1. We live on the coast right above the lighthouse. What can we plant that will survive the cool, salt-laden winds?
   
   

   

    

   First, one cultural practice that may help you would be to water lots and often, washing the salts out of the soil, especially if you have plants in pots.

   Another is to place heat-loving plants against a sheltered south or west wall since you live in such a heat-starved area.

   Also ask your neighbors and other people living along the coast just what that gorgeous plant is - most gardeners LOVE to show off their gardens and you'll leave with a new friend and usually a bunch of seedlings or cuttings.

    

   

    

   Some of the most extreme coastal weather is found along the coastline and on the moors in Scotland, Ireland and the rest of the British Isles. Yet the heather family thrives there under less than ideal conditions. The City of Fortuna, the Fortuna Garden Club and the local Heather Society have established one of the largest collections (several hundred varieties) of heathers on the north coast of California at the River Lodge Conference center in Fortuna. These plants bloom at different times and there is be color the year round.

   Heaths and heathers (a couple are in the list below) are famous for tolerating rugged coastal conditions. Consider a summer and winter day trip to check it out. This garden has all of the coastal weather conditions except for the salt spray.

    

   

    

   This list includes annuals, shrubs from ground covers on up, and trees. A few of these have showy flowers, although they are a rarity in coast-tolerant plants. All of the plants in this list tolerate cool coastal conditions and climate. If you try something in this list and it just sits there and sulks, rip it out and replace it with something else.

    

   

    

   Acer pseudoplatanus

   Arbutus menziesii, A. unedo, A. 'Marina'

   Arctostaphylos columbiana

   Aurinia saxatilis

   Atriplex

    

   

    

   Baccharis pilularis

   Buddleia

    

   

    

   Calluna vulgaris, many cultivars 

   Caragana arborescens

   Ceanoththus, all sizes from ground covers to trees

   Centaurea cyanus

   Cerastium tomentosum

   Chrysanthemum carinatum, C. frutescens

   Cistus (probably ok)

   Colutea arborescens,

   Cortaderia selloana 

   Cotoneaster, all sizes from ground covers to trees

   Crataegus pinnatifida, others

   Cytisus, most species anbd hybrids

    

   

    

   Elaeagnus angustifolia

   Erica arborea 'Alpina'

   Erigeron glaucus

   Escallonia, all

   Eschscholzia californica

   Euonymus japonica, E. patens, E. fortunei and vars.

    

   

    

   Felicia amelloides

   Fraxinus angustifolia, F. excelsior

   Fuchsia magellanica and hybrids

    

   

    

   Garrya elliptica

   Gaultheria shallon

    

   

    

   Hebe 'Autumn Glory', other kinds (try this somber plant but it's one of my favorite workhorses)

   Helianthemum species and hybrids

   Hippophae rhamnoides

   Hydrangea macrophylla

    

   

    

   Ilex aquifolium, I. glabra, I. opaca

    

   

    

   Juniperus, most

    

   

    

   Laurus nobilis, Bay

   Lavandula, Lavender

   Lonas annua

   Lonicera japonica, L. 'Halliana', L. nitida, L. tatarica, L.pileata

    

   

    

   Mahonia aquifolium

   Myrica californica

   Myrtus communis

    

   

    

   Olearia haastii, others

    

   

    

   Phormium tenax, many varieties (has dramatic leaf colors)

   Photinia fraseri, P. glabra, P. serrulata

   Picea abies and varieties, P. sitchensis

   Pinus contorta, P. radiata, thunbergii

   Pittosporum tobira

   Platanus acerifolia

   Prunus spinosa

   Populus alba

   Potentilla fruticosa and cultivars

   Pyracantha, all

    

   

    

   Quercus garryanna, Q. marilandica, Q. robur, Q. virginiana

    

   

    

   Rhamnus alaternus

   Rosmarinus officinalis

   Rosa nutkana, R. rugosa, R. pimpinellifolia, R. wichuraiana

    

   

    

   Salix, many

   Sambucus racemosa

   Santolina species

   Sorbus aucuparia

   Spartium junceum

   Spiraea douglasii

   Symphoricarpus, all

    

   

    

   Tamarix species

    

   

    

   Ulmus parvifolia

   Ulex europaeus

    

   

    

   Vaccinium ovatum

   Viburnum dentatum, V. opulus, V. tinus

    

   
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