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)
Geranium 'Mavis Simpson'
Riversleaianum geranium
Geranium 'Old Rose'
Geranium himalayense 'Baby Blue'
Lilac cranesbill, Himalayan cranesbill
Geranium macrorrhizum
Large rooted geranium, Balkan cranesbill, Rock cranesbill, Bulgarian geranium
Geranium pratense 'Midnight Reiter'
Meadow cranesbill, Meadow geranium
Geranium renardii
Renard's geranium
Geranium sanguineum 'Max Frei'
Blood red geranium, Bloody cranesbill
Geranium wallichianum 'Buxton's Variety'
Wallich's geranium
Geranium x cantabrigiense 'Karmina'
Cambridge hybrid geranium
Geranium x riversleaianum 'Russell Prichard'
Pritchard's geranium, Riversleaianum geranium
Ginkgo biloba
Gingko, Maidenhair tree
Griselinia littoralis
Broadleaf, Papauma, Kapuka
Griselinia littoralis 'Variegata'
Broadleaf, Papauma, Kapuka
Gypsophila
Baby's breath
Halimium calycinum
Calyx sun rose
Hebe 'Celine'
Hebe 'Emerald Gem'
Hebe 'Frozen Flame'
Hebe 'Lady Ann'
Hebe 'Little Red Rum'
Hebe 'Red Edge'
Hebe 'Rhubarb and Custard'
Hebe 'Silver Queen'
Hebe 'Wiri Mist'
Hebe Addenda® 'Classica® Katrina'
Shrubby veronica
Hebe HebeDonna Diana = 'Zenia'
Hebe ochracea 'James Stirling'
Ochre whipcord hebe
Hebe pinguifolia 'Pagei'
Fat leaf hebe
Hebe pinguifolia 'Sutherlandii'
Fat leaf hebe
Hebe Purple Shamrock = 'Neprock'
Hebe vernicosa
Glossy leaved hebe
Hedera helix
Common ivy, English ivy
Hedera helix 'Eva'
Common ivy, English ivy
Hedera helix 'Glacier'
Common ivy, English ivy
Hedera helix 'Goldchild'
Common ivy, English ivy
Hedera helix 'Oro di Bogliasco'
Common ivy, English ivy
Helianthemum
Rock rose
Helianthemum 'Ben Ledi'
Rock rose
Helianthemum 'Ben More'
Common sun rose, Rock rose
Helianthemum 'Henfield Brilliant'
Rock rose
Helianthemum 'The Bride'
Rock rose
Hemerocallis
Day lily
Hemerocallis 'Crimson Pirate'
Daylily
Hemerocallis 'Stella de Oro'
Day lily
Heuchera 'Plum Pudding'
Coral bells, Alumroot
Heuchera 'Rachel'
Coral bells, Alumroot
Heuchera 'Snow Storm'
Coral bells, Alumroot
Heuchera americana
Rock geranium, Satin leaf, American alum root