Plants for Maritime (Seaside) Areas

PLANTING SOLUTIONS

Plants for Maritime (Seaside) Areas

Gardening in close proximity to the ocean has many challenges. Prevailing winds with high salinity levels wreak havoc with many cultivated garden plants. That’s why strict legislation conserves all natural, indigenous vegetation within a certain distance of the seashore. Plant growth in this zone can be slow and trying with protection required whilst young plants are establishing. Salt tolerant plants somewhat limited. However, many gardens exist in this sensitive zone and therefore require careful plant selection in order to succeed.

 

This is a short but by no means comprehensive list of plants suitable for growing on the KwaZulu-Natal coastline. Their botanical name is listed first with common names in (brackets).

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Annuals and Perennials

(Low Growing)

Key:  (B) = bulb (C) = climber (D) = deciduous (E) = evergreen (F) = fruit (H) = herb (I) = indigenous (N) = nectar rich (S) = seed (T) = thorns  

  • Acalypha hispaniola 
    (cat’s tails) (E)
  • Aloe striata 
    (coral aloe) (E) (I)
  • Aptenia cordifolia 
    (baby sun rose) (E) (I)
  • Arctotsis x hybrida 
    (African daisy) (E) (I)
  • Asparagus densiflorus ‘Sprengeri’ 
    (emerald fern) (E) (I) – Note: there are many different Asparagus forms for maritime areas
  • Asystasia gangetica 
    (creeping foxglove) (E) (I)
  • Barleria obtusa 
    (bush violet) (E) (I)
  • Barleria repens 
    (dwarf bush violet) (E) (I)
  • Bulbine abyssinica 
    (bushy bulbine) (E) (I)
  • Bulbine frutescens 
    (burn jelly plant) (E) (I)
  • Bulbine natalensis 
    (broad-leaf bulbine) (E) (I)
  • Carpobrotus acinaciformis 
    (purple sour fig) (E) (I)
  • Carpobrotus edulis 
    (sour fig) (E) (I)
  • Carissa macrocarpa ‘Green Carpet’ 
    (dwarf num-num) (E) (I)
  • Catharanthus roseus 
    (vinca) (E) (I)
  • Chlorophytum comosum ‘Vittatum’ 
    (hen and chickens) (E) (I)
  • X Cryptbergia rubra 
    (red bromeliad) (E)
  • Crinum asiaticum 
    (giant crinum) (D) (B)
  • Drimiopsis maculata 
    (leopard lily) (D) (B)
  • Dyckia fosteriana 
    (spiny bromeliad) (E) – Note: there are many dyckia species for maritime gardens
  • Gazania rigens 
    (trailing gazania) (E) (I)
  • Gazania uniflora 
    (grey leaf gazania) (E) (I)
  • Conifer: Juniperus conferta 
    (shore juniper) (E)
  • Hymenocallis littoralis 
    (beach spider lily) (D) (B)
  • Limonium perezii 
    (sea lavender) (E)
  • Osteospermum hybrid 
    (African daisy) (E) (I) – Note: there are many different Osteospermums for maritime areas
  • Pelargonium x hybrida 
    (geranium) (E) (I) – Note: there are many different Pelargoniums for maritime areas
  • Phormium tenax 
    (New Zealand flax) (E) – Note: there are many different Phormiums for maritime areas
  • Plectranthus neochilus 
    (lobster flower) (E) (I)
  • Plectranthus verticilatus 
    (money plant) (E) (I)
  • Portulaca oleracea 
    (purslane) (E)
  • Portulacaria affra 
    (pork bush) (E) (I)
  • Sansevieria cylindrica 
    (elephant’s toothpick) (E) (I)
  • Sansevieria trifasciata 
    (mother-in-law’s tongue) (E)

Shrubs & Climbers

(Medium to Tall Growing)

Key:  (B) = bulb (C) = climber (D) = deciduous (E) = evergreen (F) = fruit (H) = herb (I) = indigenous (N) = nectar rich (S) = seed (T) = thorns  

  • Acalypha hispida 
    (calico bush) (E)
  • Acalypha wilkesiana hybrids 
    (calico bush) (ED)
  • Agave angustifolia ‘Variegata’ 
    (century plant) (E) (T)
  • Aloe thraskii 
    (dune aloe) (E) (I) (T)
  • Barleria albostellata 
    (grey barleria) (E) (I)
  • Bougainvillea x buttiana hybrids 
    (bougainvillea) (ED) (C) (T)
  • Carissa bispinosa 
    (forest num-num) (E) (I)
  • Carissa macrocarpa 
    (num-num) (E) (I) (T) (F)
  • Chrysanthemoides monilifera 
    (bush tick berry) (E) (I)
  • Cistus purpureus 
    (rock rose) (E)
  • Coprosma repens all hybrids and cultivars
    (mirror bush) (E)
  • Cycas revoluta 
    (sago palm) (E)
  • Cycas thouarsii 
    (Indian Ocean cycad) (E)
  • Dodonaea angustifolia 
    (sand olive) (E) (I)
  • Dracaena aletriformis 
    (wild dragon tree) (E) (I)
  • Duvernoia adhatodoides 
    (pistol bush) (E) (I)
  • Kraussia floribunda 
    (rhino coffee) (E) (I)
  • Mandevilla sanderi 
    (dwarf dipladenia) (E)
  • Myoporum laetum 
    (ngaio) (E)
  • Pavetta lanceolata 
    (weeping bride’s bush) (E) (I)
  • Plumbago auriculata 
    (plumbago) (E) (I)
  • Polygala myrtifolia 
    (September bush) (E) (I)
  • Psychotria capensis 
    (black bird-berry) (E) (I)
  • Rhaphiolepsis x delacourii 
    (Indian hawthorn) (E)
  • Strelitzia juncea 
    (thin leaf bird of paradise) (E) (I)
  • Strelitzia reginae 
    (bird of paradise) (E) (I)
  • Tarenna pavettoides 
    (false bride’s bush) (E) (I)
  • Tecoma capensis in different colours 
    (Cape honeysuckle) (E) (I)
  • Vitex trifolia ‘Purpurea’ 
    (Arabian lilac) (E)
  • Westringia fruticosa 
    (Australian rosemary) (E)
  • Yucca elephantipes 
    (palm lily) (E)

Trees

(Tall Growing)

Key:  (B) = bulb (C) = climber (D) = deciduous (E) = evergreen (F) = fruit (H) = herb (I) = indigenous (N) = nectar rich (S) = seed (T) = thorns  

Aloidendron barberae 
(tree aloe) (E) (I)
Antidesma venosum 
(tassel berry) (ED) (I) (F)
Araucaria heterophylla 
(monkey puzzle) (E)
Brachylaena discolor 
(coastal silver oak) (E) (I)
Bridelia micrantha 
(mitzeeri) (ED) (I)
Cordyline australis 
(Cabbage tree) (E)
Croton sylvaticus
(forest fever berry) ((ED) (I)
Deinbollia oblongifolia 
(dune soapberry) (E) (I)
Dracaena draco 
(dragon tree) (E)
Euphorbia ingens 
(common tree euphorbia) (E) (I) (T)
Ficus rubiginosa 
(Moreton Bay fig) (E)
Harpephyllum caffrum 
(wild plum) (E) (I)
Mimusops caffra 
(red milkwood) (E) (I) (F)
Palm: Chamaerops humilis 
(Mediterranean fan palm) (E)
Palm: Cocos nucifera 
(coconut palm) (E)
Palm: Dypsis lutescens 
(bamboo palm) (E)
Palm: Trachycarpus fortunei 
(windmill palm) (E)
Palm: Washingtonia robusta 
(hula skirt palm) (E)
Pandanus utilis 
(screw pine) (E) (T)
Ravenala madagascariensis 
(traveller’s palm) (E)
Rauvolfia caffra 
(quinine tree) (D) (I)
Senegalia caffra 
(common hook thorn) (D) (I) (T)
Strelitzia nicolai 
(wild banana) (E) (I)
Tabernaemontana elegans 
(toad tree) (ED) (I)
Tarchonanthus camphoratus 
(wild camphor bush) (E) (I)
Terminalia catappa 
(Indian almond) (D)
Trichilia emetica 
(Natal mahogany) (E) (I)
Vachellia karroo 
(sweet thorn) (D) (I) (T)
Vachellia xanthophloea 
(fever tree) (D) (I) (T)

Disclaimer:

Whilst every care and caution has been taken in compiling these lists in terms of correctness and accuracy, Blackwood’s, nor any of their employees can be held liable or responsible if any of the recommendations are found to be incorrect in any way whatsoever. They are merely a guide to help gardeners and staff in finding solutions to gardening problems. All plants listed may not be available for sale at times. They do however all grow in the greater KwaZulu-Natal area and are to be found growing successfully in local gardens.