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)
Dianthus 'Night Star'
Carnation
Dianthus 'Queen of Henri'
Carnation
Dianthus 'Sissy'
Pink, Clove
Dianthus 'Sops-in-Wine'
Carnation
Dianthus 'Sunflor Bianca'
Pot carnation
Dianthus 'Sunflor Margarita'
Pot carnation
Dianthus 'Sunflor White Surprise'
Pot carnation
Dianthus 'Tamsin'
Carnation
Dianthus 'Valda Wyatt'
Carnation, Pink, Clove
Dianthus barbatus 'Albus'
Sweet William
Dianthus deltoides 'Alba'
Maiden pink
Dianthus deltoides 'Arctic Fire'
Maiden pink, Clove
Dianthus gratianopolitanus
Cheddar pink
Dianthus plumarius
Cottage pink, Border pink, Grass pink, Common pink, Old fashioned pink
Dianthus spiculifolius
Thorn leaf pink
Dracaena sanderiana
Ribbon plant
Elaeagnus x submacrophylla 'Maryline'
Hybrid oleaster
Elaeagnus x submacrophylla 'Moonlight'
Hybrid oleaster
Erica carnea 'December Red'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea 'Eileen Porter'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea 'Loughrigg'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica carnea 'Springwood Pink'
Spring heath, Mountain heath, Winter heath
Erica vagans 'Fiddlestone'
Cornish heath, Wandering heath
Erica vagans 'Lyonesse'
Cornish heath, Wandering heath
Erigeron 'Dimity'
Fleabane, Summer starwort
Erigeron 'Nachthimmel'
Fleabane, Summer starwort
Erigeron 'Serenity'
Fleabane, Summer starwort
Erigeron karvinskianus 'Kew Profusion'
Mexican fleabane, Australian fleabane, Wall daisy
Eryngium 'Magical Blue Globe'
Sea holly
Eryngium bourgatii 'Oxford Blue'
Pyrenean eryngyo, Bourgat's eryngo
Eryngium maritimum
Sea holm, Sea eryngium
Euonymus fortunei 'Kewensis'
Wintercreeper, Evergreen bittersweet, Dwarf euonymus
Euonymus japonicus 'Latifolius Albomarginatus'
Japanese spindle
Festuca gautieri 'AmiGreen®'
Bearskin fescue
Festuca valesiaca 'Silbersee'
Wallis fescue
Ficus carica 'Rouge de Bordeaux'
Common fig
Forsythia Maree d'Or = 'Courtasol'
Gaillardia 'Sundance Red'
Fire wheels, Hybrid blanket flower
Gaillardia x grandiflora 'Dazzler'
Fire wheels, Hybrid blanket flower
Gaultheria mucronata 'Sea Shell'
Wintergreen, Box berry, Canada tea, Prickly heath
Gaultheria mucronata 'White Pearl'
Wintergreen, Box berry, Canada tea, Prickly heath
Gaultheria mucronata 'Wintertime'
Wintergreen, Box berry, Canada tea, Prickly heath
Gazania splendens
Striking gazania
Geranium dalmaticum 'Album'
Dalmation cranesbill
Geranium himalayense 'Irish Blue'
Lilac cranesbill, Himalayan cranesbill
Geranium maculatum f. albiflorum
American cranesbill, Wild cranesbill, Wild geranium, Spotted cranesbill
Geranium pratense 'New Dimension'
Meadow cranesbill, Meadow geranium
Geranium versicolor 'Snow White'
Pencilled crane's bill