Plants for coastal gardens
Plants which thrive in coastal gardens up to a mile from the sea need to be robust to cope with a battering from strong winds. They should also be able to withstand salt spray with the minimum of leaf scorching. Before introducing new planting, a screen of trees and shrubs are developed. Once established, a seaside garden can become home to a variety of plants. They include:
Hedging plants, for creating windbreaks, such as Griselinia littoralis, Euonymus japonicus and oleaster ‘Quicksilver’, a deciduous shrub with fragrant, creamy summer flowers. Fuchsia magellanica creates a more informal look. Evergreen trees that cope with exposure to salty winds, including European black pine and the Holm oak. Deciduous trees can be planted to form an inner line of defence, such as Acer platanoides and hawthorn. Evergreen shrubs to give permanent structure in winter and flowers in summer. Phormiums, cordylines, hebes, escallonia, rosemary and phlomis thrive in well-drained conditions. Olearia stellulata erupts in clusters of white daisy-like flowers in early summer. Perfumed plants to enjoy on tranquil days, such as Rosa rugosa. Their tough foliage withstands salt, while the pink or white flowers bring fragrance to seating areas. Aromatic Russian sage and myrtle introduce a more spicy scent. Plants adding spontaneity, including self-seeding poppies, Verbena bonariensis, campion, wild carrots, teasels and salsify. Ornamental grasses for movement, such as Stipa gigantea, Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’, Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’, Festuca glauca and feather grass, Stipa tenuissima. Plants whose name ends in maritima. Examples of these are commonly known as seaside alyssum, sea holly, sea thrift, sea campion and sea kale.