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)
Rudbeckia maxima
Cabbage coneflower, Giant coneflower, Great coneflower
Rudbeckia nitida
Shiny coneflower
Rudbeckia triloba
Brown-eyed Susan, Three lobed coneflower
Rudbeckia triloba 'Prairie Glow'
Brown-eyed Susan, Three lobed coneflower
Rudbeckia triloba 'Takao'
Brown-eyed Susan, Three lobed coneflower
Ruta graveolens
Rue, Herb of Grace
Ruta graveolens 'Jackman's Blue'
Rue, Herb of Grace
Sabal palmetto
Palmetto, Cabbage palm, Common blue palmetto, Cabbage palmetto
Salix
Willow, Osier, Sallow
Salix acutifolia 'Blue Streak'
Caspian willow
Salix aegyptiaca
Musk willow, Egyptian musk willow, Calaf of Persia willow
Salix alba
White willow
Salix alba
Willow, White willow
Salix alba 'Aurea'
White willow
Salix alba 'Golden Ness'
Silver willow, Golden silver willow
Salix alba var. vitellina
Golden willow, Yellow stemmed white willow, Golden osier, White willow
Salix alba var. vitellina 'Britzensis'
Red stemmed willow, Scarlet willow, Coral bark willow, White willow, Golden willow, Yellow stemmed white willow, Golden osier
Salix apoda
Stalkless willow
Salix arbuscula
Mountain willow
Salix caprea
Goat willow, Great sallow, Pussy willow, Florist's willow
Salix daphnoides
Violet willow
Salix daphnoides 'Aglaia'
Violet willow
Salix elaeagnos
Willow, Hoary willow, Rosemary willow, Bitter willow
Salix exigua
Coyote willow
Salix glauca
Arctic grey willow, Glaucous mountain willow, Bluish willow
Salix gracilistyla 'Melanostachys'
Black pussy willow, Rosegold pussy willow, Japanese pussy willow
Salix hastata 'Wehrhahnii'
Wehrhan's halberd leaved willow, Halberd-leaved willow
Salix helvetica
Swiss willow, Swiss sallow
Salix herbacea
Dwarf willow, Least willow
Salix integra 'Hakuro-nishiki'
Nishiki's purple willow, Willow, Osier, Sallow
Salix lanata
Woolly willow
Salix subopposita
Paired leaf willow
Salix x rubens 'Basfordiana'
Basford willow, Hybrid crack willow
Salix x sepulcralis 'Erythroflexuosa'
Weeping willow
Salix x sepulcralis var. chrysocoma
Golden weeping willow, Weeping willow, Weeping willow
Salvia 'Cherry Queen'
Hybrid sage
Salvia 'Eveline'
Hybrid sage, Meadow clary, Meadow sage
Salvia 'Fire Dancer™'
Dwarf perennial sage
Salvia 'Flamenco Rose'
Dwarf perennial sage
Salvia 'Flamingo'
Perennial sage
Salvia 'Indigo Spires'
Sage
Salvia 'Lemon Light'
Dwarf perennial sage
Salvia 'Mulberry Jam'
Hybrid sage, Roseleaf sage, Bracted sage
Salvia 'Nachtvlinder'
James' hybrid sage
Salvia 'Neon'
Hybrid sage, Meadow clary, Meadow sage
Salvia 'Orchid Glow'
Dwarf perennial sage
Salvia 'Purple Majesty'
Hybrid sage, Anise-scented sage
Salvia 'Purple Queen'
Hybrid sage