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)
Lantana camara 'Carpet Orange'
Bush lantana
Lantana camara 'Goldmine'
Bush lantana
Lathyrus
Pea, Vetchling
Lathyrus japonicus subsp. maritimus
Beach pea, Sea pea
Lathyrus latifolius
Perennial pea, Broad leaved everlasting pea, Large leaved lathyrus, Wild sweet pea
Lathyrus odoratus
Sweet pea, Fragrant sweet pea
Lathyrus odoratus 'Black Knight'
Sweet pea, Fragrant sweet pea
Lathyrus odoratus 'Matucana'
Sweet pea, Fragrant sweet pea
Lathyrus vernus 'Alboroseus'
Spring vetch, Spring pea, Spring vetchling
Lathyrus vernus f. roseus
Spring vetch, Spring pea, Spring vetchling
Laurus nobilis 'Aurea'
Golden bay, Bay laurel, Sweet bay, Poet's laurel, True laurel, Laurel tree
Laurus nobilis f. angustifolia
Willow leaf bay
Lavandula 'Devonshire Compact White'
Lavender
Lavandula 'Fathead'
Lavender
Lavandula 'Hazel'
Lavender
Lavandula 'Helmsdale'
Hybrid French lavender, Hybrid butterfly lavender
Lavandula 'Pretty Polly'
Lavender
Lavandula 'Willow Vale'
French lavender, Butterfly lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Ashdown Forest'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Beechwood Blue'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Folgate'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Havana'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote Pink'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Imperial Gem'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Lavenite Petite'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Loddon Blue'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Loddon Pink'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Miss Katherine'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Peter Pan'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Princess Blue'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Rosea'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia 'Twickel Purple'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia Blue Scent = 'Syngablusc'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia Garden Beauty = 'Lowmar'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia Little Lottie = 'Clarmo'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula angustifolia Melissa Lilac = 'Dow4'
True lavender, Old English lavender, Common lavender
Lavandula aristibracteata
Bristle bracted lavender
Lavandula buchii var. buchii
Tenerife lavender
Lavandula canariensis
Canary Islands' lavender
Lavandula dentata
Fringed lavender, Toothed lavender
Lavandula dentata var. candicans
Fringed lavender, Toothed lavender
Lavandula pedunculata subsp. lusitanica
Lavender, Lusitanica French lavender
Lavandula pedunculata subsp. pedunculata 'James Compton'
French lavender, Butterfly lavender
Lavandula Rocky Road = 'Fair09'
French lavender, Butterfly lavender
Lavandula stoechas 'Bandera'
French lavender, Butterfly lavender
Lavandula stoechas 'Night of Passion'
French lavender, Butterfly lavender
Lavandula stoechas 'Silver Anouk'
French lavender, Butterfly lavender
Lavandula stoechas subsp. stoechas 'Provencal'
French lavender, Butterfly lavender