Coastal environs are some of the most challenging for gardening , with their strong winds and sun , saltiness , and sand . With all these barrier to growing a luscious seaside garden , you ’ll be felicitous to discover out about tough annuals for the beach .
When you think of yearly bloom , you may come up with garden centre classics like the zinnia , dianthus , or impatiens , or even more unusual species like celosia .
These are all first-class annuals , and some even possess desirable characteristics for a coastal garden , like tolerance for arenaceous soil . However , some annual are even more suited to a coastal garden .
Annual Plants for Coastal Environments
If you go by the beach or the coast , it ’s important to choosetrees that grow on beaches , as well as sealed annual and perennials that can handle the conditions .
As long as you cautiously trace the rule of thumb for where and when to plant them , these annuals ’ colorful blooms and leafage are their own sweet payoff .
Where to Plant Annuals for the Beach
The best planting location for these annual varies as much as the plants themselves . Some make good ground cover or work well in a seam or border . Several make excellent container plant , whether in window boxes or hang handbasket .
Most , though not all , do best in the heat and full Sunday , perhaps with some shade in hot climates . Many of these annuals are perennials in tropic zone .
When to Plant Annuals
annual can be tender , half - unfearing , or hardy . Sow supply ship annuals either indoors four to six weeks before the final freeze , or out of doors once there is no frost risk .
Start half - stalwart annuals indoors six to eight weeks before the net icing or straight off outside once the soil has started to warm up .
Sow hardy annual seeds out of doors in early spring since they tolerate light freeze . The sowing escort also depend on how long the plants take to germinate and ripen .
Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
These compact ground coverplants for the beachbear yellowed , orange , pink , or creamy blooming from May to other gloaming . The flowers and leaves are edible but bitter . Calendula flourish in beds and container in mild coastal country .
Start its come indoors six to eight weeks before the final Robert Lee Frost or out of doors just before the final hoarfrost . obtain a location with full Dominicus or part sun in hot mood . The soil should be middling - quality , well - drain , fertile , and somewhat acidulent or neutral .
Add balanced , water - soluble fertilizer when implant if the soil is of low quality . water system your pot marigolds frequently until they ’re set up , then only now and then .
Wax Begonia (Begonia semperflorens)
This one-year ’s single or double flower come in pink , white , and red , while its leaves are dark-green or maroon . It hate utmost heat and dry weather condition , thriving in mild coastal surround . Plant begonia in a container or a the great unwashed in a prime bed .
diffuse this yearly using cutting . Thesesun lovingflowers prefer full sun or good afternoon nicety for scorching summertime and well - drain soil . Keep the soil moist but not soggy , applying water at the base , and apply fertilizer once a calendar month .
Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) – A Vibrant Coastal Annual
This annual ’s leaves come in vivid hues like lime unripe and orangish . Coleus produces invisible heyday shuck throughout the growing season .
Though it loves heat and sun , it do good from good afternoon tincture in hot areas . embed it in a mass , container , or border in moist , fertile , neutral , or slightly alkaline soil .
Start flame nettle seeds indoors eight to ten weeks before the final icing , transpose outdoors once temperatures stay above 60 ℉ .
Do not allow the soil dry out completely . Distribute mulch , but not cedar mulch , and feed your flame nettle plant diluted balanced fertiliser once a calendar month if the soil is poor .
Lantana (Lantana camara)
This vine - like shrub ’s cluster of flowers are bright pinkish , yellow-bellied , and more , often with several colors per cluster . Though these typesof beach flowerssmell unpleasant , the leaves smell like citrus .
Lantana tolerates humidness and salt nebuliser . Try it in a border or hang basket or as a ground cover or specimen flora . Note that lantana is see a noxious gage or invasive plant life in many warmer states – its leaves cause a rash , and its Chuck Berry are toxic .
Plant it in the spring once there ’s no hoar risk in well - draining , somewhat acidic land and full or partial sun . Water your lantana oftentimes and well . You may give it balanced fertilizer one time per calendar month .
Ivy Geranium (Pelargonium peltatum)
This yearly bears pinkish , red , or white blooms from bound to light . It develop proficient in nerveless yet sunny coastal or mickle climates . Ivy geranium suit a container .
spread it using press clipping , or sow the seed indoors in January . Plant your geranium in moist , well - drain , sandy loam and full Dominicus , or fond shade if summers are swelter .
irrigate your works regularly but earmark the land to dry between tearing . employ a sluttish , frequent fertilizing to encourage bloom , or expend enrich potting filth . Note that ivy geranium is toxic if ingested , and its juices may cause a skin rash .
Kale (Brassica oleracea) – An Edible Coastal Annual
This nutrient - rich veg ’s immature or violet farewell may be curly . lightheaded hoar create its leaves sweeter , while heat ferment them acid . Kale plant life bring on yellow flowers in early fountain and do well in a coastal setting .
Grow them in a bed or container in full sunlight to partial nuance and slightly acidic , moist , fertile , well - draining loam . Start kale seeds indoors six weeks before the final Robert Lee Frost or directly outdoors once the soil is at least 45 ℉ .
In warm mood , grow kale from semen outdoors in the late summer , early fall , or leaping . H2O your kale plant life regularly . Add compost or high - atomic number 7 fertiliser when planting and throughout the growing season .
Pansy (Viola tricolor var. hortensis)
This democratic annual ’s peak come in nearly every color . The edible flowers are often bi- or tricolored and appear to have little faces . Enjoy year - round blooms in mild coastal areas . Pansies are idealistic for flower beds , borders , and containers .
They prefer cool weather . Sow pansy seed indoors ten to twelve weeks before the last frost and transpose them alfresco in the spring . or else , sow in seeds in the summer or lessen for blush the undermentioned spring .
Pansies do best in fertile , humus - full-bodied , dampish soil and , if potential , full Sunday during cold months and fond subtlety during warmer months . irrigate your plants weekly and fertilize them every three months .
Seaside Petunia (Calibrachoa parviflora)
This annual gasconade fragrant narrow leave-taking , slender branches that put down roots , and buzzer - regulate pink or imperial flower from May to September . It grow in low-spirited , heavy mats in moist , sandy area , like wetland and streambeds .
The land should be fertile and drain well . circulate the seaside petunia using herbaceous stem cuttings , or dole out seed outdoors after the last frost .
This flora prefers regular lachrymation and full sun . put on all - purpose fertilizer every few week during the uprise season .
Moss Rose (Portulaca grandiflora) – A Tough Coastal Annual
This one-year boasts succulent leaves and semi - double or double flowers from early summertime to frost . Its blossom fill up when there ’s less Sunday and hail in colors like yellow , red , and white-hot . utilize it in a container or as a ground back .
Moss stand up tolerates wind and some drought and thrives in poor - character , well - draining , sandy , gravelly soil . It prefers full sun . Regular lacrimation is good .
Start seeds indoors eight weeks before the last frost , or implant them in the ground after the last frost . hold a slow - release fertilizer twice a class .
Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)
This yearly forms dense mounds of white , pink , or purple bloom that alleviate up during the hottest part of the summer . Though it ’s a perennial in coastal zone , sweet alyssum is often develop as an annual . think growing it in a mete , rock garden , or container .
commence madwort seeds inside six to eight weeks before the net frost , or sow them in your garden in well - enfeeble dirt one week after the last frost . This one-year prefers full Dominicus but demand some shade in hotter field .
One column inch of rain a week is sufficient , but give excess water during a ironical spell . Feed it all - purpose fertilizer in midsummer .
Gentian Sage (Salvia patens)
This salvia mixture , perfect for coastal gardens , boasts deep grim heyday spikes in the summer and fall . Its strong scent attract hummingbird but repel garden plague . Grow Gentian salvia in a seam , border , or container , or use it as an edge works .
Sow sage seeds in the spring once there ’s no icing risk , or take cuttings from non - flowering branches in the bound or other fall . flora Gentian sage in full sunlight and moist , well - drained , passably rich land .
Apply compost and mulch when planting , but no fertilizer . irrigate your plant during the summer if it take in less than one inch of urine per week .
Desert Sand Verbena (Abronia villosa) – A Hardy Coastal Annual
This ground cover song boasts clusters of bright - pink , horn - regulate prime from February to July . Its stem and fleshy oval leaves are cover in short , sticky hair .
Plant seeds for this vervain in late summer , drop , or early spring . As its name suggests , it requires sunny conditions and sandy ground . The land should be dry and well - drained .
The desert sand vervain has extensive base that puzzle out to find any nutrient and pee bury underground . however , give it water every three to four days and plant food once a hebdomad .
Nuttall’s Snapdragon (Antirrhinum nuttallianum)
This plant grows either like a vine or in an upright , rounded mound with triangular or affectionateness - shaped leaves . Its blooms , present from April to July , are lavender - blue with a delicate imperial - and - white lip .
In the wild , these snapdragons grow on rocky slopes or among dune orcoastal bush . distribute them by semen in full sunshine and well - drained , alkaline , arenaceous , rough soil .
The water needs for the Nuttall ’s snapdragon are meager , meaning that you should water ground plants at most once a calendar month . Apply balanced , all - purpose fertilizer once they start up bloom .
Madagascar Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus)
This tropic vinca plant flourishes in humid hotness . It has dark - green , leathery leaf and blooms from June until the gloaming frost . Its pink or regal flowers often have a contrast center .
The Madagascar periwinkle quickly fills a border or put it in a container like a windowpane boxful . Take cuttings in the fall , or start germ indoors 12 to 16 weeks before the last frost . constitute your rose periwinkle in the saltation once even temperatures vacillate around 60 ℉ .
Find a website with full sun , although it tolerates a little afternoon tad , and dry , well - drain sandy loam . pee the vinca weekly if there ’s little rainfall . Do not give it any fertilizer .
Gardening in coastal region can seem challenge . The combining of sand , salt , heat , and wind is not inviting for most plant species .
However , annuals for the beach make your job as a coastal gardener much easy . Pick a favorite or two for a full time of year of coloring and interest group .
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