Many think that gardening near to the sea is challenging, if not impossible. But in fact there are a surprising range of plants than can survive and even thrive in a coastal situation.

However there can often be a degree of trial and error with coastal gardening – don’t be afraid to try new species and experiment. Sometimes even tender plants can survive near the coast, so take a careful look around other gardens in your area to see if there are specific plants that do well in your local micro-climate.

Protecting your plants from the worst of the weather can be another issue in an exposed seaside location. In this case your first priority should be try and create a windbreak to protect your plants, but which still allows some of the wind through (otherwise it wont last long!). Use wooden trellis fencing attached to well concreted fence posts, or grow or a windbreak of Laurel or Tamarisk.

Many coastal plants such as Sea Kale,  Sea Holly and Valerian should also thrive  in low maintenance gravel gardens as long as they have good drainage. Their striking shapes and foliage can create an eye catching display.

Recommended Coastal Garden Plants:

Here are our top suggestions of plants for coastal gardens…

Alcea rosea, Hollyhock, Perennial
Armeria maritime ‘Alba’, Thrift, Perennial
Armeria maritime ‘Bloodstone’, Thrift, Perennial
Armeria maritime ‘Vindictive’, Thrift, Perennial
Aucuba japonica ‘Rozannie’, Japanese Laurel, Evergreen shrub
Centranthus ruber, Red Valerian, Perennial
Centranthus ruber ‘Albus’, White Valerian, Perennial
Crambe maritime, Sea Kale, Perennial
Eryngium bourgatii, Sea Holly, Perennial
Eryngium x oliverianum, Sea Holly, Perennial
Eryngium planum ‘Bethlehem’, blue eryngo, Perennial
Fuchsia magellanica, Fuchsia, Deciduous shrub
Fuchsia riccartonii, Fuchsia, Deciduous shrub
Hebe albicans, Hebe, Evergreen Shrub
Hebe salicifolia, Hebe, Evergreen Shrub
Hebe ‘White Gem’, Hebe, Evergreen Shrub
Hydrangea involucrate ‘Hortensis’, Hydrangea, Deciduous shrub
Laurus nobilis, Bay Tree, Evergreen Shrub/Tree
Limonium bellidifolium, Sea Lavender, Perennial
Pinus nigra laricio, Corsican pine, Evergreen Shrub/Tree
Pinus sylvestris,  Scots pine, Evergreen Shrub/Tree
Prunus spinosa, Blackthorn, Deciduous shrub
Quercus ilex, Holm oak, Evergreen tree
Salix alba, White Willow, Tree
Sambucus nigra, Common elder, Deciduous shrub
Silene maritime, Sea Campion, Perennial
Tamarix ramosissima, Tamarisk, Deciduous shrub
Tamarix tetrandra, four-stamen Tamarisk, Deciduous shrub
Jasminum officinale, common Jasmin, Climber