Suitable Types Of Evergreen TreesFor Seaside Gardens

A List Of Evergreen Trees For Coastal Gardening

Not all types of evergreen trees are suitable for seaside gardening. A lot of trees can't tolerate exposure to salt and wind in coastal areas.

Particularly evergreens can suffer wind burn to their foliage ...so it is critical that you choose the right trees for this climate. 

These ornamental evergreen trees will survive in coastal areas and can be used for shelter or as individual trees. This list of evergreen trees will help you choose a tree for your garden that will tolerate maritime exposure.

9 Different Types Of Evergreen Trees For Seaside Gardens

Araucaria araucana - Monkey Puzzle Tree, Chilean Pine

This unusual tree has a very open habit and scale-like leaves that are sharply pointed. Araucarias are very slow growing and make an unusual feature in a garden. Monkey Puzzle trees can grow to a height of 20m.

Grow them in moist but well-drained soil in sun to part shade. They dislike cold, drying winds but are well able to cope with salt and coastal exposure.

Arbutus unedo - Strawberry Tree

These types of evergreen trees are slow growing and reach a height of 8 m. The bell-shaped rosy flowers appear in the autumn and are followed by orange-red fruit that reminds you of strawberries.

Plant the Strawberry Tree into acid to neutral soil that is well drained but moist. They prefer a sunny spot and do well in seaside gardens.

Cordyline australis - Australian Cabbage Palm

Cordylines are excellent seaside plants and can be grown in the most exposed gardens without any protection from wind. These palm-like trees reach a height of 6 m and have long, leathery leaves. These types of evergreen trees will give a sub-tropical appearance to your seaside garden.

Grow them in a well-drained soil in sun to part shade. Mature plants have highly scented flowers during the summer. Cordylines are not frost hardy and won't survive severe frost over a prolonged period.

Cryptomeria japonica 'Elegans' - Japanese Cedar

These conifers grow about 6 m tall and form a bushy upright tree. These ornamental evergreen trees have a blue-green foliage in the summer that turns into a reddish brown in the winter.

Cryptomerias tolerate most soil types once they are well drained. This is a good compact tree for seaside areas.

Eucalyptus gunnii - Cider Gum Tree, Eucalyptus Tree

This Eucalyptus tree can reach a height of 15 m and is a fast-growing evergreen tree. The foliage has an attractive silvery-blue color. The stems and trunk have a peeling bark with brown and green patches.

Plant a Eucalyptus tree in well-drained soil that is slightly acidic to neutral.Other suitable varieties for coastal gardens are Eucalytus niphophila or Eucalyptus parviflora.

Laurus nobilis - Bay Tree

Bay trees reach a height and spread of 12 m. These ornamental evergreen trees have aromatic, dark-green leathery foliage. The leaves can be used for cooking. This tree will accept most soil types if well-drained. Protect the plant from cold, drying winds.

Bay trees can also be planted in large containers and shaped into pyramids or balls. They make a nice bushy evergreen tree in seaside gardens.

Magnolia grandiflora - Bull Bay

This evergreen Magnolia reaches a height and spread of 15 m. These beautiful trees have glossy dark green leaves and white, scented flowers in summer and autumn.

These ornamental evergreen trees need a spot that is a bit protected from strong winds if you have a very exposed garden.

For best results plant them into a moist, humus-rich soil in full sun to part shade.

Pine Trees - Pinus

Pine trees are great types of evergreen trees for seaside areas and tolerate wind well and can be used for shelterbelts. Pine trees tolerate sandy soils.

These evergreen conifers produce brown cones and are fast growing. Suitable varieties for coastal gardens and windbreaks are Pinus contorta, Pinus pinaster, Pinus radiata and Pinus thunbergii.

Quercus ilex - Holm Oak, Evergreen Oak

This large evergreen tree with a rounded crown can reach a height of 15 m. These trees prefer a good well-drained soil in shade to part-shade.

Holm Oaks are drought tolerant and tolerate coastal exposure well. The leaves are dark green and remind you of a holly tree. Mature specimens bear acorns in the autumn.

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