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)
Clematis montana var. rubens
Mountain clematis
Clematis montana var. rubens 'Tetrarose'
Mountain clematis
Clethra alnifolia 'Hummingbird'
Sweet pepper bush, Summersweet
Convolvulus cneorum
Silverbush, Bush morning glory
Coprosma repens 'Midnight Martini'
Mirror plant
Coprosma repens 'Pina Colada'
Mirror plant
Coprosma repens 'Tequila Sunrise'
Mirror plant
Cordyline 'Can Can'
Cabbage tree of New Zealand, Giant Dracaena, Ti
Cordyline 'Red Star'
Cabbage tree of New Zealand, Giant Dracaena, Ti
Cordyline australis
Cabbage tree of New Zealand, Giant Dracaena, Ti
Cordyline australis 'Torbay Dazzler'
Cabbage tree of New Zealand, Giant Dracaena, Ti
Cordyline Pink Passion = 'Seipin'
Cabbage tree of New Zealand, Giant Dracaena, Ti
Coreopsis 'Calypso'
Large flowered tickseed, Lance coreopsis
Coreopsis grandiflora 'Presto'
Large flowered tickseed, Lance coreopsis
Coreopsis Solanna Golden Sphere
Tickseed
Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam'
Pot o' gold, Moonbeam tickseed, Threadleaf coreopsis, Whorled tickseed
Coreopsis verticillata 'Zagreb'
Pot o' gold, Moonbeam tickseed, Threadleaf coreopsis, Whorled tickseed
Cornus sanguinea 'Winter Beauty'
Common dogwood, Bloodtwig, Pegwood, Dogberry
Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea'
Red osier dogwood, American dogwood
Corokia cotoneaster
Wire-netting bush
Corokia x virgata
Wire-netting bush
Cortaderia selloana
Sellow's pampas grass
Cortaderia selloana
Sellow's pampas grass
Cortaderia selloana 'Pumila'
Sellow's pampas grass
Cortaderia selloana 'Splendid Star'
Pampas grass, Sellow's Pampas grass
Cosmos atrosanguineus Chocamocha = 'Thomocha'
Chocolate cosmos
Cotoneaster franchetii
Franchett's cotoneaster
Cotoneaster lacteus
Parney cotoneaster, Red clusterberry
Crambe maritima
Seakale, Colewort
Crocosmia 'Emberglow'
Golden montbretia
Crocosmia 'Lucifer'
Golden montbretia
Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora 'Babylon'
Hybrid crocosmia
Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora 'Emily McKenzie'
Hybrid crocosmia
Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora 'George Davison'
Hybrid crocosmia
Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora 'Solfatare'
Hybrid crocosmia
Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora 'Star of the East'
Hybrid crocosmia
Cryptomeria japonica 'Vilmoriniana'
Japanese red cedar, Japanese cedar, Sugi
Cynara cardunculus
Cardoon
Cytisus x praecox
Warminster broom, Broom
Dianthus 'Corona Raspberry Magic'
Pink, Clove
Dianthus 'Devon Arctic Star'
Pink, Clove
Dianthus 'Devon Flavia'
Carnation
Dianthus 'Devon Winnie'
Pink, Clove
Dianthus 'Devon Yolande'
Carnation
Dianthus 'Kahori Pink'
Carnation
Dianthus 'Kahori'
Carnation, Pink, Clove
Dianthus 'Pixie Star'
Carnation, Pink, Clove
Dianthus 'Sunflor Bling Bling'
Pot carnation