Coastal trees need three qualities at once: salt tolerance, wind resilience and tolerance for sandy soils. Choose for all three rather than just one, and the planting lasts. These five reliably perform.
Coast Banksia is the native standard.
Mediterranean coastal classic.
Soft fast native coastal screen.
Textbook native coastal hedge.
Native coastal windbreak.
Plant on a slight mound. Stake young trees against wind. Mulch heavily. Water deeply in the first summer.
Coastal native standard.
Why choose it
Bred for the coast.
Perfect pair
Banksia feature with Westringia hedge.
Tips for planting
Avoid phosphorus-heavy fertiliser.
Coastal native standard.
Shop Banksia integrifoliaCoastal Mediterranean classic.
Why choose it
Salt-tolerant Mediterranean classic.
Perfect pair
Olive feature with Westringia hedge.
Tips for planting
Stake young trees.
Coastal Mediterranean.
Shop Olea europaeaSoft coastal screen.
Why choose it
Fast soft native screen.
Perfect pair
Waterhousea with Banksia feature.
Tips for planting
Plant 80 cm to 1 m apart.
Soft coastal native.
Shop Waterhousea floribundaTextbook native coastal hedge.
Why choose it
Bred by the coast.
Perfect pair
Westringia with Banksia feature.
Tips for planting
Trim 2 to 3 times a year.
Coastal hedge classic.
Shop Westringia fruticosaNative coastal windbreak.
Why choose it
Built for harsh coastal exposure.
Perfect pair
Leptospermum with Banksia feature.
Tips for planting
Trim after flowering.
Built for the coast.
Shop Leptospermum laevigatum| Cultivar | Height | Width | Form | Foliage | Best if you… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Banksia integrifolia Coast Banksia | 6 to 10 m | 3 to 5 m | Upright open | Silver-green | Coastal native features. |
|
Olea europaea Olive | 4 to 6 m | 3 to 4 m | Open rounded | Silver-grey | Mediterranean coastal gardens. |
|
Waterhousea floribunda Weeping Lilly Pilly | 6 to 10 m | 3 to 4 m | Weeping | Weeping mid-green | Native coastal screening. |
|
Westringia fruticosa Coastal Rosemary | 1 to 2 m | 1 to 1.5 m | Dense rounded | Fine grey-green | Coastal low hedges. |
|
Leptospermum laevigatum Coastal Tea Tree | 4 to 6 m | 3 to 4 m | Upright | Grey-green | Coastal windbreaks. |
At concept design stage wth an Architect for beach front property – so early stages but started to have a think /educate myself about they potential types of plants, lawn,trees, privacy hegding ect – came across your article- summed up neatly thedamaging coastal conditions – high salt content, harsh wind, strong sun and sandy soils – i have some norfolk island pines in the yard so keen to understand what type of lawn can grow under/around these?