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)
Euonymus japonicus 'Aureus'
Japanese spindle
Euonymus japonicus 'Bravo'
Japanese spindle
Euonymus japonicus 'Francien'
Japanese spindle
Euonymus japonicus 'Green Rocket'
Japanese spindle
Euonymus japonicus 'Kathy'
Variegated Japanese spindle
Euonymus japonicus 'Microphyllus Aureovariegatus'
Small leaved variegated Japanese spindle
Euonymus japonicus 'Ovatus Aureus'
Japanese spindle
Euonymus japonicus Paloma Blanca = 'Lankveld03'
Japanese spindle
Euonymus Pierrolino = 'Heespierrolino'
Spindle
Euphorbia amygdaloides 'Purpurea'
Wood spurge
Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae
Mrs Robb's bonnet, Robb's spurge, Wood spurge
Euphorbia Blackbird = 'Nothowlee'
Spurge, Wolf's milk
Euphorbia characias
Large Meditteranean spurge, Frogspawn bush
Euphorbia characias 'Tasmanian Tiger'
Large Meditteranean spurge, Frogspawn bush
Euphorbia characias Silver Swan = 'Wilcott'
Large Meditteranean spurge, Frogspawn bush
Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii
Large Meditteranean spurge, Frogspawn bush
Euphorbia x martini 'Ascot Rainbow'
Martin's spurge
Euphorbia x martini Tiny Tim = 'Waleutiny'
Martin's spurge
Fallopia baldschuanica
Russian vine, Mile a minute
Fargesia
Fountain bamboo
Fascicularia bicolor
Bicolored giant bromeliad
Fatsia japonica
False castor oil plant, Glossy leaved paper plant, Japanese fatsia, Japanese aralia
Fatsia japonica 'Spiders Web'
False castor oil plant, Glossy leaved paper plant, Japanese fatsia, Japanese aralia
Festuca glauca
Blue fescue, Grey fescue, Blue sheep's fescue
Festuca glauca 'Golden Toupee'
Blue fescue, Grey fescue, Blue sheep's fescue
Festuca glauca Intense Blue = 'Casblue'
Blue fescue, Grey fescue, Blue sheep's fescue
Ficus
Fig
Ficus carica 'Brown Turkey'
Common fig, Brown Turkey, Higo
Forsythia x intermedia 'Goldrausch'
Border forsythia
Forsythia x intermedia 'Lynwood Variety'
Golden bell, Border forsythia
Forsythia x intermedia 'Spectabilis'
Golden bell, Border forsythia
Forsythia x intermedia Minigold = 'Flojor'
Golden bell, Border forsythia
Forsythia x intermedia Weekend = 'Courtalyn'
Golden bell, Border forsythia
Fuchsia 'Mrs Popple'
Ballerina plant, Lady's eardrops
Fuchsia 'Riccartonii'
Ballerina plant, Lady's eardrops
Fuchsia 'Tom Thumb'
Ballerina plant, Lady's eardrops
Fuchsia magellanica var. gracilis 'Versicolor'
Hardy fuchsia, Ballerina plant, Lady's eardrops
Gaillardia
Blanket flower, Jam tarts
Gaillardia x grandiflora 'Kobold'
Fire wheels, Hybrid blanket flower
Garrya elliptica
Silk tassel, Tassel tree, Quinine bush
Garrya elliptica 'James Roof'
Silk tassel, Tassel tree, Quinine bush
Gaultheria mucronata
Wintergreen, Box berry, Canada tea, Prickly heath
Gaultheria mucronata 'Sneeuwwitje'
Wintergreen, Box berry, Canada tea, Prickly heath
Gaultheria procumbens
Creeping wintergreen, Checkerberry, Teaberry, Mountain tea, Partridge berry
Gazania
Treasure flower
Genista hispanica
Spanish gorse, Spanish broom
Genista lydia
Lydian broom
Geranium 'Johnson's Blue'