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)
Phlox White Eye Flame = 'Barsixty'
Phormium 'Gold Sword'
New Zealand hemp, Harakeke
Phormium 'Moonraker'
New Zealand flax
Physostegia virginiana 'Summer Snow'
Obedient plant, False dragonhead, Lionsheart, Stay in place
Physostegia virginiana 'Summer Spires'
Obedient plant, False dragonhead, Lionsheart, Stay in place
Picea abies 'Pygmaea'
Norway spruce
Picea glauca 'Lilliput'
White spruce
Picea glauca var. albertiana 'Alberta Globe'
Albert's round spruce
Pinus mugo 'Gnom'
Mountain pine, Swiss mountain pine
Pinus mugo 'Hesse'
Mountain pine, Swiss mountain pine
Pinus mugo 'Mops'
Mountain pine, Swiss mountain pine
Pinus nigra 'Globosa'
Austrian pine, Black pine
Pinus nigra subsp. nigra 'Helga'
Austrian pine, Black pine
Pinus pinea 'Silver Crest'
Stone pine, Umbrella pine
Pinus strobus 'Densa'
Weymouth pine, Eastern white pine, Deal pine
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Bannow Bay'
Tawhiwhi, Kohuhu
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Cratus'
Kohuhu, Tawhiwhi
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Glo Ball'
Tawhiwi, Kohuhu
Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Green Elf'
Tawhiwhi, Kohuhu
Platycladus orientalis
Chinese arbor-vitae, Oriental arbor-vitae
Platycladus orientalis 'Elegantissima'
Chinese arbor-vitae, Oriental thuja
Platycladus orientalis 'Franky Boy'
Chinese arbor-vitae, Oriental thuja
Portulaca oleracea
Summer purslane, Common purslane, Pussley
Potentilla 'Yellow Queen'
Cinquefoil, Five finger
Potentilla atrosanguinea var. argyrophylla 'Scarlet Starlit'
Silver-leaved potentilla
Potentilla fruticosa 'Bo-Peep'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Goldstar'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Longacre Variety'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla fruticosa 'Orangeade'
Shrubby cinquefoil, Golden hardhack, Widdy, Bush cinquefoil
Potentilla x russelleana
Russell's hybrid cinquefoil
Pulsatilla albana
Alba Longa pasque flower
Pulsatilla vulgaris 'Barton's Pink'
Meadow anemone, Common pasque flower, Coventry bells, Flaw flower
Pulsatilla vulgaris 'Pearl Bells'
Pasque flower
Pyracantha 'Golden Paradise'
Firethorn
Pyracantha coccinea 'Red Star'
Firethorn, Buisson ardent, Scarlet firethorn
Quercus ilex
Holm oak, Evergreen oak, Holly leaved oak
Quercus petraea
Sessile oak, Durmast oak
Rhodanthemum gayanum 'Pretty in Pink'
Moroccan daisy
Ribes sanguineum 'Lombartsii'
Flowering currant, Winter currant, California gooseberry
Ribes sanguineum 'Poky's Pink'
Flowering currant, Winter currant, California gooseberry
Rosa 'White Grootendorst'
Rugosa rose
Rosmarinus officinalis 'Barbecue'
Barbecue Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis 'Miss Jessopp's Upright'
Rosemary
Rudbeckia 'Giggling Smileyz'
Cone flower
Rudbeckia hirta 'Summerina Pumpernickel'
Coneflower
Salix reticulata
Net leaved willow
Salvia aurea 'Kirstenbosch'
Beach sage
Salvia blepharophylla
Eyelash leaf sage, Brandegee