Plants for Coastal & Exposed Gardens


Coastal and exposed-site plants for UK gardens: tough species that stand up to salt spray, wind and sun. Hardy palms, silver-leaved grasses and architectural exotics chosen for seaside gardens, cliff-top plots and windy urban balconies.

108 products

    108 products
    Sophora Little Baby 9cm / 0.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Dwarf Kowhai, Little Baby

    Sophora Little Baby

    £11.79£13.99Save 15%
    1
    Ginkgo biloba Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Maidenhair Tree

    Ginkgo biloba

    £15.99
    1
    Muehlenbeckia complexa 6cm Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Wire Vine (Maidenhair Vine)

    Muehlenbeckia complexa

    £5.99£6.99Save 14%
    1
    Jasminum nudiflorum 15cm / 1.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Winter Jasmine

    Jasminum nudiflorum

    £12.79£16.99Save 24%
    1
    Trachelospermum jasminoides 'Winter Ruby' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Star Jasmine (Winter Ruby)

    Trachelospermum jasminoides 'Winter Ruby'

    £16.99£18.99Save 10%
    1
    Miscanthus x giganteus Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Giant Miscanthus, Elephant Grass

    Miscanthus x giganteus

    £13.99
    1
    Leucadendron 'Mrs Stanley' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Conebush 'Mrs Stanley'

    Leucadendron 'Mrs Stanley'

    £14.99
    1
    Callistemon rigidus Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Stiff Bottlebrush

    Callistemon rigidus

    £8.99
    1
    Yucca 'Ivory Tower' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Variegated Adam's Needle

    Yucca 'Ivory Tower'

    £20.29£26.99Save 24%
    1
    Euphorbia characias 'Silver Swan' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Variegated Mediterranean Spurge

    Euphorbia characias 'Silver Swan'

    £6.99£7.99Save 12%
    1
    Corokia cotoneaster Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Wire-netting bush

    Corokia cotoneaster

    £9.29£9.99Save 7%
    1
    Griselinia littoralis 9cm / 0.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Kapuka (New Zealand Broadleaf)

    Griselinia littoralis

    £6.99
    1
    Oxalis Sunset Yellow Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Firefern (Molten Lava Sorrel)

    Oxalis Sunset Yellow

    £8.99£9.99Save 10%
    1
    Cortaderia selloana Pumila 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Dwarf Pampas Grass

    Cortaderia selloana Pumila

    £10.29£12.99Save 20%
    1
    Aeonium haworthii Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Pinwheel (Haworth's Aeonium)

    Aeonium haworthii

    £9.99
    1
    Oscularia deltoides Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Pink Ice Plant (Dassievygie)

    Oscularia deltoides

    £6.29£7.99Save 21%
    1
    Acacia pravissima 19cm / 3L (Collection Only) Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Ovens Wattle (Wedge-leaved Wattle)

    Acacia pravissima

    £21.99
    1
    Pittosporum tobira 'Nanum' 9cm / 0.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Dwarf Japanese pittosporum

    Pittosporum tobira 'Nanum'

    £6.99
    1
    Acacia dealbata (Mimosa / Silver Wattle) 23cm / 5L (Collection Only) Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Mimosa (Silver Wattle)

    Acacia dealbata (Mimosa / Silver Wattle)

    £31.99
    1
    Pachysandra terminalis 9cm / 0.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Japanese Spurge

    Pachysandra terminalis

    £4.49£5.59Save 19%
    1
    Acacia boormanii 13cm / 1L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Snowy River Wattle

    Acacia boormanii

    £19.99
    1
    Cyrtomium falcatum Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Japanese Holly Fern

    Cyrtomium falcatum

    £4.99£5.99Save 16%
    1
    Miscanthus sinensis Strictus 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Porcupine Grass

    Miscanthus sinensis Strictus

    £12.99
    1
    Chamaerops humilis 14cm / 1.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    European Fan Palm (Mediterranean Fan Palm)

    Chamaerops humilis

    £16.49£21.99Save 25%
    1
    Trachycarpus wagnerianus 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Wagner's Windmill Palm (Miniature Chusan Palm)

    Trachycarpus wagnerianus

    £38.29£44.99Save 14%
    1
    Oxalis Vulcan Pink Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Firefern (Molten Lava Sorrel)

    Oxalis Vulcan Pink

    £9.99
    1
    Aristea ecklonii (Blue Stars) Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Blue Stars (Blue-eyed Iris)

    Aristea ecklonii (Blue Stars)

    £6.99£7.99Save 12%
    1
    Stipa tenuissima 'Ponytails' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Mexican Feather Grass

    Stipa tenuissima 'Ponytails'

    £4.99£5.99Save 16%
    1
    Phygelius x rectus 'Candy Drops Tangerine' (Cape Figwort) 11cm / 0.75L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    1
    Festuca glauca 'Compact Blue' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Blue Fescue

    Festuca glauca 'Compact Blue'

    £4.49£5.49Save 18%
    1
    Oxalis spiralis vulcanicola 'Nordlys' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Firefern 'Nordlys' (Molten Lava Sorrel)

    Oxalis spiralis vulcanicola 'Nordlys'

    £7.49£8.99Save 16%
    1
    Fargesia rufa Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Clumping Bamboo

    Fargesia rufa

    £21.79£28.99Save 24%
    1
    Coprosma repens 'Eclipse' 12cm / 1L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Mirror Plant

    Coprosma repens 'Eclipse'

    £7.49£9.99Save 25%
    1
    Senecio maritima 'Silver Dust' (Dusty Miller) Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    1
    Sorbaria sorbifolia 'Sem' 19cm / 3L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    False Spiraea

    Sorbaria sorbifolia 'Sem'

    £14.29£18.99Save 24%
    1
    Kniphofia rooperi Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Rooper's Red Hot Poker

    Kniphofia rooperi

    £13.49£14.99Save 10%
    1
    Tulbaghia violacea 'Purple' 9cm / 0.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Society Garlic

    Tulbaghia violacea 'Purple'

    £6.79£8.99Save 24%
    1
    Crocosmia masoniorum 11cm / 0.75L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Giant Montbretia

    Crocosmia masoniorum

    £8.99
    1
    Carex testacea Prairie Fire Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Prairie Fire Sedge, Orange New Zealand Sedge

    Carex testacea Prairie Fire

    £9.99£11.99Save 16%
    1

    The GrowTropicals Guide to Coastal Plants

    What are the best plants for coastal gardens?

    Coastal gardens are demanding: salt-laden wind desiccates leaves, exposure limits shelter, and free-draining sandy soil dries out fast in summer. But the plants that thrive in these conditions tend to be some of the most architectural you can grow. Trachycarpus fortunei is the classic hardy palm for a British seaside, with a fibrous trunk that stands up to wind. Ornamental grasses, silver-leaved fescues, hardy Agave and coastal Euphorbias all handle the exposure. Read our honest guide to what to expect from hardy exotics through the seasons before ordering.

    Care essentials for coastal plants

    • Position: Full sun with shelter from the prevailing salt-wind if possible. A low windbreak of tough shrubs helps everything else establish faster.
    • Soil: Free-draining, sandy or gritty. Enrich planting holes with organic matter but do not create waterlogged pockets.
    • Hardiness: Coastal UK is often milder than inland, but wind chill matters. Focus on plants rated RHS H5 or above.
    • Watering: Water deeply through the first two summers. Sandy soil dries fast, so a heavy mulch of gravel or bark holds moisture.
    • Wind protection: Stake newly planted palms and larger specimens for their first two winters. Established plants shrug off gales.

    Explore the coastal range

    Coastal planting pairs well with hardy palms, ornamental grasses and drought-tolerant plants. See the full Hardy Exotics range for exposed-site options.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Tough, wind-tolerant plants with tough or waxy foliage do best by the sea, including many grasses, architectural plants and hardy exotics. The plants in this collection are chosen to cope with the wind and salt of a coastal or exposed garden.

    The same plants that handle coastal wind suit an exposed balcony or roof terrace. Tough grasses, architectural foliage and hardy exotics in heavy, stable pots cope with the buffeting where softer plants would be damaged.

    The plants here are chosen for their tolerance of salt-laden wind and spray, which is what makes a seaside garden so challenging. Good drainage and shelter while they establish help them settle in and thrive.

    Plant firmly and a little deep so wind cannot rock the roots, stake taller plants until established, and use tougher plants as a windbreak on the windward side to shelter the rest. Good drainage matters as much as shelter.

    The plants in this collection are chosen to be hardy in UK coastal and exposed gardens, and each is labelled with its hardiness rating. Coastal areas are often milder than inland, which can suit slightly more tender exotics.

    Tough plants for coast and wind

    Coastal and exposed gardens are demanding, with salt-laden wind that scorches soft growth and dries plants out. The answer is to choose plants built for it. This collection brings together tough, hardy plants that shrug off wind and salt spray, many with the bold, architectural look that suits a coastal setting so well.

    Exposed balconies, roof terraces and seaside patios

    A high balcony or roof terrace is its own kind of exposed, windy site, much like the coast. The same tough plants that cope with sea wind also handle the buffeting of an upper-floor balcony or an open patio. Grown in sturdy, heavy pots they stay put and keep their looks where softer plants would shred.

    Planting in an exposed garden

    Shelter and good drainage are the keys. Improve free-draining soil, plant a little deeper and firm plants in well so the wind cannot rock them, and use sturdy stakes for taller plants until they root. A windbreak of tougher plants on the windward side shelters everything behind it.

    Care

    Water well while plants establish, as wind dries them quickly, and avoid soft, sappy growth that wind damages by not over-feeding. Once settled in, coastal-tough plants are some of the most self-reliant you can grow.