Working with seaside light:
When designing a garden by the coast, one of the most important factors to consider is the quality of light you’re working with. Gardens along the South Kent coast benefit from the brighter, cooler light, thanks to sunlight reflecting off the sea. However, light isn’t the only consideration. Coastal gardens are also exposed to salt-laden air, strong winds and ever-changing weather, so your planting choices need careful consideration. Selecting resilient plants that can withstand these conditions while providing year-round colour, texture and interest is key to creating a successful coastal garden..
Rather than competing with the landscape, successful coastal planting schemes echo the colours from surrounding scenery, embracing the soft, muted tones that define the UK’s coastline. Think sandy neutrals, chalky white, warm blues and silvery greens.
So, what’s next?
Of course, not every coastal garden overlooks the sea. Gardens in coastal towns or nearby inland locations often provide the opportunity to experiment with a broader range of colour palettes, blending coastal influences with your own personal style. Here are 5 coastal garden colours palettes to inspire you with your own scheme:
Hot palette:
Panicum virgatum ‘Rehbraun’
Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’
Anemanthele
Sanguisorba Officinalis Tanna
Achillea ‘Terracotta’
Soft:
Crambe maritima
Oenothera lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterflies’
Stipa Tenuissima
Lavandula angustifolia
Hylotelephium spectabile ‘Iceberg’
Here are 5 coastal garden colours palettes to inspire you with your own scheme:
Big Blues:
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’
Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’
Agapanthus
Verbena bonariensis
Eryngium x zabelii ‘Big Blue’
Citrus palette
Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’
Alchemilla mollis
Crocosmia
Echinacea ‘White Swan’
Euphorbia characias wulfenii
Coastal cottage
Erigeron karvinskianus
Nepeta
Artemisia
Achillea ‘Pink Grapefruit’
Lupin ‘Gallery Pink’
