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12 Coastal Garden Designs: Bring the Beach Vibes to Your Backyard

By the Viral Info team · Updated November 2026 · 3 min read

Coastal Garden Designs

Coastal gardens are relaxed and textural, with plants that sway in the breeze and cope with salt and sun. These 12 coastal garden designs help you bring the beach vibes to your backyard, wherever you live.

Salt and wind tolerant plants

Item Why it works
Grasses Blue fescue, feather reed grass, sea oats
Perennials Sea holly, lavender, yarrow, sea thrift
Shrubs Rosemary, sea buckthorn, escallonia
Succulents Sedum, sempervivum, echeveria in mild areas
Climbers Star jasmine in sheltered spots

Coastal garden designs

  1. Lay a gravel garden with driftwood accents.
  2. Plant swathes of ornamental grasses like a dune.
  3. Build a boardwalk path through planting.
  4. Create a succulent bed with rocks and pebbles.
  5. Plant sea holly and lavender for silver and blue tones.
  6. Use a rope and post fence for a seaside feel.
  7. Add a weathered timber deck with Adirondack chairs.
  8. Plant a living windbreak of salt-tolerant shrubs.
  9. Mulch with crushed shells or pebbles.
  10. Use blue and white planters for a breezy accent.
  11. Add a beach-hut style shed or cabana.
  12. Create a firepit area surrounded by gravel and grasses.

Tip: Use only legally sourced driftwood, shells and stones (taking them from beaches is restricted in many places), keep firepits on non-flammable gravel well away from dry grasses, and wear gloves when handling sea holly and other spiky plants.

FAQ

What plants grow well in coastal gardens?

Grasses, sea holly, lavender, rosemary, sea thrift and sedums cope well with salt and wind.

How do I protect a coastal garden from wind?

Plant a windbreak of tough shrubs or use slatted fencing to slow the wind.

Can I create a coastal garden away from the sea?

Yes, use gravel, grasses, silver plants and weathered timber for the look.

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