Plants for coastal gardens and exposed sites

If you garden on the coast or your garden is exposed to strong winds then this is the guide for you! Exposed gardens often bear the full brunt of the weather, from icy gales in the depths of winter to drying winds in the summer which scorch foliage and break fragile stems. In a coastal garden the wind is also laden with salt which only the toughest plants can tolerate. When drawing up coastal garden designs it’s worth knowing which plants will thrive, so your garden not only survives but flourishes in these challenging conditions. Read our guide below for tips on which plants & shrubs are best for windy coastal gardens.

Buffering the wind

You can really expand your choice of plants if you provide a windbreak in your garden. It’s quite surprising how much difference a hedge can make to the overall climate of the garden. Hedges are much better windbreaks than solid walls; walls create turbulence, whereas hedges filter and slow the wind down.

There are many good hedging plants but only a handful can tolerate heavy winds and/or salty conditions. Despite their hardiness, all the plants listed below will benefit from the protection of some windbreak netting or temporary fencing in their first few years, until they are established.

Hedging plants for windy gardens	Salt tolerant	Plant type	Extra features
Holly (Ilex aquifolium)		Tree
Juniper (Juniperus communis)		Tree
Pine (Pinus)		Tree
Yew (Taxus baccata)		Tree
Blackthorn/Sloe (Prunus spinosa)		Shrub
Eleagnus x ebbingei		Shrub
Euonymus japonicus		Shrub
Griselinia littoralis		Shrub
Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)		Shrub
Rosa rugosa (Hedgehog Rose)		Shrub
Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)		Shrub
Willow (Salix purpurea)		Shrub

Plants for cold and exposed gardens

Exposed gardens can be found on hillsides or flat areas where there are no natural windbreaks such as trees and hedges. These gardens suffer the worst of the weather and plants have to be very hardy to withstand the constant battering. Sturdy coastal hedges will help alleviate the force of the wind although further trees and shrubs planted within the garden can create sheltered pockets in which more delicate plants can be grown. We’ve listed some of the best hardy plants for exposed gardens below.

Plants for cold and exposed gardens	Salt tolerant	Plant type	Extra features
Alder (Alnus)		Tree
Ash (Fraxinus)		Tree
Birch (Betula)		Tree
Conifers (Chamaecyparis)		Tree
Cornus (Dogwood)		Tree/Shrub
Laburnum x watereri ‘Vossii’		Tree
Mountain Ash/Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)		Tree
Poplar (Populus)		Tree
Berberis (Barberry)		Shrub
Cotoneaster		Shrub
Heather		Shrub
Lilacs (Syringa)		Shrub
Mahonia		Shrub
Pyracantha		Shrub
Philadelphus (Mock Orange)		Shrub
Sambucus		Shrub
Viburnum		Shrub
Armeria (Sea Pink)		Perennial
Aster alpinus		Perennial
Aubrieta		Perennial
Centaurea dealbata (Perennial Cornflower)		Perennial
Dianthus deltoides		Perennial
Hardy Geraniums		Perennial
Lysimachia nummularia (Creeping Jenny)		Perennial
(Purple Moor Grass)		Perennial
Panicum virgatum (Switch Grass)		Perennial
Perennial sweet pea (Lathyrus latifolius)		Perennial
Alyssum		Annual
California Poppy		Annual

For more trees and shrubs for exposed gardens, refer to the table of hedging plants above.

Plants for coastal gardens

The upside to coastal gardening is the reduced risk of frost, allowing you to grow borderline-hardy plants which other gardeners only dream of! Plants adapted to growing in coastal conditions often have tough, leathery or hairy leaves which protect the plant from salt damage and reduce moisture loss.

A plant’s Latin name can also give clues to its coastal origins, for example if the name contains ‘maritima’ or ‘littoralis’ (meaning ‘of the shore’). Have a look at your neighbour’s gardens too and see what grows well for them! We’ve listed some of the best coastal garden plants below.

Plants for coastal gardens	Salt tolerant	Plant type	Extra features
Acacia dealbata		Tree
Cordyline		Tree
Cytisus (Broom)		Tree
Eucalyptus gunnii		Tree
Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa)		Tree
Escallonia		Shrub
Fuchsia magellanica		Shrub
Hebe		Shrub
Rosemary		Shrub
Achillea		Perennial
Amaryllis belladonna		Perennial
Armeria (Sea Pink)		Perennial
Centranthus (Valerian)		Perennial
Corynephorus 'Spiky Blue' (Grey Hair-Grass)		Perennial
Crocosmia (Montbretia)		Perennial
Delosperma (Ice Plant)		Perennial
Echium		Perennial
Erigeron (Fleabane)		Perennial
Eryngium (Sea Holly)		Perennial
Fatsia japonica		Perennial
Festuca glauca		Perennial
Gaillardia		Perennial
Helianthemum (Rock Rose)		Perennial
Osteospermum jucundum		Perennial
Phormium		Perennial
Red Hot Poker		Perennial
Sedum		Perennial
Thyme		Perennial
Alyssum		Annual
Calendula		Annual
California Poppy		Annual
Clarkia (Godetia)		Annual
Gazania		Annual
Lavatera trimestris (Mallow)		Annual
Limonium (Statice)		Annual
Malcolmia maritime (Virginian Stock)		Annual
Senecio		Annual
Verbascum bombyciferum		Biennial

For more trees and shrubs for coastal gardens, refer to the table of hedging plants above.

As you can see, there are lots of flowers, plants, shrubs and trees to grow in a coastal garden. Looking for more inspiration? Find more guidance and advice on growing plants for a purpose over on our hub page.

• Other 'Plants for a Purpose' articles:

  • Trees for Small Gardens
  • Plants for Shade
  • Drought Resistant Plants
  • Plants for Sunny and Dry Borders
  • Plants for Containers
  • Plants for Wildlife
  • Plants for Different Soil Types

Cornflower are ideal for exposed gardens due to their hardiness.

Evergreen perennials such as Dianthus deltoides are ideal for exposed, coastal gardens due to their salt tolerance and they provide colour in the summer months.