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Beach Beauties: Flowering Perennials for a Seashore Garden

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | May 13, 2010 7 Comments

Last updated on December 2nd, 2011


READER Lucille N. recently asked about modestly-sized flowering perennials for her salty waterfront property. Here are some cultural tips for Lucille and others who garden near the sea, followed by a list of “Beach Beauties” (like the Phlox subulata pictured up top) which can tolerate a bit of saline in their diet:

Rugosa roses and ornamental grasses are the first plants that come to mind for a salty waterfront location. However, if you can minimize the high winds, salt spray, and sandy soil that probably define your seaside garden, you will find that other, far more interesting perennials will flourish there, too.

Start by arranging a hedge of beach plum (Prunus maritima) behind the proposed planting-area; next, improve the soil by incorporating a 3-inch layer of well-aged manure, and another 3-inch layer of compost or leaf mold into the bed. Then you can have fun growing the following beach beauties:

Althaea rosea (Hollyhock)
Armeria (pink Sea Thrift)
Aster (Michaelmas Daisy)
Campanula (Bellflower)
Chrysanthemum maximum (Shasta Daisy)
Clethra alnifolia (Summer Sweet)
Dianthus (Pinks)
Echinops (Globe Thistle)
Eryngium maritinum (Sea Holly)
Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)
Hemerocallis (Daylily)
Heuchera (Coralbells) – give these partial shade
Iris (reblooming ‘Immortal’ is choice)
Linum (Flax)
Monarda (Beebalm)
Nipponanthemum nipponicum (Montauk Daisy)
Phlox subulata (Creeping Phlox)
Rudbeckia (Coneflower)
Sedum spectabile (‘Stardust’ is an unusual, silvery-pink)
Silene maritima (white Catchfly)
Veronica maritima (Speedwell)

Perhaps other readers can offer suggestions for seashore plants, too.

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Related Posts:
August Sweetness: Clethra alnifolia
Dividing Coral Bells for Instant Brilliance
Reblooming Irises Offer Twice the Fun

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Comments

  1. 1

    Phoebe says

    May 13, 2010 at 11:18 am

    Great list, Kevin. I've also seen Rose of Sharon growing near the beach (in P-Town).

  2. 2

    Eric says

    May 13, 2010 at 4:17 pm

    Lilacs do really well at the Jersey Shore – I've seen them at homes right next to the beach. Could lilacs be a substitute for a beach plum hedge?

  3. 3

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    May 13, 2010 at 6:29 pm

    Eric – lilacs could indeed be used instead of beach plum. And what a handsome backdrop for a perennial border!

  4. 4

    Lucille N. says

    May 14, 2010 at 12:40 am

    Thank you Kevin…great choices for me, is it to late to plant any of these? (Or better yet when to plant….) Lucille

  5. 5

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    May 14, 2010 at 11:21 am

    Lucille – If you buy these perennials in pots from a local nursery, you can plant them now and all through summer.

    Unpotted iris rhizomes, however, should be planted in early fall.

    You can also start most of the perennials from seed. Make sowings in July. Or, if you prefer, winter-sow in January (click “Winter-Sowing” in the categories bar).

  6. 6

    Stacia says

    July 9, 2014 at 12:58 pm

    When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox
    and now each time a comment is added I get several e-mails with the same comment.
    Is there any way you can remove people from that service? Thanks!

  7. 7

    Stacy says

    July 27, 2014 at 6:32 pm

    I have learn several just right stuff here. Certainly
    value bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how so much effort you place to create such a great informative site.

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