Seaside Plants
1 July 2003

It would be silly to say there are no problems for those who garden close to the coast. North and East winds can play havoc with evergreens. Salt spray on plant foliage is a real problem. Looking on the bright side there is less risk of frost, allowing tender plants to be successfully grown.

There is an amazing range of plants that will not only succeed but will cause envy with inland gardeners. Soil types vary but they are usually light and free draining. They will benefit from heavy applications of compost or old, well rotted, farmyard manure. Surface mulching in early spring with gravel or bark mulch will help retain moisture during summer.

A wind break of wind and salt tolerant trees and shrubs will provide protection for the rest of the garden. The secret of success is to choose plants that will serve their purpose without blocking the sea view.

Where there is space for large trees a mixture of sycamore, hawthorn, poplar, holly and rowan tree will offer good shelter. Arbutus unedo, the strawberry tree is tough and ornamental with white flowers and
strawberry -like fruit, both appearing in autumn.

The cabbage palm, Cordyline australis, makes a fine specimen but naturally loses its leaves as they age leaving a tree with a bare trunk.
Underplant the tree screen with New Zealand flax, Phormium tenax and bushy species of cotoneaster to bulk up the filtering factor.

Evergreen shrubs include Choisya ternata and the variety ‘Aztec Pearl’ both with white flowers in early summer and aromatic foliage. Escallonias are available in a range of summer flowers from white
through pink to deep red. They make a wonderful flowering hedge for seaside gardens. Eleagnus ebbingei and E.pungens ‘Maculata’ will grow anywhere above the high tide mark. Hippophae rhamnoides will tolerate sandy soil and salt spray. The leaves are grey-green with masses of orange-yellow berries throughout the winter.

Olearias, lavenders, hydrangea and fuchsia all love the seaside. Tamarix with its lovely pink flowers looks tender but loves the frost free conditions. Junipers, pines and bamboo provides you with lots of alternatives so make sure your seaside garden is fit for a holiday.

For more informatino on Seaside plants visit our seaside garden section

Back to John's index page