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)
Salvia pratensis 'Pink Delight'
Meadow clary, Meadow sage
Salvia pratensis 'Rose Rhapsody'
Meadow clary, Meadow sage
Salvia pratensis 'Twilight Serenade'
Meadow clary, Meadow sage
Salvia pratensis Haematodes Group
Meadow clary, Meadow sage
Salvia przewalskii
Przwalkski's sage
Salvia reptans
Jacquin's sage
Salvia roemeriana
Cedar sage
Salvia roemeriana
Cedar sage
Salvia sclarea
Clary sage, Clary, Clear eye
Salvia sclarea var. turkestanica 'Vatican Pink'
Vatican sage, Clary sage, Clary, Clear eye
Salvia sclarea var. turkestanica 'Vatican White'
Clary sage, Clary, Clear eye
Salvia splendens
Scarlet sage
Salvia splendens 'Phoenix Light Salmon'
Scarlet sage
Salvia splendens 'Salsa Purple'
Scarlet sage
Salvia splendens 'Sizzler Salmon'
Scarlet sage
Salvia splendens 'Van-Houttei'
Van-Houttei sage, Scarlet sage
Salvia splendens 'Vanguard Red'
Scarlet sage
Salvia splendens 'Vista Purple'
Scarlet sage, Sage
Salvia transsylvanica
Transylvanian sage
Salvia transsylvanica 'Blue Spire'
Transylvanian sage
Salvia uliginosa
Bog sage, Marsh sage
Salvia verticillata
Whorled clary, Lilac sage
Salvia verticillata 'Purple Rain'
Whorled clary, Lilac sage
Salvia x jamensis
James' hybrid sage
Salvia x jamensis 'Flammen'
James' hybrid sage
Salvia x jamensis 'James Compton'
James' hybrid sage
Salvia x jamensis 'Javier'
James' hybrid sage
Salvia x jamensis 'La Luna'
James' hybrid sage
Salvia x jamensis 'Melen'
James' hybrid sage
Salvia x jamensis 'Peter Vidgeon'
James' hybrid sage
Salvia x jamensis 'Pluenn'
James' hybrid sage
Salvia x jamensis 'Red Velvet'
James' hybrid sage
Salvia x jamensis 'Sierra San Antonio'
James' hybrid sage
Salvia x jamensis 'Trebah'
James' hybrid sage
Salvia x jamensis 'Trenance'
James' hybrid sage
Salvia x superba
Perennial sage
Salvia x superba 'Adrian'
Perennial sage, Sage
Salvia x superba 'Merleau Rose'
Perennial sage
Salvia x superba 'Merleau'
Perennial sage
Salvia x sylvestris 'Blauhugel'
Woodland sage, Salvia
Salvia x sylvestris 'Blaukonigin'
Woodland sage
Salvia x sylvestris 'Mainacht'
Woodland sage
Salvia x sylvestris 'Rose Queen'
Woodland sage
Salvia x sylvestris 'Schneehugel'
Woodland sage, Salvia
Salvia x sylvestris 'Superba'
Woodland sage
Salvia x sylvestris 'Viola Klose'
Woodland sage, Salvia
Sambucus nigra 'Aurea'
Golden elder, Common elder, Black elder, Bourtree, European elder
Sambucus nigra 'Aureomarginata'
Common elder, Black elder, Bourtree, European elder