Native and drought-tolerant plants for coastal gardens

Planting palettes

Build a resilient palette with structure and seasonal interest.

A resilient palette combines site-adapted species with enough variation to feel layered, seasonal and intentional.

Begin with exposure. Sun, shade, salt, wind and soil moisture narrow the list quickly and help prevent high-maintenance combinations.

Use repeated structural plants to hold the composition together, then add flowering or textural accents in measured groups. Repetition makes a varied palette feel calm.

Plan for mature size and natural form. Plants that fit their space need less corrective pruning and usually look better as the garden ages.

• Match plants to exposure
• Repeat a strong structural layer
• Plan for mature size