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)
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'French Lace'
Tawhiwhi, Kohuhu
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Golden King'
Tawhiwhi, Kohuhu
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Loxhill Gold'
Tawhiwhi, Kohuhu
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Oliver Twist'
Tawhiwhi
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Purpureum'
Tawhiwhi, Kohuhu
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Silver Magic'
Tawhiwhi, Kohuhu
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Warnham Gold'
Tawhiwhi, Kohuhu
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Wendle Channon'
Tawhiwhi, Kohuhu
Pittosporum tobira
Japanese mock orange, Tobira, Japanese pittosporum, Australian laurel
Platycladus
Chinese arbor-vitae, Oriental thuja
Platycladus orientalis 'Aurea Nana'
Chinese arbor-vitae, Oriental thuja
Platycladus orientalis 'Conspicua'
Chinese arbor-vitae, Oriental thuja
Platycladus orientalis 'Flame'
Chinese arbor-vitae, Oriental thuja
Platycladus orientalis 'Pyramidalis Aurea'
Chinese arbor-vitae, Oriental thuja
Platycladus orientalis 'Rosedalis'
Chinese arbor-vitae, Oriental thuja
Pleioblastus
Bamboo
Pleioblastus pygmaeus
Pygmy bamboo, Dwarf fern-leafed bamboo, Keoroshima-chiku
Pleioblastus variegatus
Dwarf white striped bamboo, Chigo-zasa
Pleioblastus variegatus 'Tsuboi'
Dwarf white striped bamboo, Chigo-zasa
Pleioblastus viridistriatus
Kamuro Zasa
Plumbago auriculata
Leadwort, Cape leadwort, Blue plumbago
Podocarpus
Podocarp, Yellow wood, Alpine totara
Podocarpus nivalis 'Bronze'
Alpine totara
Podocarpus salignus
Willowleaf podocarp, Willow podocarp, Manio
Populus alba
White poplar, Abele, Silver leafed poplar
Populus alba 'Richardii'
White poplar, Abele, Silver leafed poplar
Populus tremula
Aspen, Quaking aspen
Populus tremula 'Pendula'
Weeping aspen, Aspen, Quaking aspen
Potentilla 'Arc-en-ciel'
Cinquefoil, Five finger
Potentilla 'Esta Ann'
Cinquefoil, Five finger
Potentilla 'Etna'
Cinquefoil, Five finger
Potentilla 'Gibson's Scarlet'
Cinquefoil, Five finger
Potentilla 'Monsieur Rouillard'
Cinquefoil, Five finger
Potentilla 'William Rollisson'
Potentilla atrosanguinea
Himalayan Cinquefoil, Red cinquefoil
Potentilla atrosanguinea var. argyrophylla
Silver-leaved potentilla
Potentilla aurea
Silver-leaved potentilla
Potentilla erecta
Sulphur five finger, Bloodroot, Ewe daisy, Redroot, Tormentil, Cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Beesii'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Bewerley Surprise'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Chelsea Star'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Dart's Golddigger'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Daydawn'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Gold Drop'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Groneland'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Hopleys Orange'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Katherine Dykes'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil