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"Coastal Plants"

Front line plants are those that will tolerate direct salt spray and salt laden winds. The young soft growth of these plants will be burnt during bad weather, although the plants will recover. The height of coastal species will be affected by the strength of the salt laden winds and usually these plants will not grow as tall as stated on the labels. Young plants can be protected by tree guards. Watering regularly is a must to establish these plants. Sandy soils mostly have good drainage but few nutrients. These sandy soils need well rotted matter (compost) added to them to help retain moisture and to supply nutrients. Deep watering is more beneficial than light hosing. A good layer of mulch placed around the base of the plant will stop it drying out.

Front line Coastal Ground Covers
Frankenia pauciflora
Myoporum parvifolium       Creeping boobialla
Carpobrotus glaucescens    Pig face

Small Shrubs
Correa alba
Correa backhousia
Correa reflexa (green)         Common Correa
Bracteantha bracteata          Yellow paper daisy
Leucophyta brownii
Vitex ovata 'purpurea'
Lasiopetalum ferrugineum   Rust velvet bush

Medium shrubs
Acacia sophorae         Coastal wattle
Acacia suaveolens      Sweet wattle
Hakea suaveolens      Sweet Hakea
Banksia robur            Swamp Banksia
Kunzea ambigua        Tick bush
Melaleuca incana        Grey honey mrytle
Westringia fruticosa   Coastal rosemary
Melaleuca nodosa

Large Shrubs
Banksia ericifolia    Heath Banksia
Banksia marginata    Silver Banksia
Banksia serrata    Old man Banksia
Leptospermum laevigatum    Coastal teatree
Melaleuca ericifolia    Northern paperbark
Melaleuca halmaturorum    Kangaroo paperbark
Melaleuca hypericifolia        Hillock bush

Large Trees
Acacia floribunda    Sally wattle
Eucalyptus botryoides    Bangalay
Eucalyptus robusta    Swamp mahogany

Second line Coastal Plants
Second line plants will tolerate some salt exposure but need the protection of the front line plantings. Using the sand ridges or the rear of the house can provide a good barrier. Once a plant is established it generally requires little maintenance in these conditions. Pruning is mostly done by the elements but you may need to prune occasionally to keep compactness and shape.

Ground Covers

Actinotus helianthi         Flannel flowers
Dianella revoluta           Spreading flax  lily
Dampiera purpurea       Purple dampiera
Hardenbergia violacea   False sarsparilla
Kennedia prostrata       Running postman
Kennedia rubicunda       Dusky coral pea
Scaevola aemula          Fairy fan flower
Viola hederacea            Native violet

Climbers
Billardiera scandens    Apple berry
Hardenbergia    'Happy wanderer'
Hibbertia scandens    Guinea flower
Pandorea jasminoides
Hoya australis

Medium Shrubs
Acacia myrtifolia    Myrtle wattle
Acacia terminalis    Sunshine wattle
Baeckea linifolia    Swamp Baeckea
Banksia collina    Hill Banksia
Banksia serrata    Old man Banksia
Callistemon linearis    Narrow leaf bottle brush
Callistemon pinifolius    Pine leaf bottle brush
Callistemon pallidus    Lemon bottle brush
Grevillea banksii    Red flowering silky oak
Grevillea juniperina
Grevillea longifolia
Kunzea parvifolia    Small leaved Kunzea
Lambertia formosa    Mountain devil
Leptospermum scoparium    Broom tea tree
Leptospermum squarrosum   Peach flowered tea tree
Melaleuca fulgens    Scarlet honey myrtle
Melaleuca lateritia    Robin red breast
Prostanthera incana

Large Shrubs
Callicoma serratifolia    Black wattle
Callistemon citrinus    Red bottle brush
Callistemon viminalis
Ceratopetalum gummiferum    Christmas bush
Hakea sericea    Needle bush
Leptospermum petersonii    Lemon scented tea tree
Melaleuca linariifolia    Snow in summer
Melaleuca styphelioides    Prickly paper bark
Prostanthera ovalifolia    Purple mint bush

Small Trees
Acacia baileyana    Cootamundra wattle
Acacia prominens    Gosford wattle
Callistemon salignus    Willow bottle brush
Callitris rhomboidea    Port Jackson pine
Allocasuarina torulosa    Rose she-oak
Hakea salicifolia    Willow leaved Hakea 
Pittosporum rhombifolium
Cupaniopsis anacardioides    Tuckeroo
Acmena smithii    Lilly pilly
Glochidion ferdinandi    Cheese tree
Syzygium oleosum    Blue lilly pilly
Elaeocarpus reticulatus    Blueberry ash
Syzygium luehmannii    Riberry

Reference books
"Grow What Where", Australian Plant Study Group, Published by Nelson.
"Australian Native Plants", J.Wrigley & M.Fagg, Reed Books, Sydney.
"Rainforest Plants of Australia", David Jones, Reed Books, Sydney.

Produced by the Australian Plants Society, Central Coast Group in conjunction
with Gosford City Council and Wyong Shire Council.