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)
Symphoricarpos Magical Candy = 'Kolmcam'
Snowberry, Coralberry
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus 'Follis Variegatis'
Indian currant, Buckbrush, Coralberry Indian currant
Symphoricarpos x chenaultii 'Hancock'
Hancock chenault coralberry
Symphoricarpos x doorenbosii 'Magic Berry'
Snowberry, Coralberry
Symphoricarpos x doorenbosii 'Mother of Pearl'
Hybrid coralberry
Syringa 'Red Pixie'
Lilac
Syringa x laciniata
Cut leaf lilac
Tagetes
Marigold
Tagetes 'Antigua Orange'
Marigold
Tagetes 'Antigua Yellow'
Marigold
Tagetes 'Starfire'
Marigold
Tagetes erecta 'Zenith Lemon Yellow'
African marigold, Aztec marigold, Big marigold
Tagetes lucida
Sweet scented marigold, Sweet mace, Sweet scented mexican marigold
Tagetes patula
French marigold
Tagetes patula
French marigold
Tagetes patula 'Bonanza Bee'
French marigold
Tagetes patula 'Durango Bee'
French marigold
Tagetes patula 'Durango Flame'
French marigold
Tagetes patula 'Durango Gold'
French marigold
Tagetes patula 'Durango Red'
French marigold
Tagetes patula 'Durango Tangerine'
French marigold
Tagetes patula 'Honeycomb'
French marigold
Tagetes tenuifolia
Signet marigold, Striped Mexican marigold
Tagetes tenuifolia 'Lemon Gem'
Signet marigold, Striped Mexican marigold
Tagetes tenuifolia 'Tangerine Gem'
Signet marigold, Striped Mexican marigold
Tamarix
Tamarisk, Salt cedar
Tamarix ramosissima
Five stamen tamarix
Tamarix tetrandra
Four stamened tamarisk
Tanacetum
Tansy
Tanacetum parthenium
Green feverfew, Bachelor's buttons, Parthenium chrysanthemum
Tanacetum parthenium 'Aureum'
Golden feverfew, Golden feather, Bachelor's buttons, Parthenium chrysanthemum
Taxus
Yew
Taxus cuspidata
Japanese yew
Taxus cuspidata 'Nana'
Japanese yew
Teucrium
Germander, Wood sage
Teucrium chamaedrys
Wall germander, Ground oak, Ground germander
Teucrium fruticans
Shrubby germander, Tree germander
Teucrium fruticans 'Azureum'
Shrubby germander
Teucrium fruticans 'Compactum'
Compact shrubby germander, Compact tree germander
Teucrium fruticans 'Lucky Gold'
Shrubby germander
Teucrium hircanicum
Caucasian germander
Teucrium hircanicum 'Paradise Delight'
Caucasian germander
Teucrium hircanicum 'Purple Tails'
Caucasian germander
Teucrium pyrenaicum
Germander, Wood sage, Pyrenean wood sage
Teucrium scorodonia
European wood sage, Sage-leafed germander, Woodland germander
Teucrium x lucidrys
Bastard germander, Hybrid germander
Thuja
Red cedar, Arborvitae
Thuja plicata
Western red cedar, Western arbor vitae