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)
Penstemon barbatus
Bearded penstemon, Beardlip penstemon, Common beardtongue
Penstemon confertus
Crowded beard tongue, Yellow beard tongue
Penstemon davidsonii
Davidson's beardtongue
Penstemon digitalis 'Husker Red'
Foxglove penstemon, Foxglove beard tongue
Penstemon Etna = 'Yatna'
Beard tongue
Penstemon fruticosus var. scouleri 'Amethyst'
Scouler's woody beard tongue
Penstemon Fujiyama = 'Yayama'
Beard tongue
Penstemon hartwegii 'Picotee Red'
Hartweg's beard tongue
Penstemon heterophyllus 'Blue Spring'
Foothills beard tongue
Penstemon heterophyllus 'Catherine de la Mare'
Foothills beard tongue
Penstemon heterophyllus 'Electric Blue'
Foothills beard tongue
Penstemon heterophyllus 'Heavenly Blue'
Foothill penstemon
Penstemon hirsutus var. pygmaeus
Dwarf hairy beard tongue
Penstemon hirsutus var. pygmaeus f. albus
White-flowered hairy beard tongue
Penstemon Kilimanjaro = 'Yajaro'
Beard tongue
Penstemon Phoenix Appleblossom 09 = 'PeniAblos09'
Beard tongue
Penstemon Phoenix Magenta 09 = 'Peni Mag09'
Beard tongue
Penstemon Phoenix Pink 09 = 'Peni Pina09'
Beard tongue
Penstemon Phoenix Red = 'Pheni Reeds'
Beard tongue
Penstemon Phoenix Rose = 'Penharros'
Beard tongue
Penstemon Phoenix Violet 09 = 'Peni Vio09'
Beard tongue
Penstemon pinifolius 'Mersea Yellow'
Pineleaf beard tongue
Penstemon procerus 'Roy Davidson'
Long beard tongue
Penstemon smallii
Small's beard tongue
Penstemon Vesuvius = 'Yasius'
Beard tongue
Perovskia
Russian sage
Perovskia 'Superba'
Russian sage
Perovskia abrotanoides
Russian sage, Caspian perovskia
Perovskia atriplicifolia
Azure sage
Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Crazy Blue'
Russian sage
Perovskia scrophulariifolia
Russian sage
Persicaria bistorta
Snakeweed, Mad dog skullcap, Adderwort, Red legs, Bistort, Snake root
Phalaris arundinacea var. picta
Gardener's garters, Reed canary grass, Ribbon grass
Phalaris arundinacea var. picta 'Arctic Sun'
Gardener's garters, Reed canary grass, Ribbon grass
Philadelphus x 'Petite Perfume Pink'
Mock orange, Syringa
Philadelphus x 'Petite Perfume White'
Mock orange, Syringa
Phillyrea
Mock privet, Jasmine box
Phillyrea angustifolia
Mock privet, Jasmine box
Phlomis
Ornamental sage
Phlomis chrysophylla
Golden leaved sage
Phlomis fruticosa
Jerusalem sage
Phlomis grandiflora 'Lloyd's Silver'
Lloyd's phlomis
Phlomis italica
Balearic Island phlomis
Phlomis tuberosa 'Amazone'
Tuberous phlomis, Jerusalem sage, Sage-leaf mullein
Phlomis tuberosa 'Bronze Flamingo'
Tuberous phlomis, Sage-leaf mullein
Phlox 'Bedazzled Lavender'
Hybrid spring phlox, Creeping phlox
Phlox 'Paparazzi Angelina'
Phlox paniculata 'Alba Grandiflora'
Border phlox, Summer phlox