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Seafront plants in winter

Cewoodside 670Cewoodside 670 Posts: 4
in Plants
what plants would provide some colour throughout winter to late spring for public planters on an exposed seafront, please? They have reservoirs.

Posts

  • Cewoodside 670Cewoodside 670 Posts: 4
    Thanks, Pansyface, but these plants aren't really suitable for public space planters. I know it's a big ask but I'm hoping someone can suggest something.

  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    Ophiopogon might be suitable as a good base plant. It comes in green or a black form. You will have missed the flowers this time of year, but it is an evergreen plant. Look online you will find pictures and size.
    I gave some to a friend who gardens within a road and row of houses opposite that close to the sea, it seems to have done okay.
    In flowering season the green has white flowers and the black a pale lilac shade. They also have a berry after, so still have interest.

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    You don't mention the size of the planters and what part of the UK. For instance, certain types of Cyclamens are not suitable in colder areas. If your planters are big enough, you can put in Euonymus Fortunei/Japonicus with many types of leaf shape and variegation to add a good back-drop to the planter. Classic evergreen foliage would be Skimmia Japonica and Gautheria Procumbens. Grasses can often add strong colours in low light. Helictotrichon Sempervirens glows with its blue/green foliage. Violas/Pansies should be fine in windy and cold areas. Think about bulbs too. Chionodoxa Forbesii is tough and will not be fazed by salt or wind. 
  • Cewoodside 670Cewoodside 670 Posts: 4
    Thanks Borderline and Rubytoo. I'll look up these ideas . We're based in S E Cornwall on an estuary on a quay. The size of each planter is 150x500x75 cm. I've had sedums and ajugas suggested but the limited height of some is a concern for me. I'm a novice at this. Our summer planting, based mainly on surfinias and begonias was colourful and brought pleasure to residents and visitors. I'd like some joy in winter.

  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
    Winter pansies, polyanthus and trailing ivy are just a few of the plants used in our winter, seafront planters. Perhaps some tete a tete daffs could be included between the plants.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Try the smaller leaved hebes - evergreen foliage and flowers in summer so interest all year round.   Brachyglottis has silvery foliage covered in fine hairs to protect it from salt laden winds and would provide a good foil if kept pruned to encourage fresh leaves rather than the garish yellow flowers which appear in summer.

    Contrast those with the above mentioned ophiopogon and some early spring bulbs - shorter varieties to avoid wind damage - and you'll have a good looking planter.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Cewoodside 670Cewoodside 670 Posts: 4
    Thanks GD2 and Obelixx. More good ideas. My supplier can't do the ones I've chosen from your suggestions and budget plannng is now closed so I've made notes for next year. I'll try and remember to post images of its progress through the year. This is how it looked this Summer.
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