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)
Geranium 'Dilys'
Geranium 'Dusky Rose'
Geranium 'Elke'
Bloody cranesbill
Geranium 'Kashmir Pink'
Clark's geranium
Geranium 'Mary Mottram'
Geranium 'Orkney Pink'
Geranium 'Philippe Vapelle'
Geranium 'Sirak'
Geranium 'Spinners'
Meadow cranesbill
Geranium 'Sweet Heidy'
Geranium 'Tiny Monster'
Geranium cinereum 'Ballerina'
Ashy cranesbill, Grayleaf cranesbill
Geranium cinereum 'Laurence Flatman'
Ashy cranesbill, Grayleaf cranesbill
Geranium cinereum Rothbury Gem = 'Gerfos'
Ashy cranesbill, Grayleaf cranesbill
Geranium cinereum var. obtusiloba
Ashy cranesbill, Grayleaf cranesbill
Geranium clarkei
Clark's geranium
Geranium clarkei 'Kashmir Purple'
Clark's geranium
Geranium clarkei 'Kashmir White'
Clark's geranium
Geranium collinum
Cranesbill, Alum root
Geranium dalmaticum
Dalmation cranesbill
Geranium endressii
Endress's Cranesbill, French cranesbill, Pyrenean cranesbill
Geranium endressii 'Castle Drogo'
Endress's cranesbill, French cranesbill, Pyrenean cranesbill
Geranium himalayense
Lilac cranesbill, Himalayan cranesbill
Geranium himalayense 'Gravetye'
Lilac cranesbill, Himalayan cranesbill
Geranium himalayense 'Plenum'
Lilac cranesbill, Himalayan cranesbill
Geranium ibericum
Iberian Cranesbill, Caucasus geranium
Geranium ibericum subsp. jubatum 'White Zigana'
Iberian cranesbill
Geranium macrorrhizum 'Album'
Large rooted geranium, Balkan cranesbill, Rock cranesbill, Bulgarian geranium
Geranium macrorrhizum 'Bevan's Variety'
Large rooted geranium, Balkan cranesbill, Rock cranesbill, Bulgarian geranium
Geranium macrorrhizum 'Czakor'
Large rooted geranium, Balkan cranesbill, Rock cranesbill, Bulgarian geranium
Geranium macrorrhizum 'Ingwersen's Variety'
Large rooted geranium, Balkan cranesbill, Rock cranesbill, Bulgarian geranium
Geranium macrorrhizum 'Lohfelden'
Large rooted geranium, Balkan cranesbill, Rock cranesbill, Bulgarian geranium
Geranium macrorrhizum 'Pindus'
Large rooted geranium, Balkan cranesbill, Rock cranesbill, Bulgarian geranium
Geranium macrorrhizum 'Ridsko'
Large rooted geranium, Balkan cranesbill, Rock cranesbill, Bulgarian geranium
Geranium macrorrhizum 'Spessart'
Large rooted geranium, Balkan cranesbill, Rock cranesbill, Bulgarian geranium
Geranium macrorrhizum 'Variegatum'
Large rooted geranium, Balkan cranesbill, Rock cranesbill, Bulgarian geranium
Geranium macrorrhizum 'White-Ness'
Large rooted geranium, Balkan cranesbill, Rock cranesbill, Bulgarian geranium
Geranium maculatum
American cranesbill, Wild cranesbill, Spotted cranesbill
Geranium maculatum 'Beth Chatto'
American cranesbill, Wild cranesbill, Wild geranium, Spotted cranesbill
Geranium maculatum 'Espresso'
American cranesbill, Wild cranesbill, Spotted cranesbill
Geranium nodosum
Knotted cranesbill
Geranium nodosum 'Svelte Lilac'
Knotted cranesbill
Geranium Orkney Cherry = 'Bremerry'
Geranium palustre
Marsh loving cranesbill, Marsh crane's bill
Geranium phaeum
Black widow, Mourning widow, Dusky cranesbill
Geranium phaeum
Black widow, Mourning widow, Dusky cranesbill
Geranium phaeum 'Album'
Black widow, Mourning widow, Dusky cranesbill
Geranium phaeum 'Gold Leaf'
Black widow, Mourning widow, Dusky cranesbill