Plants for Coastal Areas

Gardening near the ocean means contending with three things inland gardeners never think about: salt laden wind that burns soft foliage, sandy soil that drains before roots can drink, and glare that intensifies every hot day. The species in this collection are the survivors, plants whose waxy, silvery or needle like leaves evolved to handle exactly these conditions.

How close you are to the water determines how tough your plants must be. Within the first 100 metres or so of the beach, the front line zone, only true salt specialists survive unprotected, and it pays to plant them as a windbreak for everything behind. From a few streets back, the second line zone, salt arrives as occasional spray during storms rather than daily exposure, which opens the range up considerably. In either zone, sandy soil needs work before planting: dig through compost and a handful of water storage crystals per hole, and mulch heavily, because sand can lose moisture within hours of watering. One advantage coastal gardeners do enjoy is mild winters, meaning frost tender species that struggle inland often thrive by the sea.

• Plant your toughest species on the windward side as a living shield for the rest
• Look for waxy, grey or fine foliage, the classic markers of salt tolerance
• Water new coastal plantings more often than the label suggests until roots reach deeper moisture
• Rinse foliage with fresh water after major storms to wash off heavy salt deposits

A dense coastal windbreak transforms what you can grow behind it, and the hedge calculator will tell you how many plants your boundary needs to get one established. If you are planting a large seaside development or holiday rental garden, volume buyers should look at bulk plants for landscapers, and coastal properties with a pool can carry the theme through with plants for poolside gardens. Among the best natives for sea air are those featured in our banksia care guide and leptospermum care guide.