How to Select the Right Trees for Coastal Gardens

Selection guide for coastal trees: salt, wind and soil tolerance criteria, with five proven choices.

Australian NativeCoastal TolerantSalt TolerantWind Resistant

Coastal selection comes down to three criteria: salt tolerance, wind resilience and tolerance for sandy soils. These five trees consistently deliver on all three.

Selection Criteria

Salt: Look for waxy or hairy leaves that resist salt deposition. Wind: Look for flexible branching that withstands gusts. Soil: Most coastal blocks have sandy free-draining soil.

1. Banksia integrifolia

The native standard. Salt, wind and sand tolerance built in.

2. Waterhousea floribunda

Soft fast weeping native screen for coastal blocks.

3. Olea europaea Olive

Mediterranean coastal classic with silver-grey foliage.

4. Westringia fruticosa

The textbook low coastal hedge.

5. Leptospermum laevigatum

Coastal Tea Tree, built for harsh exposure.

How to plant on coastal sites

Plant on a slight mound. Stake young trees against wind. Mulch heavily. Water deeply in the first summer.

1. Banksia integrifolia (Coast Banksia)

Coast Banksia is purpose-built for coastal selection.

Type: Evergreen native tree
Height: 6 to 10 m
Width: 3 to 5 m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Silver-green
Flowers: Yellow brushes
Form: Upright open
Conditions: Full sun, coastal
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Salt and wind exposure.

Why choose it

Bred for the coast.

Perfect pair

Banksia feature with a Westringia hedge.

Tips for planting

Avoid phosphorus-heavy fertiliser.

Coastal native standard.

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2. Waterhousea floribunda (Weeping Lilly Pilly)

Soft fast weeping native screen.

Type: Evergreen native hedging tree
Height: 6 to 10 m
Width: 3 to 4 m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Weeping mid-green
Form: Weeping
Conditions: Coastal tolerant
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Coastal hedging.

Why choose it

Tolerates coastal exposure while screening fast.

Perfect pair

Waterhousea hedge with a Banksia feature.

Tips for planting

Plant 80 cm to 1 m apart.

Soft coastal screening.

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3. Olea europaea (Olive)

Olives handle coastal exposure as well as drought.

Type: Evergreen feature tree
Height: 4 to 6 m
Width: 3 to 4 m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Silver-grey
Form: Open rounded
Conditions: Full sun, salt tolerant
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Mediterranean coastal gardens.

Why choose it

Bred by the Mediterranean coast.

Perfect pair

Olive feature with a Westringia hedge.

Tips for planting

Stake young trees in coastal wind.

Coastal Mediterranean classic.

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4. Westringia fruticosa (Coastal Rosemary)

Westringia is the textbook native coastal hedge.

Type: Evergreen native hedging shrub
Height: 1 to 2 m
Width: 1 to 1.5 m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Fine grey-green
Form: Dense rounded
Conditions: Full sun, coastal
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Coastal low hedges and borders.

Why choose it

Bred by the coast for the coast.

Perfect pair

Westringia hedge with a Banksia feature.

Tips for planting

Trim 2 to 3 times a year.

Coastal hedge classic.

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5. Leptospermum laevigatum (Coastal Tea Tree)

Coastal Tea Tree is a fast native screen built for salt and wind.

Type: Evergreen native screening tree
Height: 4 to 6 m
Width: 3 to 4 m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Grey-green
Flowers: Small white spring blooms
Form: Upright
Conditions: Full sun, coastal
Maintenance: Low
Best for: Coastal windbreaks.

Why choose it

Naturally adapted to tough coastal exposure.

Perfect pair

Leptospermum screen with a Banksia feature.

Tips for planting

Trim after flowering.

Built for the coast.

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Compare at a glance

Cultivar	Height	Width	Form	Foliage	Best if you…
Banksia integrifolia Coast Banksia	6 to 10 m	3 to 5 m	Upright open	Silver-green	Salt and wind exposure.
Waterhousea floribunda Weeping Lilly Pilly	6 to 10 m	3 to 4 m	Weeping	Weeping mid-green	Coastal hedging.
Olea europaea Olive	4 to 6 m	3 to 4 m	Open rounded	Silver-grey	Mediterranean coastal gardens.
Westringia fruticosa Coastal Rosemary	1 to 2 m	1 to 1.5 m	Dense rounded	Fine grey-green	Coastal low hedges and borders.
Leptospermum laevigatum Coastal Tea Tree	4 to 6 m	3 to 4 m	Upright	Grey-green	Coastal windbreaks.