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)
Dianthus 'Waterloo Sunset'
Cottage pink, Clove
Dianthus carthusianorum
Carnation, Cluster-headed pink, Carthusian pink
Dianthus deltoides 'Leuchtfunk'
Maiden pink
Dianthus Memories = 'WP11Gwe04'
Carnation
Dianthus Pink Kisses = 'Kledg12163'
Carnation, Pink, Clove
Dianthus Rebekah = 'Wp09 Mar05'
Dwarf pink, Clove
Dianthus Sherbert = 'Wp08 Ros03'
Pink, Clove
Dianthus Sugar Plum = 'Wp08 Ian04'
Carnation
Dianthus Sunflor Charmy = 'Hilcharm'
Pot carnation
Dianthus Tickled Pink = 'Devon Pp 11'
Carnation
Dierama pulcherrimum
Beautiful wand flower
Echium pininana
Giant viper's bugloss
Elaeagnus pungens 'Maculata'
Oleaster, Thorny elaeagnus
Elaeagnus x submacrophylla
Oleaster, Hybrid oleaster
Elaeagnus x submacrophylla 'Gilt Edge'
Oleaster, Hybrid oleaster
Elaeagnus x submacrophylla 'Limelight'
Oleaster, Hybrid oleaster
Elaeagnus x submacrophylla 'Viveleg'
Hybrid oleaster
Erica arborea
Tree heath, Tree heather
Erica arborea 'Estrella Gold'
Tree heath, Tree heather
Erica arborea var. alpina f. aureifolia 'Albert's Gold'
Tree heath, Tree heather
Erica carnea
Heather, Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea 'Rosalie'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea f. aureifolia 'Foxhollow'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erigeron glaucus 'Sea Breeze'
Seaside daisy, Beach aster, Beach fleabane, Sea aster
Erigeron karvinskianus
Mexican fleabane, Australian fleabane, Wall daisy, Bonytip fleabane
Eryngium bourgatii
Pyrenean eryngyo, Bourgat's eryngo
Eryngium planum 'Blue Hobbit'
Blue eryngo, Flat sea holly
Eryngium planum 'Jade Frost'
Blue eryngo, Flat sea holly
Eryngium x zabelii 'Big Blue'
Sea holly, Eryngo
Escallonia 'Iveyi'
Escallonia 'Red Dream'
Escallonia Golden Carpet = 'Alcaura'
Escallonia laevis 'Gold Brian'
Pink scallonia
Escallonia laevis 'Gold Ellen'
Escallonia rubra var. macrantha
Red escallonia
Euonymus fortunei
Wintercreeper, Evergreen bittersweet, Dwarf euonymus
Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald 'n' Gold'
Wintercreeper, Evergreen bittersweet, Dwarf euonymus
Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety'
Wintercreeper, Evergreen bittersweet, Dwarf euonymus
Euonymus fortunei 'Harlequin'
Wintercreeper, Evergreen bittersweet, Dwarf euonymus
Euonymus fortunei 'Silver Queen'
Wintercreeper, Evergreen bittersweet, Dwarf euonymus
Euonymus fortunei 'Silverstone'
Wintercreeper, Evergreen bittersweet, Dwarf euonymus
Euonymus fortunei 'Sunspot'
Wintercreeper, Evergreen bittersweet, Dwarf euonymus
Euonymus fortunei Blondy = 'Interbolwi'
Wintercreeper, Evergreen bittersweet, Dwarf euonymus
Euonymus fortunei Golden Harlequin = 'Hoogi'
Wintercreeper, Evergreen bittersweet, Dwarf euonymus
Euonymus fortunei Goldy = 'Waldbolwi'
Wintercreeper, Evergreen bittersweet, Dwarf euonymus
Euonymus japonicus
Spindle, Japanese spindle
Euonymus japonicus
Japanese spindle
Euonymus japonicus 'Aureomarginatus'
Japanese spindle