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)
Escallonia rubra 'Crimson Spire'
Red escallonia
Escallonia rubra 'Woodside'
Red escallonia
Euonymus fortunei
Wintercreeper, Evergreen bittersweet, Dwarf euonymus
Euonymus fortunei 'Canadale Gold'
Wintercreeper, Evergreen bittersweet, Dwarf euonymus
Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Surprise'
Wintercreeper, Evergreen bittersweet, Dwarf euonymus
Euonymus fortunei 'Minimus'
Wintercreeper, Evergreen bittersweet, Dwarf euonymus
Euonymus fortunei 'Sunshine'
Wintercreeper, Evergreen bittersweet, Dwarf euonymus
Euonymus fortunei 'Variegatus'
Wintercreeper, Evergreen bittersweet, Dwarf euonymus
Euonymus hamiltonianus 'Indian Summer'
Hamilton's spindle
Euonymus japonicus 'Argenteovariegatus'
Variegated Japanese spindle
Euonymus japonicus 'Chollipo'
Variegated Japanese spindle
Euonymus japonicus 'Golden Maiden'
Japanese spindle
Euonymus japonicus 'Green Spire'
Japanese spindle
Euonymus japonicus 'Happiness'
Variegated Japanese spindle
Euonymus japonicus 'Microphyllus Albovariegatus'
Japanese spindle
Euonymus japonicus 'Microphyllus Pulchellus'
Small leaved golden Japanese spindle
Euonymus japonicus 'Microphyllus Variegatus'
Japanese spindle
Euonymus japonicus 'President Gauthier'
Japanese spindle
Euonymus japonicus 'Susan'
Variegated Japanese spindle
Euphorbia 'Despina'
Spurge
Euphorbia 'Whistleberry Garnet'
Spurge, Wolf's milk
Euphorbia amygdaloides
Wood spurge
Euphorbia amygdaloides 'Craigieburn'
Wood spurge
Euphorbia characias
Large Meditteranean spurge, Frogspawn bush
Euphorbia characias 'Black Pearl'
Large Meditteranean spurge, Frogspawn bush
Euphorbia characias 'Blue Wonder'
Large Meditteranean spurge, Frogspawn bush
Euphorbia characias 'Forescate'
Large Meditteranean spurge, Frogspawn bush
Euphorbia characias 'Goldbrook'
Large Meditteranean spurge, Frogspawn bush
Euphorbia characias 'Portuguese Velvet'
Large Meditteranean spurge, Frogspawn bush
Euphorbia characias subsp. characias 'Glacier Blue'
Large Meditteranean spurge, Frogspawn bush
Euphorbia characias subsp. characias 'Humpty Dumpty'
Large Meditteranean spurge, Frogspawn bush
Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii 'John Tomlinson'
Large Meditteranean spurge, Frogspawn bush
Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii 'Lambrook Gold'
Large Meditteranean spurge, Frogspawn bush
Euphorbia characias subsp.wulfenii 'Shorty'
Large Meditteranean spurge, Frogspawn bush
Euphorbia cyparissias
Cypress spurge
Euphorbia cyparissias
Cypress spurge
Euphorbia cyparissias 'Fens Ruby'
Cypress spurge
Euphorbia cyparissias 'Orange Man'
Cypress spurge
Euphorbia dulcis 'Chameleon'
Pimply spurge, Sweet spurge
Euphorbia epithymoides
Cushion spurge
Euphorbia epithymoides 'Candy'
Cushion spurge
Euphorbia Excalibur = 'Froeup'
Spurge, Wolf's milk
Euphorbia griffithii
Red spurge, Griffith's spurge
Euphorbia griffithii 'Dixter'
Red spurge, Griffith's spurge
Euphorbia griffithii 'Fireglow'
Red spurge, Griffith's spurge
Euphorbia lathyris
Caper spurge, Myrtle spurge, Mole plant, Gopher plant
Euphorbia mellifera
Honey scented spurge, Honey spurge
Euphorbia myrsinites
Myrtle spurge, Blue spurge, Broad leaved glaucuous spurge