Cottage Garden Plants
Few garden styles capture the charm and nostalgia of the traditional cottage garden. Bursting with colour, fragrance, and an abundance of flowers, cottage gardens combine informal planting with a relaxed, natural appearance that feels both welcoming and timeless. Whether you have a large country garden or a compact urban plot, choosing the right cottage garden plants can help you achieve this much-loved look.
What is a Cottage Style Garden?
The cottage garden originated in rural England, where practical kitchen gardens were combined with ornamental flowers around workers' cottages. Over time, the style evolved into a planting approach characterised by densely packed borders, a mix of annuals, perennials, shrubs and climbers, and a seemingly effortless abundance of blooms.
Unlike formal gardens with strict layouts and geometric planting, cottage gardens embrace a softer, more natural appearance. Plants are allowed to intermingle, self-seed and spill over pathways, creating a relaxed and romantic atmosphere. Fragrance, colour, wildlife value and seasonal interest are all important features of the cottage garden style.
Key Characteristics of Cottage Garden Planting
- Informal, densely planted borders
- A mixture of flowering perennials, annuals and shrubs
- Plants of varying heights layered together
- Long flowering seasons
- Abundant colour and texture
- Fragrant flowers and herbs
- Wildlife-friendly planting
- Climbing plants covering walls, fences and arches
Best Plants for a Cottage Garden
Roses - No cottage garden is complete without roses. Traditional shrub roses, English roses and climbing varieties provide structure, fragrance and months of flowers.
Popular choices include:
- Iceberg
- Whisky Mac
- Ruby Wedding
- Rhapsody in Blue
Delphiniums add dramatic height and create the vertical accents typical of cottage garden borders. Their tall flower spikes provide stunning displays in shades of blue, purple, pink and white.
Hollyhocks (Lavatera) - A classic cottage garden favourite, hollyhocks produce tall stems covered in colourful blooms. They are ideal for planting against walls and fences.
Foxgloves bring elegance and a naturalistic feel to cottage planting. Their bell-shaped flowers attract bees and add height to borders.
Lavender - Loved for its fragrance and pollinator-friendly flowers, lavender creates neat edging and provides year-round structure.
Peonies - Large, luxurious blooms and attractive foliage make peonies a valuable addition to cottage-style planting schemes.
Lupins - produce colourful flower spikes in early summer and blend beautifully with roses and other perennials.
Catmint (Nepeta) offers soft mounds of grey-green foliage and long-lasting lavender-blue flowers that complement many cottage garden favourites.
Hardy Geraniums - These versatile perennials weave through borders, suppress weeds and provide colour over a long season.
Sweet Peas are prized for their scent and colourful flowers. Grow them up obelisks, arches or trellises for a traditional cottage garden feature.
Verbena bonariensis - Its tall, airy stems add movement and allow other plants to shine through, creating a relaxed, informal effect.
Herbs - Traditional cottage gardens often include herbs among ornamental flowers. Consider:
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Thyme
- Chives
- Oregano
Cottage Garden Climbers
Climbing plants soften structures and add vertical interest.
Excellent choices include:
- Clematis
- Honeysuckle
- Climbing roses
- Jasmine
- Wisteria
These can be trained over pergolas, arches, walls and fences to enhance the romantic cottage garden atmosphere.
Planting Schemes for a Cottage Garden
Traditional Pink and Purple Border
This timeless colour combination creates a soft, romantic effect.
Back of border:
- Delphiniums
- Foxgloves
- Hollyhocks
Middle layer:
- Roses
- Peonies
- Lupins
Front of border:
- Lavender
- Catmint
- Hardy geraniums
Pollinator-Friendly Cottage Garden
Designed to attract bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects.
Back of border:
- Verbena bonariensis
- Hollyhocks
Middle layer:
- Echinacea
- Salvia
- Nepeta
Front of border:
- Lavender
- Thyme
- Oregano
White Cottage Garden
A sophisticated planting scheme that shines in evening light.
Back of border:
- White delphiniums
- White foxgloves
Middle layer:
- White roses
- White peonies
Front of border:
- White campanula
- Silver-leaved artemisia
- White alyssum
Small Space Cottage Garden
Ideal for compact gardens and courtyards.
Key plants:
- Climbing rose on a wall or trellis
- Lavender edging
- Salvia
- Hardy geraniums
- Cosmos
- Sweet peas in containers
This approach delivers the cottage garden look without requiring a large plot.
Tips for Creating an Authentic Cottage Garden
- Plant generously and avoid leaving bare soil.
- Combine plants with different flowering times for year-round interest.
- Allow some plants to self-seed naturally.
- Mix ornamental flowers with herbs and edible plants.
- Include climbing plants to soften hard landscaping.
- Use natural materials such as brick, gravel and timber.
- Encourage wildlife by selecting nectar-rich flowers.
Get Planting and Create Your Cottage Garden
A cottage garden is all about abundance, colour and charm. By combining classic favourites such as roses, foxgloves, delphiniums, lavender and hollyhocks, you can create a garden that feels relaxed, romantic and full of life. Layering plants of different heights and choosing a planting scheme that suits your space will help you achieve the timeless beauty that makes cottage gardens one of the most popular garden styles in the UK.
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