Coastal Gardens

Plants suited to windy seaside gardens and salty conditions.

Coastal gardens need toughness — wind, salt spray and free-draining soils favour silver foliage, grasses and resilient flowering shrubs. Shelter pockets and repeated plantings create a garden that thrives by the sea.

Design tips

• Create windbreaks with hedges or woven screens before planting softer flowers.
• Choose plants with silver, waxy or fine foliage that shrug off salt and wind.
• Use gravel and free-draining soil mixes to prevent winter waterlogging.
• Repeat tough species in groups for impact and practical maintenance.
• Anchor seating in the most sheltered pocket of the plot.

Recommended plants

• Pampas Grass — Wind-tolerant movement and structure
• English Lavender — Aromatic and drought-resilient
• Sea Holly — Architectural coastal classic
• Escallonia — Tough flowering hedge option
• Red Hot Poker — Bold colour that handles exposure
• Hebe — Evergreen coastal shrub colour