We live on the coast right above the lighthouse. What can we plant that will
survive the cool, salt-laden winds?
First, one cultural practice that may help you would be to water lots and often,
washing the salts out of the soil, especially if you have plants in pots.
Another is to place heat-loving plants against a sheltered south or west wall since you
live in such a heat-starved area.
Also ask your neighbors and other people living along the coast just what that gorgeous
plant is - most gardeners LOVE to show off their gardens and you'll leave with a new
friend and usually a bunch of seedlings or cuttings.
Some of the most extreme coastal weather is found along the coastline and on the moors
in Scotland, Ireland and the rest of the British Isles. Yet the heather family thrives
there under less than ideal conditions. The City of Fortuna, the Fortuna Garden Club
and the local Heather Society have established one of the largest
collections (several hundred varieties) of heathers on the north coast of California
at the River Lodge Conference center in Fortuna.
These plants bloom at different times and there is be color the year round.
Heaths and heathers (a couple are in the list below) are famous for tolerating rugged
coastal conditions. Consider a summer and winter
day trip to check it out. This garden has all of the coastal weather conditions
except for the salt spray.
This list includes annuals, shrubs from ground covers on up, and trees. A few of
these have showy flowers, although they are a rarity in coast-tolerant plants. All of the
plants in this list tolerate cool coastal conditions and climate. If you try
something in this list and it just sits there and sulks, rip it out and replace it
with something else.
Acer pseudoplatanus
Arbutus menziesii, A. unedo, A. 'Marina'
Arctostaphylos columbiana
Aurinia saxatilis
Atriplex
Baccharis pilularis
Buddleia
Calluna vulgaris, many cultivars
Caragana arborescens
Ceanoththus, all sizes from ground covers to trees
Centaurea cyanus
Cerastium tomentosum
Chrysanthemum carinatum, C. frutescens
Cistus (probably ok)
Colutea arborescens,
Cortaderia selloana
Cotoneaster, all sizes from ground covers to trees
Crataegus pinnatifida, others
Cytisus, most species anbd hybrids
Elaeagnus angustifolia
Erica arborea 'Alpina'
Erigeron glaucus
Escallonia, all
Eschscholzia californica
Euonymus japonica, E. patens, E. fortunei and vars.
Felicia amelloides
Fraxinus angustifolia, F. excelsior
Fuchsia magellanica and hybrids
Garrya elliptica
Gaultheria shallon
Hebe 'Autumn Glory', other kinds (try this somber plant but it's one of my
favorite workhorses)
Helianthemum species and hybrids
Hippophae rhamnoides
Hydrangea macrophylla
Ilex aquifolium, I. glabra, I. opaca
Juniperus, most
Laurus nobilis, Bay
Lavandula, Lavender
Lonas annua
Lonicera japonica, L. 'Halliana', L. nitida, L. tatarica, L.pileata
Mahonia aquifolium
Myrica californica
Myrtus communis
Olearia haastii, others
Phormium tenax, many varieties (has dramatic leaf colors)
Photinia fraseri, P. glabra, P. serrulata
Picea abies and varieties, P. sitchensis
Pinus contorta, P. radiata, thunbergii
Pittosporum tobira
Platanus acerifolia
Prunus spinosa
Populus alba
Potentilla fruticosa and cultivars
Pyracantha, all
Quercus garryanna, Q. marilandica, Q. robur, Q. virginiana
Rhamnus alaternus
Rosmarinus officinalis
Rosa nutkana, R. rugosa, R. pimpinellifolia, R. wichuraiana
Salix, many
Sambucus racemosa
Santolina species
Sorbus aucuparia
Spartium junceum
Spiraea douglasii
Symphoricarpus, all
Tamarix species
Ulmus parvifolia
Ulex europaeus
Vaccinium ovatum
Viburnum dentatum, V. opulus, V. tinus
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