For those of us that love plants and want to get the most out of the space we have, a cottage garden offers more than just a chocolate box backdrop to a quaint English cottage.
Such a quintessentially British theme could suit even the most modern of buildings and also offers a rich habitat for many species of insect and animal.
It could be argued that the source of the cottage garden is merely a fantasy; an illusion of a pre-industrial past, where everyone was happy and well fed. Such a scene would have been rare in rural Britain as poverty was the norm and gardening for pleasure would have been for the lucky few.
What makes a good cottage garden?
Back on a romantic level again – at the heart of the cottage garden (in my opinion), is not necessarily the choice of fauna or flora, or any particular pattern, design, size or habit, but a manifestation of a healthy overactive plant-obsession. Commonly, in such a scheme the lawn is near non-existent, the paths are few with a tendency to wander and all manner of herbaceous perennial, annual, biennial and other leafy delights are crammed together where ever they fit.
Although this idea seems chaotic and over-stated, a successful cottage garden needs to be tempered by a good appreciation of ‘what goes with what’ – a sense which will naturally bubble up as the seasoned gardener works. I always say that the selection of plants that should be used within an ‘authentic’ cottage garden is really up to the gardener’s personal choice. However, it’s a good idea to mix your perennials with your annuals (to provide seasons of colour), smaller plants with taller plants (for interest) and even throw in the odd cabbage, sweetcorn, onion or pumkin plant to really mix things up!
The common ingredients: Cottage garden plant ideas
Still stuggling to see a cottage garden in your minds-eye? Here are just a few plants which won’t look out of place in your cottage garden:
- Irises
- Centaurea (Knapweed)
- Sweetpea
- Verbascum
- Primula Vialii
- Dianthus
- Asters
- Auricula
- Peony
- Red Hot Poker Kniphofia
- Lavatera – Mallow
- Penstemon
- Helenium
- Hemerocallis – Day lily
- Delphinium
- Monarda Bergamot
- Clematis montana
- Gypsophila
- Hollyhocks
- Echinacea - Cone flower
- Lupins
- Climbing Roses
- Buddleja – Buddleia, Butterfly bush
- Oriental Poppy
- Saponaria
- Lavendula – Lavender
- Pinks
- Geraniums – Cranesbill
- Stocks – Matthiola incana, Gillyflower
- Evening Primrose
- Carnations
- Aquilegia – Columbine, Grannys Bonnet
- Heuchera
- Phlox – Fragrant
- Honeysuckle
- Pansies and Violas
- Campanula - Bell flower
- Helleborus
Remember, the success of your cottage garden is not the selection of plants you choose – it’s the level at which you are willing to express your love for plants that will get your plot noticed. Good plant combinations and harmonous colours will come naturally if you are willing to experiement a little and not take the whole task too seriously. Enjoy yourself!