Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside
positioned in a sunny but sheltered spot. The bees and other pollinators love it, too.
Another coastal contender is rosemary because it is incredibly hardy. The evergreen structure of this woody Mediterranean herb is joined with blueish flowers in the summer.
Plus, it smells delightful, so plant it next to your doorway or on your patio near a seating area so you can enjoy the aroma, and have it at perfect picking height to take straight into the kitchen to cook with.
Armeria maritima (thrift) is a seaside classic with its cup-shaped pink flowers that are instantly recognisable. These are evergreen and low growing to around 15cm, making them perfect for the front of a border or to bring colour to a rockery.
Sea kale is a fabulous foliage plant, with wrinkled, silvery green leaves which are edible. Young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked just like spinach. It dies down over winter but regrows in spring. It’s great for filling gaps between rock features.
COASTAL CLASSICS
THE long-flowering plant, Erigeron glaucus ‘Sea Breeze’ has rich green foliage and cheery, daisy-like blooms throughout summer which butterflies love. It self-seeds to fill cracks and crevices and will grow in any free-draining soil. Tamarix tetrandra is a deciduous shrub with arching branches and plumes of pink flowers in spring.
Although it may look delicate, the deceptive Limonium latifolium, or sea lavender, is a very tough plant. The wiry stems bear masses of tiny pink-purple flowers from July in a sunny spot and though it is droughttolerant and likes sandy soil, it is still quite happy in moist conditions too.
For a striking evergreen, try Cordyline australis, which has the appearance of a small palm tree and will add an exotic atmosphere.
Young plants look great in containers but remember to protect