Mostly Natives Planting Guides
Coastal Sea Thrift, Armaria maritima californica
Planting near the ocean influences requires attention to the elements of both drying winds and salts. The winds draw moisture from the leaves and the salts, deposited in the soil surrounding the plants, can draw moisture from the roots. Seaside plants have adapted in various ways to overcome these adversities.
It is always a good idea to start with small sized plants, they adjust to the harsh conditions more quickly than larger specimens. They will ultimately become more drought tolerant and often larger as they have developed a root system adequate to their needs. Mulching the plants can also help to retain moisture in the soil, particularly during the spring winds when plants are also trying to grow. If you do mulch however keep the base of the plant open to avoid crown rot.
Appropriate plants can be recruited from not only the coastal California zones but also Australia, western South America and the coastal Mediterranean region. If deer are a problem in you area Australian plants in particular seem more resistant to being eaten.
Following is a list of plants that we have found do well with both ocean winds and salt spray. Good luck!
+ means most people agree on the plants resistance
* Native to California
Gopher Resistant
- Groundcovers
- Arctostaphylos Emerald Carpet (Manzanita)*
- Arctostaphylos e. Carmel Sur (Manzanita)*
- Arctostaphylos x Pacific Mist (Manzanita)*
- Arctostaphylos u. Point Reyes (Manzanita)*
- +Baccharis (Prostrate Coyote Bush)*
- +Ceanothus gloriosus *
- Ceanothus hearstiorum, Centennial*
- +Cistus salviifolius
- +Correa (Australian Fuchsia)
- +Dymonida margaretae
- Fragaria chilensis (Wild Strawberry)*
- Fragaria vesca (Wild Strawberry)*
- +Lithodora diffusa
- +Ribes viburnifolium *
- +Rosmarinus (Trailing Rosemary)
- +Salvia mellifera Terra Secca*
- +Salvia Bees Bliss*
- Shrubs
- Ceanothus thyrsiflorus*
- +Cistus ladanifer, purpurea, +Sunset
- +Coleonema (Pink Breath of Heaven)
- Garrya elliptica (Silk Tassel)*
- +Grevillea
- Holodiscus (Ocean Spray)*
- +Leptospermum (New Zealand Tea Tree)
- +Lupinus (Lupine)*
- +Mimulus aurantiacus (Sticky Monkey)*
- Myrica californica (Pacific Wax Murtle)*
- Rhamnus (Coffeeberry)*
- Ribes s. (Pink Flowering Currant)*
- +Rosmarinus (Rosemary)
- Rubus spectabilis*
- Rubus (Thimbleberry)*
- +Salvia native species (Sage)*
- +Westringia rosmariniformis
- Trees
- Aesculus californica (Calif Buckeye)*
- +Cupressus (Monterey Cypress)*
- Lyonothamnus (Fernleaf Ironwood)*
- Pinus contorta (Shore Pine)*
- Pinus muricata (Bishop Pine)*
- Quercus suber (Cork Oak)
- Perennials
- Achillea (Yarrow)*
- +Angelica hendersonii *
- +Arabis blepharophylla *
- Armeria (Sea Thrift)*
- Aquilegia (Columbine)*
- +Asteriscus (Gold Coin)
- Chloragalum (Soaproot)*
- +Epilobium (California Fuchsia)*
- +Erigeron glaucus (Seaside Daisy)*
- +Erigeron karvinskianus (Mexican Daisy)
- Eriogonum (Buckwheat)*
- +Eriophyllum (Lizards Tail)*
- Eschscholzia*
- Euphorbia (Spurge)
- Heuchera *
- +Iris douglasiana*
- +Kniphofia (Torch Lilly)
- +Lavandula (Lavander)
- +Nepeta (Catmint)
- +Polystichum munitum (Sword Fern)*
- Romneya coulteri (Matilija Poppy)*
- +Salvia leucantha
- +Santolina (Lavender Cotton)
- +Sedum spathulifolium (Stonecrop)*
- Sidalcea malviiflora (Checkerbloom)*
- +Silene maritima (Sea Campion)
- +Sisyrinchium (Blue eyed Grass)*
- +Teucrium cossonii
- +Thymus (Thyme)
- +Viola adunca *
- Grasses
- Calamagrostis foliosa*
- + Calamagrostis nutkaensis*
- +Carex pansa (Meadow Sedge)*
- +Deschampsia (Tufted Hair Grass)*
- +Chondropetalum (Caperush)
- +Festuca californica*
- Festuca idahoensis *
- Festuca idahoensis Tomales Bay*
- +Juncus*
- +Nassella pulchra* (Purple Needle Grass)
- +Stipa arundinacea
- +Stipa gigantea