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)
Euphorbia nicaeensis
Nice spurge
Euphorbia palustris
Swamp spurge
Euphorbia portlandica
Portland spurge
Euphorbia Redwing = 'Charam'
Spurge, Wolf's milk
Euphorbia rigida
Narrow leaved glaucous spurge, Rigid spurge
Euphorbia schillingii
Schilling's spurge
Euphorbia sikkimensis
Sikkim spurge
Euphorbia stygiana
Stygian spurge
Euphorbia wallichii
Wallich's Spurge
Euphorbia x martini
Martin's spurge
Euphorbia x martini
Martin's spurge
Euphorbia x martini 'Baby Charm'
Euphorbia x martini 'Little John'
Martin's spurge
Euphorbia x martini Rudolph = 'Walephrud'
Martin's spurge
Euryops acraeus
Rosinbush, Drakensberg daisy
Euryops chrysanthemoides
Rosinbush, Bulls eye, Paris daisy
Euryops pectinatus
Rosinbush, Comb-like marguerite, Gray leafed euryops
Fabiana imbricata
False heath, Pichi, Chilean false heath
Fabiana imbricata f. violacea
False heath, Pichi, Chilean false heath
Fargesia nitida
Blue fountain bamboo
Fatsia japonica
False castor oil plant, Glossy leaved paper plant, Japanese fatsia, Japanese aralia
Fatsia japonica 'Variegata'
False castor oil plant, Glossy leaved paper plant, Japanese fatsia, Japanese aralia
Festuca
Fescue
Festuca gautieri
Bearskin fescue
Festuca glauca
Blue fescue, Grey fescue, Blue sheep's fescue
Festuca glauca 'Azurit'
Blue fescue, Grey fescue, Blue sheep's fescue
Festuca glauca 'Blaufuchs'
Blue fescue, Grey fescue, Blue sheep's fescue
Festuca glauca 'Blauglut'
Blue fescue, Grey fescue, Blue sheep's fescue
Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue'
Blue fescue, Grey fescue, Blue sheep's fescue
Ficus carica
Common fig
Ficus carica 'Brunswick'
Common fig
Ficus carica 'Celeste'
Common fig
Ficus carica 'Ice Crystal'
Common fig
Ficus carica 'White Adriatic'
Common fig
Ficus carica 'White Marseilles'
Common fig
Forsythia 'Beatrix Farrand'
Golden bell
Forsythia 'Fiesta'
Variegated forsythia
Forsythia 'Golden Nugget'
Golden bell
Forsythia 'Goldzauber'
Forsythia 'Tremonia'
Golden bell
Forsythia europaea
European forsythia, Golden bell
Forsythia suspensa
Weeping forsythia, Weeping golden bell
Forsythia x intermedia
Golden bell, Border forsythia
Forsythia x intermedia 'Arnold Giant'
Golden bell, Border forsythia
Forsythia x intermedia 'Karl Sax'
Golden bell, Border forsythia
Forsythia x intermedia 'Spring Glory'
Golden bell, Border forsythia
Frankenia thymifolia
Sea heath, Thyme leaved sea heath
Fraxinus americana
White ash