When choosing plants for a coastal garden, it is important to consider their tolerance to wind and salt exposure, as well as the soil and amount of sunlight available.
Coastal gardens can be beautiful, but they also present some unique challenges for gardeners. Strong winds, salt spray, exposed positions and often sandy, free-draining soils can make it difficult for some plants to thrive. Fortunately, there are plenty of hardy plants that are naturally suited to coastal conditions and can create an attractive, resilient garden.
The following plants can produce good hedges in their own right or as creative mixtures:
Carpinus betulus
Hornbeam – Deciduous
Crataegus monogyna
Hawthorn – Deciduous
Cupressus macrocarpa
Monterey cypress – Evergreen
Elaeagnus x ebbingei
Evergreen
Euonymus japonicus
Japanese spindle – Evergreen
Griselinia littoralis
Kapuka or New Zealand broadleaf – Evergreen
Laurus nobilis
Bay laurel – Evergreen
Olearia x haastii
Daisy bush – Evergreen
Prunus spinosa
Blackthorn – Deciduous
Rosa rugosa
Ramanas rose – Deciduous
Thuja plicata
Western red cedar – Evergreen
The following trees are tolerant of full sea wind exposure:
Acer pseudoplatanus
Sycamore – Deciduous
Up to 40 metres and 20 metres wide
Alnus glutinosa
Common alder – Deciduous
30m high 10m wide
Carpinus betulus
Hornbeam – Deciduous
20m high 8m wide
Crataegus monogyna
Common hawthorn – Deciduous
10m high 5m wide
Cupressus macrocarpa
Monterey cypress – Evergreen
40m high 2.5m wide
Pinus pinaster
Maritime pine – Evergreen
20m high 1.2m wide
Pinus radiate
Monterey pine – Evergreen
30m high 8m wide
Populus alba
White poplar – Deciduous
35m high 20m wide
Quercus cerris
Turkey oak – Deciduous
30m high 15m wide
Salix alba
White willow – Deciduous
25m high 15m wide
Thuja plicata
Western red cedar – Evergreen
15m high 5m wide
Contact our horticultural team today.