Sand Dune Plants
Sand dunes are dynamic coastal features that protect against coastal erosion and flooding, ranging from new pioneer dune slacks to mature dune systems that are thousands of years old.
Historical pressures of reclaiming sand dunes for agriculture, coastal erosion and sea level rise are all threats to these habitats.
Salix now provide a range of sand dune species to aid in the creation of new habitats and the restoration of existing ones.
Our sand dune plants are grown in a fibrous, coir based compost that creates the perfect free draining substrate required for these plants.
Sand dunes are a first line of defence to rising seas as our climate changes.
Ammophila arenaria (Marram)
A true native to the coastlines of Britain where it grows in the sands of beach dunes. Growing to 1m in height, this sand-specialist grass helps stabilise shifting sands by means of its underground stems. Ammophila arenaria colonises from a network of thick rhizomes which gives it anchorage in the sand substrate and allows it to spread outward. Its flowers form dense spikes and are straw-coloured. Leaves are grey-green, tough and rolled to help with loss of water.
Eryngium maritimum (Sea Holly)
Drought tolerant and absent from Northern Scotland. Found in shingle and sandy coastline habitats this bushy perennial has firm, spiky leaves with flowers blue-silver in colour.
Glaucium flavum (Yellow Horned Poppy)
A coastal poppy forming a distinct rosette of blue-grey leaves. Flowers with overlapping yellow petals.
Leymus arenarius (Lyme-grass)
Well adapted to highly salinized habitats, Leymus arenarius is a coastal specialist grass. Like Ammophila arenaria, Leymus arenarius grows on sandy beaches and in the sands of beach dunes. With large rhizomes the grass spreads and helps control soil erosion. It is marginally taller than A. arenaria growing to 1.5m. Its leaves however are similar, in that they are grey-green and rolled to reduce loss of water.
