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)
Potentilla fruticosa 'King Cup'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Klondike'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Limelight'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Manchu'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Medicine Wheel Mountain'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Mount Everest'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Pretty Polly'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Red Lady'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Snowbird'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Sommerflor'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Sophie's Blush'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Summer Dawn'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Summer Sorbet'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Sunset'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Tilford Cream'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Vilmoriniana'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Wessex Silver'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Yellow Bird'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa Cream'issima = 'Minjau06'
Shrubby cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa Mango Tango = 'Uman'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla megalantha
Large flowered cinquefoil
Potentilla megalantha 'Gold Sovereign'
Large flowered cinquefoil
Potentilla nepalensis
Nepal cinquefoil
Potentilla nepalensis 'Fire Dance'
Nepal cinquefoil
Potentilla nepalensis 'Helen Jane'
Nepal cinquefoil
Potentilla nepalensis 'Miss Wilmott'
Nepal cinquefoil
Potentilla nepalensis 'Ron McBeath'
Nepal cinquefoil
Potentilla nepalensis 'Shogran'
Nepal cinquefoil
Potentilla recta
Sulfur cinquefoil, Upright cinquefoil, Rough fruited cinquefoil
Potentilla recta 'Warrenii'
Sulfur cinquefoil, Upright cinquefoil, Rough fruited cinquefoil
Potentilla rupestris
Rock cinquefoil, Prairie tea
Potentilla thurberi 'Monarch's Velvet'
Red cinquefoil, Scarlet cinquefoil, Thurber's cinquefoil
Potentilla x hopwoodiana
Hopwood's cinquefoil
Potentilla x tonguei
Trailing cinquefoil
Primula 'Chameleon'
Primrose
Prunus cerasifera
Cherry plum, Myrobalan plum
Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra'
Cherry plum, Black leaved cherry plum, Myrobalan plum
Prunus spinosa
Blackthorn, Sloe berry
Prunus spinosa 'Plena'
Blackthorn, Sloe berry
Prunus spinosa 'Purpurea'
Blackthorn, Sloe berry
Pseudopanax lessonii 'Gold Splash'
Houmspara, Houpara, Houpara lancewood
Pseudosasa japonica
Arrow bamboo, Yadake
Pulsatilla alpina
Alpine Pasque flower
Pulsatilla halleri
Haller's pulsatilla, Haller's Pasque flower
Pulsatilla violacea
Blue violet pasque flower
Pulsatilla vulgaris
Meadow anemone, Common pasque flower, Coventry bells, Flaw flower
Pulsatilla vulgaris 'Alba'
White pasque flower, Meadow anemone, Common pasque flower, Coventry bells, Flaw flower
Pulsatilla vulgaris 'Pinwheel Dark Red'
Meadow anemone, Common pasque flower