tree heath, Veitch's heath
Erigeron 'Adria'
Fleabane, Summer starwort
Erigeron 'Azurfee'
Fleabane, Summer starwort
Erigeron 'Dignity'
Fleabane, Summer starwort
Erigeron 'Dunkelste Aller'
Fleabane, Summer starwort
Erigeron 'Foersters Liebling'
Fleabane, Summer starwort
Erigeron 'Quakeress'
Fleabane, Summer starwort