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)
Calluna vulgaris 'Mullion'
Heather, Ling, Scots heather
Calluna vulgaris 'My Dream'
Common Scotch heather
Calluna vulgaris 'Spook'
Common Scotch heather
Calluna vulgaris 'Tricolorifolia'
Common Scotch heather
Campanula carpatica f. alba 'Snowsprite'
Carpathian Tussock bellflower, Carpathian harebell
Canna 'Brilliant'
Canna lily
Canna 'Lenape'
Canna lily
Carex comans
New Zealand hairy sedge, Hair sedge, Green wig
Carex oshimensis 'Eversheen'
Japanese sedge grass, Oshima kan suge
Carex testacea 'Old Gold'
Orange New Zealand sedge
Catananche caerulea 'Major'
Cupid's dart
Centaurea cyanus 'Midget Mixture'
Cornflower, Blue-bottle, Batchelor's buttons
Centaurea montana 'Joyce'
Mountain knapweed, Perennial cornflower, Mountain bluet, Perennial bachelor's buttons
Cerastium tomentosum var. columnae
Dusty miller, Snow in summer
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Gracilis'
Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Opaal'
Hinoki cypress
Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Pygmaea'
Hinoki cypress
Choisya Royal Lace = 'Pmoore06'
Mexican Orange Blossom
Cistus creticus subsp. incanus
Hairy rock rose
Cistus ladanifer 'Blanche'
Cretan rock rose, Gum cistus
Cistus populifolius subsp. major
Woolly-fruited poplar leaved rock rose
Cistus x aguilarii 'Maculatus'
Rock rose
Cordyline 'Purple Tower'
Cabbage tree of New Zealand, Giant Dracaena, Ti
Cordyline australis 'Albertii'
Cabbage tree of New Zealand, Giant Dracaena, Ti
Cordyline australis Purpurea Group
Cabbage tree of New Zealand, Giant Dracaena, Ti
Cordyline banksii Electric Pink = 'Sprilecpink'
Cabbage tree of New Zealand, Giant Dracaena
Coreopsis 'Astolat'
Large flowered tickseed, Lance coreopsis
Coreopsis grandiflora 'Sun Up'
Large flowered tickseed, Lance coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata 'Walter'
Lance leaf tickseed, Tickseed
Cosmos sulphureus 'Cosmic Orange'
Mexican Aster, Tall Cosmos
Crataegus laevigata 'Plena'
Double white thorn, Quick set thorn, White thorn, English hawthorn, May
Crocosmia 'Prince of Orange'
Golden montbretia
Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora 'Jackanapes'
Hybrid crocosmia
Cupressus arizonica 'Fastigiata Aurea'
Arizona cypress, Smooth cypress
Cupressus macrocarpa 'Golden Cone'
Monterey cypress
Cycas taiwaniana
Taiwan cycad, Prince sago palm
Cytisus scoparius f. andreanus
Common broom, Scotch broom, Broom
Cytisus x kewensis
Kew broom, Broom
Dianthus 'Adorables Mel'
Pink, Clove
Dianthus 'Becky Robinson'
Carnation
Dianthus 'Brilliant Star'
Pink, Clove
Dianthus 'Brympton Red'
Carnation
Dianthus 'Carmine Letitia Wyatt'
Carnation, Pink, Clove
Dianthus 'Devon Glow'
Carnation
Dianthus 'Dewdrop'
Carnation
Dianthus 'Fair Folly'
Carnation
Dianthus 'Laced Monarch'
Carnation, Pink, Clove
Dianthus 'Little Jock'
Carnation, Pink, Clove