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)
Juncus effusus 'Spiralis'
Corkscrew rush, Blue green rush
Juniperus
Juniper
Juniperus 'Grey Owl'
Juniper
Juniperus chinensis
Chinese juniper
Juniperus chinensis 'Aurea'
Young's golden juniper, Chinese juniper
Juniperus chinensis 'Kaizuka'
Chinese juniper
Juniperus chinensis 'Obelisk'
Chinese juniper
Juniperus chinensis 'Plumosa Aurea'
Chinese juniper
Juniperus chinensis 'Pyramidalis'
Chinese juniper
Juniperus communis
Common juniper
Juniperus communis
Common juniper
Juniperus communis 'Candelabriformis'
Common juniper
Juniperus communis 'Compressa'
Noah's ark, Common juniper
Juniperus communis 'Depressa Aurea'
Common juniper
Juniperus communis 'Gold Cone'
Common juniper
Juniperus communis 'Green Carpet'
Common juniper
Juniperus communis 'Hibernica'
Irish juniper, Common juniper
Juniperus communis 'Hornibrookii'
Common juniper
Juniperus communis 'Repanda'
Common juniper
Juniperus horizontalis
Creeping juniper, Creeping cedar, Creeping savin, Horizontal juniper
Juniperus horizontalis
Creeping juniper, Creeping cedar, Creeping savin, Horizontal juniper
Juniperus horizontalis 'Bar Harbor'
Creeping juniper, Creeping cedar, Creeping savin, Horizontal juniper
Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip'
Creeping juniper, Creeping cedar, Creeping savin, Horizontal juniper
Juniperus horizontalis 'Limeglow'
Creeping juniper, Horizontal juniper
Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltonii'
Creeping juniper, Horizontal juniper
Juniperus phoenicea
Phoenicean juniper
Juniperus pingii 'Hulsdonk Yellow'
Ping's juniper
Juniperus procumbens
Creeping juniper, Hai byakushin, Sonare, Japanese garden juniper
Juniperus procumbens 'Nana'
Dwarf Japanese juniper, Creeping juniper, Hai byakushin, Sonare, Japanese garden juniper
Juniperus recurva 'Castlewellan'
Drooping juniper
Juniperus rigida subsp. conferta
Shore juniper, Temple juniper, Needle juniper
Juniperus sabina
Common savin, Savin juniper
Juniperus sabina 'Calgary Carpet'
Common savin
Juniperus sabina 'Tamariscifolia'
Common savin
Juniperus scopulorum
Rocky Mountain juniper, Western red cedar
Juniperus scopulorum 'Blue Arrow'
Rocky Mountain juniper, Western red cedar
Juniperus squamata
Juniper, Flaky juniper, Scaly leaved Nepal juniper
Juniperus squamata
Flaky juniper, Scaly leaved Nepal juniper
Juniperus squamata 'Blue Carpet'
Flaky juniper, Scaly leaved Nepal juniper
Juniperus squamata 'Blue Spider'
Flaky juniper, Scaly leaved Nepal juniper
Juniperus squamata 'Holger'
Flaky juniper, Scaly leaved Nepal juniper
Juniperus squamata 'Meyeri'
Flaky juniper, Scaly leaved Nepal juniper
Juniperus virginiana
Pencil cedar, Eastern red cedar
Juniperus virginiana 'Burkii'
Pencil cedar, Eastern redcedar
Juniperus virginiana 'Glauca'
Eastern red cedar, Pencil cedar, Red juniper
Juniperus x pfitzeriana
Pfitzer juniper
Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Blue and Gold'
Pfitzer juniper
Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Carbery Gold'
Pfitzer juniper