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)
Erigeron 'Rosa Juwel'
Fleabane, Summer starwort
Erigeron 'Rotes Meer'
Fleabane, Summer starwort
Erigeron 'Schneewittchen'
Fleabane, Summer starwort
Erigeron 'Wayne Roderick'
Fleabane, Summer starwort
Erigeron aureus 'Canary Bird'
Golden fleabane
Erigeron glaucus
Seaside daisy, Beach aster, Beach fleabane, Sea aster
Erigeron glaucus
Seaside daisy, Beach aster, Beach fleabane, Sea aster
Erigeron glaucus 'Roseus'
Seaside daisy, Beach aster, Beach fleabane, Sea aster
Erigeron glaucus Sea Foam = 'Stocecc'
Seaside fleabane
Erigeron oreganus
Oregon fleabane
Erigeron speciosus
Aspen daisy, Oregon daisy, Showy fleabane
Eriophorum angustifolium
Common cotton grass, Narrow leaved cotton grass, Cotton grass
Erodium corsicum 'Alba'
Corsican Storks Bill
Erodium manescavii
Garden stork's bill
Eryngium 'Grumpy'
Sea holly
Eryngium 'Pen Blue'
Sea holly, Eryngo
Eryngium agavifolium
Sea holly, Eryngo, Eringoe
Eryngium alpinum
Alpine eryngyo, Queen of the alps, Bluetop Sea holly
Eryngium bourgatii 'Lapis Blue'
Sea holly
Eryngium bourgatii 'Picos Blue'
Bourgat's eryngo
Eryngium bourgatii - Graham Stuart Thomas's selection
Bourgat's eryngo
Eryngium bourgatii Picos Amethyst = 'Mackpam'
Sea holly
Eryngium giganteum
Miss Willmott's ghost, Stout sea holly
Eryngium giganteum 'Silver Ghost'
Stout sea holly
Eryngium Magical Purple Stars = 'Kolmpurst'
Sea holly
Eryngium paniculatum
Branched Sea holly
Eryngium planum
Blue eryngo, Flat sea holly
Eryngium planum 'Blaukappe'
Blue eryngo, Flat sea holly
Eryngium planum 'Magical White Lagoon'
Sea holly
Eryngium planum Magical Anita = 'Kolmanita'
Sea holly
Eryngium planum Magical Blue Lagoon = 'Kolmblula'
Sea holly
Eryngium variifolium
Sea holly, Eryngo, Eringoe, Variegated sea holly
Eryngium x oliverianum
Olivier's sea holly
Eryngium x tripartitum
Sea holly, Eryngo, Eringoe, Three part hybrid eryngyo
Eryngium x zabelii 'Jos Eijking'
Sea holly, Eryngo
Eryngium x zabelii 'Neptune's Gold'
Sea holly, Eryngo
Eryngium yuccifolium
Sea holly, Eryngo, Eringoe, Rattlesnake master, Button snakeroot, Button eryngyo, Black snakeroot
Escallonia 'Apple Blossom'
Escallonia 'C. F. Ball'
Escallonia 'Donard Radiance'
Escallonia 'Donard Seedling'
Escallonia 'Edinensis'
Escallonia 'Good as Gold'
Gold escallonia
Escallonia 'Langleyensis'
Escallonia 'Peach Blossom'
Escallonia 'Pride of Donard'
Escallonia 'Red Elf'
Escallonia hybrid 'Showstopper'