Coastal Garden Ideas: Salt- and Wind-Tolerant Plants

Getting it right

Never build a solid wall or fence against the wind. Wind lifts over a solid barrier and slams down harder a few yards behind it; a permeable screen that lets roughly half the wind through does far more good, whether that's a slatted wood fence or a first row of tough shrubs. Plant small so roots establish before the top catches the wind. Keep silver, waxy and needled foliage on the exposed side and save anything soft-leaved for the pocket of shelter behind it.

How to plan it

Plan in bands from the water inward. The first band, facing the wind, is a windbreak of salt-tolerant shrubs and grasses; the second, in its shelter, can hold flowering shrubs; the area nearest the house, out of the wind, is where seating and softer plants go. On a small lot, a slatted wood screen can do the job of the first band.

Plant small, in fall or early spring when there's moisture and the wind is calmer, and stake young shrubs low so their roots can anchor. Sandy soil drains fast and holds few nutrients, so work in compost at planting time and mulch with gravel or crushed shell, which won't blow away like bark.

Choose materials that stand up to salt: stone, gravel, gabions, and hardwood or composite boardwalks. Galvanized steel corrodes slowly at the coast, while stainless or powder-coated fittings last longer. Rinse furniture and lights with fresh water after storms.

Plants that work

Botanical names come first so you can order the right plant anywhere. Heights are for mature plants in the ground.
Plant	Type	Light	Water	Height	Hardy to
Rugosa roseRosa rugosaInvasive in parts of the US. Check your state's list.	Shrub · Deciduous	Full sun	Low	3–7 ft (1–2 m)	−31 °F / −35 °C
Sea buckthornHippophae rhamnoides	Shrub · Deciduous	Full sun	Low	7–16 ft (2–5 m)	−31 °F / −35 °C
Sea thriftArmeria maritima	Perennial · Evergreen	Full sun	Low	6–10 in (15–25 cm)	−22 °F / −30 °C
Sea hollyEryngium maritimum	Perennial · Deciduous	Full sun	Low	12–20 in (30–50 cm)	−4 °F / −20 °C
Blue lyme grassLeymus arenarius	Grass · Deciduous	Full sun	Low	2–3 ft (0.6–1 m)	−22 °F / −30 °C
Sea kaleCrambe maritima	Perennial · Deciduous	Full sun	Low	20–28 in (50–70 cm)	−13 °F / −25 °C
EscalloniaEscallonia rubra	Shrub · Evergreen	Full sun	Moderate	5–8 ft (1.5–2.5 m)	14 °F / −10 °C
Daisy bushOlearia × haastii	Shrub · Evergreen	Full sun	Low	5–8 ft (1.5–2.5 m)	10 °F / −12 °C
Tamarisk (saltcedar)Tamarix ramosissimaInvasive in parts of the US. Check your state's list.	Shrub · Deciduous	Full sun	Low	8–13 ft (2.5–4 m)	−4 °F / −20 °C
HeatherCalluna vulgaris	Shrub · Evergreen	Full sun	Low	8–20 in (20–50 cm)	−22 °F / −30 °C
Winter heathErica carnea	Shrub · Evergreen	Full sun	Moderate	8–12 in (20–30 cm)	−13 °F / −25 °C
Mugo pinePinus mugo	Conifer · Evergreen	Full sun	Low	3–10 ft (1–3 m)	−40 °F / −40 °C
Blue fescueFestuca glauca	Grass · Evergreen	Full sun	Low	8–12 in (20–30 cm)	−22 °F / −30 °C

Surfaces and materials

Crushed granite
Landscape timbers
Wood boardwalk
Boulders
Slatted wood screen
Gabion wall

Works well when

Salt spray blows in off the ocean
The site is open and windy
The soil is sandy and free-draining
You want low maintenance
The soil is thin and poor

Think twice when

You want more privacy
The soil is heavy clay
You want results in one season

Common questions

What plants tolerate salt spray?

Plants with gray, waxy, leathery or needle-like leaves, which shed salt: sea thrift, sea holly, blue lyme grass, heather, mugo pine and escallonia are on the list above. On the East Coast, natives such as bayberry and beach plum are excellent first-line shrubs.

Is rugosa rose a good coastal plant?

It's extremely tough, but it spreads through sand dunes and is considered invasive along parts of the Northeast and Pacific coasts. Use it only away from dunes and natural areas, or choose a native such as Virginia rose.

What about tamarisk?

Avoid it in the US. Tamarisk, also called saltcedar, is one of the most damaging invasive plants in the West, and several states ban it. Use a native salt-tolerant shrub instead.

How do I protect plants from wind?

Filter the wind rather than block it. A screen or hedge that lets about half the wind through slows it for a distance of several times its own height, without the turbulence a solid fence creates.