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)
Phoenix
Date palm
Phormium 'Apricot Queen'
Flax lily, New Zealand flax
Phormium 'Dazzler'
Flax lily, New Zealand flax
Phormium 'Duet'
Flax lily, New Zealand flax
Phormium 'Maori Chief'
Flax lily, New Zealand flax
Phormium cookianum
Mountain flax, Whariki
Phormium tenax
New Zealand hemp
Phormium tenax 'Veitchianum'
New Zealand hemp
Phormium tenax In The Red = 'Seied'
New Zealand flax
Phormium tenax Purpureum Group
New Zealand hemp
Phragmites australis
Common reed, Carrizo
Phragmites australis
Common reed, Carrizo
Phragmites australis 'Variegatus'
Common reed, Carrizo, Golden rush weed
Phygelius aequalis
Figwort
Phygelius aequalis 'Yellow Trumpet'
Figwort
Phygelius capensis
Cape figwort, Cape fuchsia, River bells
Phygelius x rectus 'African Queen'
Figwort
Phygelius x rectus 'Salmon Leap'
Figwort
Phygelius x rectus 'Winchester Fanfare'
Figwort
Physostegia virginiana
Obedient plant, False dragonhead, Lionsheart, Stay in place
Physostegia virginiana 'Alba'
Obedient plant, False dragonhead, Lionsheart, Stay in place
Physostegia virginiana 'Crown of Snow'
Obedient plant, False dragonhead, Lionsheart, Stay in place
Physostegia virginiana 'Crystal Peek White'
Obedient plant, False dragonhead, Lionsheart, Stay in place
Physostegia virginiana 'Miss Manners'
Obedient plant, False dragonhead, Lionsheart, Stay in place
Physostegia virginiana 'Rose Queen'
Obedient plant, False dragonhead, Lionsheart, Stay in place
Physostegia virginiana 'Variegata'
Obedient plant, False dragonhead, Lionsheart, Stay in place
Physostegia virginiana 'Vivid'
Obedient plant, False dragonhead, Lionsheart, Stay in place
Physostegia virginiana subsp.speciosus 'Bouquet Rose'
Obedient plant, False dragonhead, Lionsheart, Stay in place
Picea
Spruce
Picea abies
Norway spruce, Common spruce, Christmas tree
Picea abies
Norway spruce, Common spruce, Christmas tree
Picea abies 'Acrocona'
Norway spruce
Picea abies 'Inversa'
Drooping Norway spruce, Norway spruce, Common spruce, Christmas tree
Picea abies 'Little Gem'
Norway spruce, Common spruce, Christmas tree
Picea abies 'Nidiformis'
Nest spruce, Norway spruce, Common spruce, Christmas tree
Picea abies 'Reflexa'
Norway spruce, Common spruce, Christmas tree
Picea glauca
White spruce
Picea glauca 'Echiniformis'
White spruce
Picea glauca 'J.W. Daisy's White'
White spruce
Picea glauca Alberta Blue = 'Haal'
Albert's blue spruce, White spruce
Picea glauca var. albertiana 'Conica'
Alberta white spruce, White spruce
Picea glauca var. albertiana 'Piccolo'
White spruce
Picea omorika
Serbian spruce
Picea omorika
Serbian spruce
Picea pungens
Colorado spruce, Blue spruce
Picea pungens
Colorado spruce, Blue spruce
Picea pungens 'Edith'
Colorado spruce, Blue spruce
Picea pungens 'Fat Albert'
Blue spruce