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)
Molinia caerulea 'Transparent'
Purple moor grass, Mountain's friend, Tall purple moor grass
Molinia caerulea subsp. arundinacea
Tall Purple moor grass
Molinia caerulea subsp. arundinacea 'Heidebraut'
Purple moor grass, Mountain's friend, Tall purple moor grass
Monarda 'Adam'
Bergamot, Bee balm, Oswego tea
Monarda 'Beauty of Cobham'
Bergamot, Bee balm, Oswego tea
Monarda 'Croftway Pink'
Bergamot, Bee balm, Oswego tea
Monarda 'Earl Grey'
Sweet bergamot, Bee balm, Oswego tea
Monarda 'Fireball'
Bergamot, Bee balm, Oswego tea
Monarda 'Fishes'
Bergamot, Bee balm, Oswego tea
Monarda 'Gardenview Scarlet'
Bergamot, Bee balm, Oswego tea
Monarda 'Jacob Cline'
Bergamot, Bee balm, Oswego tea
Monarda 'Marshall's Delight'
Bergamot, Bee balm, Oswego tea
Monarda 'Mohawk'
Bergamot, Bee balm, Oswego tea
Monarda 'Oneida'
Bergamot, Bee balm, Oswego tea
Monarda 'Ou Charm'
Bergamot, Bee balm, Oswego tea
Monarda 'Pink Supreme'
Bergamot, Bee balm, Oswego tea
Monarda 'Prarienacht'
Bergamot, Bee balm, Oswego tea
Monarda 'Ruby Glow'
Bergamot, Bee balm, Oswego tea
Monarda 'Schneewittchen'
Bergamot, Bee balm, Oswego tea
Monarda 'Scorpion'
Bergamot, Bee balm, Oswego tea
Monarda 'Snow Queen'
Bergamot, Bee balm, Oswego tea
Monarda 'Vintage Wine'
Bergamot, Bee balm, Oswego tea
Monarda 'Violet Queen'
Bergamot, Bee balm, Oswego tea
Monarda citriodora
Wild bergamot, Horsemint
Monarda didyma
Sweet bergamot, Horsemint, Indians plume, Mountain mint, Oswego tea, Red balm
Monarda didyma 'Cranberry Lace'
Sweet bergamot, Bee balm, Oswego tea
Monarda didyma 'Pink Lace'
Sweet bergamot, Bee balm, Oswego tea
Monarda fistulosa
Wild bergamot, Wild bee balm
Morina longifolia
Whorlflower, Himalayan whorlflower
Muehlenbeckia
Wire vine, Wire plant
Muehlenbeckia complexa
Creeping wire vine, Australian ivy
Myrica gale
Bog myrtle, Sweet gale, Candle berry, Gold withy
Myrica pensylvanica
Northern bayberry, Swamp candleberry, Candelberry
Nepeta 'Cat's Pajamas'
Dwarf catmint
Nepeta 'Leeds Castle'
Long stalked catmint
Nepeta 'Six Hills Gold'
Catmint, Variegated catmint
Nepeta grandiflora 'Bramdean'
Caucasus catmint, Giant catmint
Nepeta grandiflora 'Dawn to Dusk'
Caucasus catmint, Giant catmint
Nepeta nervosa
Veined catmint
Nepeta nervosa 'Blue Moon'
Veined catmint
Nepeta nervosa 'Pink Cat'
Veined catmint
Nepeta racemosa
Persian catmint
Nepeta racemosa 'Amelia'
Persian catmint
Nepeta racemosa 'Little Titch'
Persian catmint
Nepeta racemosa 'Snowflake'
Persian catmint
Nepeta subsessilis 'Sweet Dreams'
Short-stalked catmint
Nepeta x faassenii
Blue catmint, Faassen's nepeta, Mauve catmint
Nerium oleander
Oleander, Rose bay, Poison bush, Adelfa