It can be a challenge planting for seaside gardens and coastal areas. Plants need to be hardy enough to withstand the salty air and be able to stand up to a good old battering from the wind. To help you in planning your coastal garden, we list the plants that are known to work very well in these sometimes harsh coastal conditions.
Plants for Seaside Gardens
If you are in need of tall shelter and have the space, try cedars such as Cedrus Atlantica Glauca, an evergreen conifer with beautiful steel blue foliage.
For hedging, Griselinia Littoralis (commonly known as New Zealand Privet) does very well by the coast. Griselinia is an evergreen hedging plant with attractive mid-green leaves. Its dense growing habit and easy trim-ability make an excellent windbreak that’s not difficult to maintain. A Griselinia hedge will easily grow to over 10 feet tall.
A Griselinia hedge will easily grow to well over 10 feet tall.
To add summer colour, Hydrangeas, the large leave Hydrangea Macrophylla varieties in particular –do well in coastal areas and are good at withstanding salt burn. Do give them plenty of water until they get established. They will reward you with glorious colour from early summer to mid-autumn. Hydrangea Macrophylla has the added advantage of the RHS perfect for pollinators badge.
Hydrangeas add colour to a coastal garden
Use ornamental grasses and hardy palms to add structure and depth to your seaside garden. Grasses are generally well-used to dry conditions & tend to do very well in coastal areas. Larger grasses such as Phormiums can add architectural interest with their big shapes and bold colours. These are hardy grasses ideal for coastal and windswept gardens. Phormium Tenax (New Zealand Flax) has tall red flowers in summer. For extra variety, consider Phormium Tenax Variegated.
Grasses are generally well-used to dry conditions & tend to do very well in coastal areas.
Hardy palms are one of our specialities. Trachycarpus Fortunei, commonly known as the Chusan Palm is one of the hardiest palms in the world. Trachycarpus Fortunei has a striking shape and unusual segmented leaves in the shape of a fan. Available in sizes of up to 4.5 metres tall! Also well able to handle coastal conditions is Butia Capitata (the Pindo Palm).
Use ornamental grasses and hardy palms to add structure and depth to your seaside garden
Cordylines are frequently spotted in coastal areas and with very good reason. Cordylines such as Cordyline Australis thrive in this sometimes harsh environment.
All our plants are available to buy online. We deliver nationwide.
