Plants for coastal gardens themed pink and white
Plenty of plants thrive in coastal areas, so it's possible to create a full and attractive border even in these sometimes challenging conditions
Quick facts
- Plants in coastal areas need to be able to cope with salt ladened winds
- Coastal plants often have adaptations such as waxy leaves or hairy foliage
- Choosing the right plants will ensure they are healthy and at their best
Jump to
The planting plan
This planting design provides a range of plants with white and pink flowers, that once established will thrive in an environment exposed to drying, salty winds and provide a variety of interest throughout the year.
Plants for coastal areas
© James Lawrence
Choosing plants for coastal areas
Plants such as Olearia, Escallonia and Veronica have thick waxy foliage to help protect the leaves and reduce stress caused by the weather exposure. The Veronica rakaiensis has small leaves whose reduced surface area makes it less likely to be stripped of moisture in windy conditions. The Hylotelephium has fleshy leaves helping store moisture to be used if drier conditions persist.
The groundcover Sedum helps protect and cover bare soil therefore reducing erosion and the wind’s drying effect on exposed soil. They will also help prevent unwanted plants from self-seeding by reducing areas of bare earth.
Additional organic mulching can further help with soil moisture retention and weed suppression.
1 - Olearia macrodonta
2 - Escallonia gracilis alba
3 - Veronica ‘Oratia Beauty’
4 - Verbena bonariensis
5 - Hylotelephium spectabile ‘Brilliant’
6 - Sedum spectabile (Brilliant Group) ‘Abendrot’
7 - Veronica rakaiensis
8 - Escallonia ‘Crimson Spire’
1 - Olearia macrodonta is an evergreen shrub with spiny-toothed, grey-green leaves, white-felted beneath. In summer it has large clusters of small daisy-like, fragrant white flowers.
2 - Escallonia gracilis alba is a medium-sized evergreen shrub with glossy dark green leaves and pure white flowers in mid and late summer.
3 - Veronica ‘Oratia Beauty’ is an evergreen shrub with glossy dark green leaves and pink buds opening to white flowers, giving a pretty bicoloured effect.
4 - Verbena bonariensis is a tall erect perennial with wiry stems bearing oblong leaves and numerous branched clusters of small, bright purple flowers from summer into autumn.
5 - Hylotelephium spectabile ‘Brilliant’ is an herbaceous perennial, with thick stems bearing shallowly scalloped, waxy grey-green leaves and starry pink flowers in flat heads, in late summer.
6 - Sedum spectabile (Brilliant Group) ‘Abendrot’ is a succulent perennial with heads of small pink and white star-shaped flowers in summer to autumn.
7 - Veronica rakaiensis makes a compact evergreen mound of small, bright green leaves and short spikes of white flowers from early summer.
8 - Escallonia ‘Crimson Spire’ is a medium-sized evergreen shrub with glossy dark green leaves and flowers which are deep crimson, in summer and early autumn.
About Coastal areas
A simple planting plan helps create depth, interest and good coverage in a border.
The challenge of coastal areas
If you have room, it will help to make some shelter from the main wind direction. An extra wind break of shrubs will provide this and/or use a brushwood screen whilst they establish. A fence or a sturdy wall may be an option.
Why choose a sustainable planting combination?
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.