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)
Sorbus aria 'Lutescens'
Whitebeam
Sorbus aria 'Magnifica'
Whitebeam
Sorbus aria 'Majestica'
Whitebeam
Sorbus aucuparia
Mountain ash, Quicken wicken common mountain ash, European mountain ash
Sorbus aucuparia
Mountain ash, Quicken wicken, Common mountain ash, European mountain ash
Sorbus aucuparia 'Aspleniifolia'
Cut leaf mountain ash, Mountain ash, Quicken wicken common mountain ash, European mountain ash
Sorbus aucuparia 'Beissneri'
Orange stemmed mountain ash, Mountain ash, Quicken wicken common mountain ash, European mountain ash
Sorbus aucuparia 'Fastigiata'
Mountain ash
Sorbus aucuparia 'Hilling's Spire'
Mountain ash, Quicken wicken common mountain ash, European mountain ash
Sorbus aucuparia Cardinal Royal = 'Michred'
Mountain ash, Quicken wicken common mountain ash, European mountain ash
Sorbus aucuparia var. xanthocarpa
Yellow berried mountain ash, Mountain ash, Quicken wicken common mountain ash, European mountain ash
Spartina pectinata 'Aureomarginata'
Prairie cord grass, Cord grass
Spartium junceum
Spanish broom, Weaver's broom, Retamo macho, Broom absolute
Spiraea betulifolia
White spiraea, Birch leaf spiraea
Spiraea betulifolia 'Tor Gold'
White spiraea, Birch leaf spiraea
Spiraea betulifolia 'Tor'
White spiraea, Birch leaf spiraea
Spiraea betulifolia var. aemiliana
White spiraea
Spiraea douglasii var. menziesii
Douglas spiraea
Spiraea japonica
Japanese spiraea, Japanese meadowsweet
Spiraea japonica 'Candlelight'
Japanese spiraea, Japanese meadowsweet
Spiraea japonica 'Dart's Red'
Japanese spiraea, Japanese meadowsweet
Spiraea japonica 'White Gold'
Japanese spiraea, Japanese meadowsweet
Spiraea prunifolia
Bridal wreath spiraea
Spiraea Sparkling Champagne = 'Lonspi'
Spiraea Sundrop = 'Bailcarol'
Spiraea thunbergii
Thunberg's spiraea
Spiraea trilobata
Threelobe spiraea
Spiraea x vanhouttei
Vanhoutt's spiraea
Spiraea x vanhouttei 'Gold Fountain'
Vanhoutt's golden spiraea
Spiraea x vanhouttei Pink Ice = 'Catpan'
Vanhoutt's spiraea
Stachys
Betony, Hedge nettle, Woundwort
Stachys byzantina 'Big Ears'
Lambs tongue, Lamb's tails, Woolly betony, Lambs ears, Woolly woundwort
Stachys byzantina 'Cotton Boll'
Lambs tongue, Lamb's tails, Woolly betony, Lambs ears, Woolly woundwort
Stachys byzantina 'Fuzzy Wuzzy'
Lambs tongue, Lambs tails, Woolly ears
Stachys byzantina 'Primrose Heron'
Lambs tongue, Lamb's tails, Woolly betony, Lambs ears, Woolly woundwort
Stachys byzantina 'Silver Carpet'
Lambs tongue, Lamb's tails, Woolly betony, Lambs ears, Woolly woundwort
Stachys macrantha 'Superba'
Big betony, Big sage
Stachys officinalis
Bishop's wort, Betony
Stachys officinalis
Bishop's wort, Betony
Stachys officinalis 'Hummelo'
Bishop's wort, Betony
Stachys officinalis 'Saharan Pink'
Bishop's wort, Betony
Stenotaphrum secundatum 'Variegatum'
Buffalo grass, St. Augustine grass, Grama
Stipa
Needle grass, Spear grass, Feather grass
Stipa tenuifolia
Slender leaved needle flower
Stipa tenuissima
Mexican hair grass, Mexican feather grass
Stokesia laevis 'Blue Star'
Stoke's aster, Jasper blue stokesia
Symphoricarpos
Snowberry, Coralberry
Symphoricarpos albus
Snowberry, Coralberry, Common snowberry, Wax berry