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)
x Fatshedera lizei
Aralia ivy
x Fatshedera lizei 'Annemieke'
Aralia ivy
x Fatshedera lizei 'Variegata'
Aralia ivy
X halimiocistus
Hybrid sun rose
x Halimiocistus wintonensis
Winton hybrid sun rose
x Halimiocistus wintonensis 'Merrist Wood Cream'
Winton hybrid sun rose
x Heucherella 'Art Nouveau'
Foamy bells
x Heucherella 'Berry Fizz'
Foamy bells
x Heucherella 'Brass Lantern'
Foamy bells
x Heucherella 'Dayglow Pink'
Foamy bells
x Heucherella 'Gunsmoke'
Foamy bells
x Heucherella 'Kimono'
Foamy bells
x Heucherella 'Solar Power'
Foamy bells
x Heucherella 'Stoplight'
Foamy bells
x Heucherella 'Sunrise Falls'
Foamy bells
x Heucherella 'Tapestry'
Foamy bells
x Heucherella alba 'Bridget Bloom'
Foamy bells
x Heucherella alba 'Rosalie'
Foamy bells
x Heucherella Gold Strike = 'Hertn041'
Foamy bells
x Heucherella tiarelloides
Tiarella like foamy bells
x Phyllosasa tranquillans
Inyouchikuzoku, Mount hiba bamboo
Yucca aloifolia f. marginata
Aloe yucca
Yucca brevifolia
Joshua tree
Yucca filamentosa 'Color Guard'
Adam's needle yucca, Spoonleaf yucca, Silkgrass, Adam's thread
Yucca filamentosa 'Variegata'
Adam's needle yucca, Spoonleaf yucca, Silkgrass, Adam's thread
Yucca flaccida
Weak leaf yucca
Yucca flaccida 'Golden Sword'
Weak leaf yucca
Yucca flaccida 'Ivory'
Weak leaf yucca
Yucca gloriosa
Spanish dagger, Roman candle, Palm lily, Moundlily yucca, Soft tipped yucca
Yucca recurvifolia
Pendulous yucca, Curveleaf yucca
Yucca recurvifolia Banana Split = 'Monvil'
Pendulous yucca, Curveleaf yucca
Zamia furfuraceae
Cardboard palm, Cycad
Zamia pumila
Florida arrowroot, Seminole bread, Dwarf cycad, Coontie
Agapanthus praecox 'Blue Storm'
Early blooming agapanthus, Agapanto, Early blooming blue African lily
Berberis thunbergii 'Orange Dream'
Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry
Calluna vulgaris 'Alicia'
Common Scotch heather
Calluna vulgaris 'Kinlochruel'
Heather, Ling, Scots heather
Carex oshimensis Everest = 'Fiwhite'
Japanese sedge grass, Oshima kan suge
Chamaerops humilis
Mediterranean fan palm, Chusan palm, Chinese windmill palm, Dwarf fan palm
Cordyline 'Cha Cha'
Cabbage tree of New Zealand, Giant Dracaena, Ti
Cortaderia selloana 'Rosea'
Sellow's pampas grass
Dianthus 'Odessa Easy Pink'
Pink, Clove
Dianthus 'Starry Eyes'
Pink, Clove
Escallonia laevis Pink Elle = 'Lades'
Hebe 'Baby Boo'
Hebe 'Black Beauty'
Hebe 'Pink Candy'
Shrubby veronica
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Schneeball'
Hortensia hydrangea, Mophead hydrangea