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)
Sambucus nigra Cherry Lace = 'Hyfjolais'
Black elder
Sambucus nigra f. laciniata
Fern leaved elder, Cut leaved elder, Parsley leaved elder, Common elder, Black elder, Bourtree, European elder
Sambucus nigra f. porphyrophylla 'Blue Sheen'
Black elder, Common elder, European elder
Sambucus nigra f. porphyrophylla 'Guincho Purple'
Purple leaved elder, Common elder, Black elder, Bourtree, European elder
Sambucus nigra f. porphyrophylla Laced Up® = 'Snr1292'
Black elder
Sambucus racemosa
Red berried elder, Hart's elder, European red elder
Sambucus racemosa 'Plumosa Aurea'
Golden elder, Red berried Elder, Hart's elder, European red elder
Santolina
Cotton lavender, Lavender-cotton
Santolina chamaecyparissus 'Lambrooke Silver'
Cotton lavender, Lavender-cotton
Santolina chamaecyparissus 'Nana'
Ground cyprus, Cotton lavender, Lavender-cotton
Santolina chamaecyparissus 'Small-Ness'
Ground cyprus, Cotton lavender, Lavender-cotton
Santolina pinnata subsp. neapolitana 'Edward Bowles'
Cotton lavender, Lavender-cotton
Santolina pinnatus subsp. neapolitana 'Sulphurea'
Cotton lavender, Lavender-cotton
Santolina rosmarinifolia
Holy flax, Green lavender cotton, Rosemary lavender cotton
Santolina rosmarinifolia 'Primrose Gem'
Holy flax, Green lavender cotton, Rosemary lavender cotton
Sasa palmata
Palmate bamboo
Sasa palmata f. nebulosa
Palmate bamboo
Sasa veitchii
Silver edged sasa, Kuma Zasa, Kuma bamboo grass
Sasaella masamuneana 'Albostriata'
White striped bamboo, White striped shiya-zasa
Sasaella ramosa
Azuma zasa
Scabiosa 'Barocca'
Scabious
Scabiosa 'Cherry Pie'
Scabious
Scabiosa 'Pink Diamonds'
Scabious
Scabiosa 'Vivid Violet'
Scabious
Scabiosa atropurpurea
Mournful widow, Sweet scabious, Egyptian rose
Scabiosa atropurpurea 'Beaujolais Bonnets'
Sweet scabious
Scabiosa atropurpurea 'Chile Black'
Sweet scabious
Scabiosa caucasica
Caucasian scabious, Pincushion flower
Scabiosa caucasica 'Clive Greaves'
Caucasian scabious, Pincushion flower
Scabiosa caucasica 'Miss Willmott'
Caucasian scabious, Pincushion flower
Scabiosa caucasica 'Perfecta Alba'
Caucasian scabious, Pincushion flower
Scabiosa caucasica 'Perfecta Blue'
Caucasian scabious, Pincushion flower
Scabiosa caucasica 'Stafa'
Caucasian scabious, Pincushion flower
Scabiosa columbaria
Small scabious
Scabiosa columbaria
Small scabious, Yellow scabious, Bachelor's buttons
Scabiosa columbaria 'Mariposa Blue'
Small scabious
Scabiosa columbaria 'Nana'
Small scabious
Scabiosa columbaria Flutter™ Deep Blue = 'Balfluttdelu'
Small scabious, Dwarf pincushion flower
Scabiosa columbaria Flutter™ Pure White = 'Balflutturite'
Small scabious, Dwarf pincushion flower
Scabiosa columbaria Flutter™ Rose Pink = 'Balfluttropi'
Small scabious, Dwarf pincushion flower
Scabiosa columbaria subsp. ochroleuca
Yellow scabious
Scabiosa graminifolia
Grass leaved scabious
Scabiosa incisa 'Kudo'
Scabious
Scabiosa japonica var. alpina 'Ritz Blue'
Alpine scabious
Scabiosa lucida
Shining scabious
Schizachyrium scoparium
Broom beard grass, Prairie grass, Wire grass, Bunchgrass
Scilla
Squill
Sedum 'Abbey Dore'
Abbey Dore stonecrop