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Perfect Pairs for a Stunning Coastal Garden

Perfect Pairs for a Stunning Coastal Garden

Five proven plant pairs for coastal Australian gardens. Combinations of feature trees with hedges and screens that handle salt, wind and dry conditions while delivering refined garden design.

BanksiaCoastal GardensNative TreesOlive TreesPerfect PairsWestringia

Coastal gardens need plants that handle wind, salt and sandy soils, but that does not mean sacrificing design. With the right pairs, your garden can be both tough and tranquil.

Banksia integrifolia + Acacia 'Waterfall' Standard

The bold golden flower spikes of Coast Banksia paired with the cascading native foliage of Acacia 'Waterfall'. Tall feature plus soft foreground in one native palette.

Coast Banksia coastal garden

Olea 'Manzanillo' + Bay 'Miles Choice' Hedge

Silver olive feature framed by a tight dark green Bay hedge. A Mediterranean classic that performs reliably in coastal conditions.

Waterhousea + Magnolia 'Coolwyn Gloss'

The soft weeping native hedge tree paired with the formal evergreen magnolia. A polished coastal screen with the magnolia as the structural feature in front.

Waterhousea floribunda

Westringia + Leptospermum

Silver-green Westringia balls or mounds at the front, with dark-foliaged Leptospermum as the textural backdrop. A modern native palette built for tough coastal positions.

Westringia coastal garden

Casuarina + Banksia integrifolia

The soft pendulous Casuarina as the windbreak backdrop with bold Banksia integrifolia as the flowering feature. Acoustic movement and bird-attracting flowers in the same planting.

Coastal native windbreak

Final Thoughts

A well-designed coastal garden combines strength and softness. Each of these pairs delivers resilience along with refined planting design.

Compare at a glance

CultivarHeightWidthFormFoliageBest if you…
Banksia integrifolia
Coast Banksia 		8 to 15m4 to 8mUpright spreadingSilver-backed serrated leavesCoastal gardens, native plantings, wildlife habitat, large feature trees.
Olea europaea 'Manzanillo'
Manzanillo Olive 		5 to 7m4 to 5mRounded crown with gnarled trunk over timeSilver-green leathery foliageMediterranean and coastal gardens, driveways, courtyards.
Waterhousea floribunda
Weeping Lilly Pilly 		6 to 10m4 to 6mDense weeping crownGlossy green with bronze-pink new growthTall hedges, screens, windbreaks, formal and informal coastal gardens. Can be pruned to desired height.
Westringia fruticosa
Coastal Rosemary 		1 to 2m1 to 2mDense rounded shrubFine grey-greenCoastal hedges, mass planting, balls, mounded plantings. Can be pruned to desired height.
Casuarina species
She Oak 		8 to 20m depending on species4 to 8mUpright with weeping foliageFine pendulous needle-like foliageCoastal windbreaks, beach buffer plantings, large native gardens.
Banksia integrifolia

1. Banksia integrifolia (Coast Banksia)

Coast Banksia is one of Australia's toughest native trees. Silvery-green foliage and golden flower spikes that attract honeyeaters. Holds form through wind, salt and dry conditions.

Type
Evergreen native feature tree
Height
8 to 15m
Width
4 to 8m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Silver-backed serrated leaves
Flowers
Golden cylindrical spikes through autumn and winter
Form
Upright spreading
Conditions
Full sun, well-drained soil, coastal and drought tolerant
Maintenance
Very low
Best for
Coastal gardens, native plantings, wildlife habitat, large feature trees.

Why choose it

Few trees match Coast Banksia for resilience in exposed coastal positions. Combines bird-attracting flowers with sculptural form.

Perfect pair

Pair with Acacia cognata 'Waterfall' as the cascading native standard at the base for layered texture.

Tips for planting

Plant in autumn or winter. Avoid heavy fertilising. Established trees handle 30°C and above without supplementary watering.

An anchor tree for coastal native gardens.

Shop Banksia integrifolia
Olea europaea 'Manzanillo'

2. Olea europaea 'Manzanillo' (Manzanillo Olive)

Manzanillo Olive thrives in coastal conditions where its silver foliage and sculptural trunk shine against rendered walls and natural stone. Salt and wind tolerant.

Type
Evergreen Mediterranean feature tree
Height
5 to 7m
Width
4 to 5m
Growth rate
Moderate
Foliage
Silver-green leathery foliage
Flowers
Small cream flowers in spring followed by edible olives
Form
Rounded crown with gnarled trunk over time
Conditions
Full sun, well-drained soil, drought and coastal tolerant
Maintenance
Light shape prune annually
Best for
Mediterranean and coastal gardens, driveways, courtyards.

Why choose it

One of the toughest coastal feature trees available, with the bonus of edible fruit and sculptural form that improves with age.

Perfect pair

Pair Manzanillo Olive as the feature with Laurus nobilis 'Miles Choice' as the dense evergreen hedge.

Tips for planting

Avoid wet feet. Water deeply but infrequently. Mulch with coarse bark to suppress weeds and retain moisture.

A Mediterranean feature that thrives by the coast.

Shop Olea europaea 'Manzanillo'
Waterhousea floribunda

3. Waterhousea floribunda (Weeping Lilly Pilly)

Waterhousea is an Australian native hedge tree with soft cascading foliage and bronze-pink new growth. Combines coastal tolerance with a refined ornamental look.

Type
Evergreen native hedge tree
Height
6 to 10m
Width
4 to 6m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Glossy green with bronze-pink new growth
Form
Dense weeping crown
Conditions
Full sun to part shade, most soils, coastal tolerant
Maintenance
Clip 2 to 3 times a year for a tight hedge
Best for
Tall hedges, screens, windbreaks, formal and informal coastal gardens. Can be pruned to desired height.

Why choose it

One of the most reliable native screening trees. Dense foliage from the base, soft weeping form, and excellent recovery from clipping.

Perfect pair

Pair Waterhousea hedge with Magnolia grandiflora 'Coolwyn Gloss' as the formal evergreen feature tree.

Tips for planting

Plant 1m apart for hedges. Water deeply through the first two summers. Feed twice a year for dense growth.

A refined native hedge with coastal toughness.

Shop Waterhousea floribunda
Westringia fruticosa

4. Westringia fruticosa (Coastal Rosemary)

Westringia is the backbone of many coastal gardens. Soft grey-green foliage, small white flowers and exceptional tolerance to wind, salt and dry positions.

Type
Evergreen native shrub
Height
1 to 2m
Width
1 to 2m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Fine grey-green
Flowers
Small white to mauve flowers across most of the year
Form
Dense rounded shrub
Conditions
Full sun, well-drained soil, coastal and drought tolerant
Maintenance
Light clip twice a year
Best for
Coastal hedges, mass planting, balls, mounded plantings. Can be pruned to desired height.

Why choose it

Thrives in exposed coastal positions where many shrubs struggle. Versatile, waterwise and tolerant of regular shaping into hedges or balls.

Perfect pair

Pair Westringia with Leptospermum 'Starry Night' as the dark-foliage native feature for striking contrast.

Tips for planting

Plant 60 to 80cm apart for hedges. Light clip twice a year. Avoid heavy fertilising.

The foundation of a coastal native palette.

Shop Westringia fruticosa

5. Casuarina species (She Oak)

Casuarinas are tough Australian native trees with fine needle-like foliage that softens coastal landscapes. Salt tolerant, drought tolerant and excellent as windbreaks.

Type
Evergreen native tree
Height
8 to 20m depending on species
Width
4 to 8m
Growth rate
Fast
Foliage
Fine pendulous needle-like foliage
Form
Upright with weeping foliage
Conditions
Full sun, most soils, exceptional coastal tolerance
Maintenance
Very low
Best for
Coastal windbreaks, beach buffer plantings, large native gardens.

Why choose it

The soft pendulous foliage moves with coastal wind, delivering visual movement and acoustic interest along with practical wind protection.

Perfect pair

Pair Casuarina as the soft windbreak backdrop with Banksia integrifolia as the bold flowering feature.

Tips for planting

Avoid heavily amended soil. Plant in open positions with room for natural form. Established trees need no supplementary watering.

Soft native windbreak for coastal gardens.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best plants for a coastal garden?
Banksia integrifolia, Westringia fruticosa, Casuarina, Olea europaea and Waterhousea floribunda all handle salt and wind exposure. Pairing a feature tree with a salt-tolerant hedge delivers both impact and resilience.
How do I protect coastal plants from salt?
Choose species rated for coastal exposure and plant a tougher windbreak species like Casuarina or Banksia on the seaward side to shelter more sensitive plants behind.

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