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)
Thuja plicata
Western red cedar, Western arbor vitae
Thymus
Thyme
Thymus 'Doone Valley'
Thyme
Thymus 'Silver Posie'
Thyme
Thymus 'Silver Queen'
Silver Thyme
Thymus cilicicus
Cilicia thyme
Thymus Coccineus Group
Creeping red thyme, Creeping thyme, Wild thyme, English thyme
Thymus herba-barona
Caraway thyme
Thymus praecox
Hairy thyme
Thymus praecox 'Albiflorus'
Hairy thyme
Thymus pseudolanuginosus
Grey woolly thyme
Thymus pulegioides
Broad leaved thyme, Large thyme
Thymus pulegioides 'Aureus'
Broad leaved thyme, Large thyme, Thyme golden
Thymus pulegioides 'Bertram Anderson'
Lemon Broad leaved thyme, Large thyme
Thymus serpyllum
Creeping thyme, Wild thyme, English thyme, Breckland thyme, Mother of thyme
Thymus serpyllum 'Annie Hall'
Creeping thyme, Wild thyme, English thyme, Mother of thyme
Thymus serpyllum 'Minor'
Creeping thyme, Wild thyme, English thyme, Breckland thyme, Mother of thyme
Thymus serpyllum 'Russetings'
Creeping thyme, Wild thyme, English thyme, Breckland thyme, Mother of thyme
Trachelospermum asiaticum 'Golden Memories'
Yellow Chinese jasmine
Trachelospermum asiaticum 'Ogon-nishiki'
Asiatic jasmine
Trachelospermum Chili & Vanilla = 'Livano'
Star jasmine
Trachelospermum jasminoides 'Variegatum'
Variageted chinese jasmine, Star jasmine, Confederate jasmine, Chinese star jasmine, Luo shi
Trachelospermum jasminoides Star of Toscana = 'Selbra'
Star jasmine
Trachycarpus
Chusan palm, Chinese Windmill palm, Fan palm
Tritonia disticha subsp. rubrolucens
Rosy tritonia
Tropaeolum
Nasturtium, Indian cress, Canary bird vine, Flame flower
Tropaeolum majus
Great Indian cress
Tropaeolum majus 'Empress of India'
Great Indian cress
Tropaeolum majus 'Hermine Grashoff'
Great Indian cress
Tropaeolum majus 'Margaret Long'
Great Indian cress
Tropaeolum majus 'Peach Melba'
Great Indian cress
Tropaeolum majus Alaska Series
Great Indian cress
Ulex europaeus
Prickly broom, Common gorse, Irish gorse
Ulex minor
Dwarf gorse, Small furze
Ulmus
Elm
Vaccinium 'Bluejay'
Vaccinium 'Herbert'
Vaccinium corymbosum 'Blauweiss-Goldtraube'
Highbush blueberry, American blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum 'Bluetta'
Highbush blueberry, American blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum 'Darrow'
Highbush blueberry, American blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum 'Elliott'
Highbush blueberry, American blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum 'Heerma'
Highbush blueberry, American blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum 'Patriot'
Blueberry patriot
Vaccinium corymbosum 'Spartan'
Highbush blueberry, American blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum 'Stanley'
Highbush blueberry, American blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum 'Trovor'
Highbush blueberry, American blueberry
Veitchia merrillii
Christmas palm, Manila palm
Verbascum
Mullein