21 Plants You Need For Your Cottage Garden

Cottage Garden

If you are looking for the perfect place to relax and unwind. It’s surrounded by the plants of a cottage garden. Simple, beautiful and reminiscent of an English secret garden.

What Is A Cottage Garden

A cottage garden is an informal garden densely planted with traditional garden plants, flowers, edibles, herbs, medicinal plants and shrubs. Below you will find a list of 21 must have cottage garden plants.

Cottage gardens include ornamental and edible plants. That bring grace and charm in an informal style. Varying in color, style, size and purpose.

You will find bulbs, annual, perennials, flowering shrubs and vining plants in a cottage garden. Staples of an English garden include lavender, roses, mint and hollyhocks.

Why Plant A Cottage Garden

Cottage gardens are easy to grow, full of color, great for pollinators and can be planted just about anywhere. You can turn any area of your yard into a cottage garden full of flowers, edibles, herbs and vining plants. Cottage gardens are a great place to rest, relax and unwind.

Where To Plant A Cottage Garden

Modern cottage gardens can be planted just about anywhere. We are currently working on turning a section of our hillside into a cottage garden. Adding native plants, perennials, flowering herbs and medicinal plants. Most cottage gardens are adjacent the home or bordering a walkway or tucked away contained in a “secret” garden.

Cottage Perennial Garden

Perennial plants come back year after year. Cottage gardens contain a large number of perennial plants, bulbs or self seeding plants. That will come back every year, spread and grow as the garden ages.

What To Plant In A Cottage Garden

What you plant in your cottage garden will vary based on your area, growing zone and the traditional plants from your area.

For example we are located in the Pacific Northwest you won’t find us planting lemon trees in our cottage garden. You will however, find us planting roses, lavender, bee balm, yarrow, nasturtiums, hostas, dahlia, echinacea and many other plants.

A cottage garden can also be a medicinal or herbal garden serving numerous purposes. Below you will find cottage plant inspiration for your garden.

Cottage Garden Plants

Dahlias are an absolutely beautiful addition to any garden. There are numerous varieties and colors. They also vary in height.

Peony are a cottage garden must they are a beautiful romantic flower that makes a great addition to summer bouquets.

Foxgloves are trumpet shaped flowers often seen in purple shades and they are popular with hummingbirds, bees and other pollinators.

Delphiniums or Larkspur are a tower of beautiful bright flowers that add height to the garden.

Lupins are a perennial that can grow to four feet tall full of vibrant colors.

Honeysuckle is a vining plant with a sweet smell and beautiful delicate flower.

Hydrangea is a popular flowering bush that loves the sun and shade. If you have a garden section that gets more shade than sun a hydrangea would be a good choice to add color and depth.

Cottage Garden Flowers

Roses are an English garden plant with limitless variety. You can have tea roses, bush roses and climbing roses. The color selection today on roses is amazing. Plus the pedals can be saved, dried and added to teas.

Lavender is a pollinator and cottage garden must. I love lavender in the garden for the smell, the color and the culinary uses.

Creeping Thyme is a great ground cover that adds a splash of pink and green.

Hollyhocks are a traditional cottage garden flower with their tall stocks and numerous flowers in various shades.

Columbine is a beautiful delicate looking flower that comes in shades of pink, purple, blue and yellow.

Iris is a bulb plant you plant it and forget it. It will bloom year after year.

Perennial Geranium also known as a hardy geranium is a bush full of tiny purple or pink flowers.

Sunflowers are a personal favorite available in colors from yellow to orange to rusty red. Bees love sunflowers. Taller varieties may need staking as they grow in height.

Cottage Garden Herbs

Mint is another personal favorite and a great addition to any garden. Note that mint spreads so keep it in pots or prune as need be.

Yarrow is a medicinal herb used to treat cuts and inflammation. It forms clusters of tiny flowers on medium length stems.

Bee Balm is a beautiful magenta flower loved by pollinators and hummingbirds. The flowers can be added to tea and have a slight earl grey flavor.

Anise Hyssop is a tall purple blue spikey flower loved by bees. It is used to treat coughs and colds.

Lemon Balm simple smells amazing. The best way to describe it is citronella mixed with mint. You simply crush the leaves in your hands and the aroma is uplifting.

Cottage Garden Medicinal Plants

Borage is a beekeepers flower. Bees love the tiny blue flowers of the borage plant. Borage is used medicinally for treating a fever or cough.

Echinacea is a beautiful purple flower that can be used to treat coughs and colds.

Chamomile is a member of the daisy family and is used in tea to help relax the body. You will find chamomile in sleepy time teas.

Calendula is a beautiful orange flower packed with antioxidants and usually grown as an annual.

Flowers In A Cottage Garden

Flowers in a cottage garden serve several purposes. Some are their for the beauty. Others are there to bring pollinators.

Herbs and medicinal plants are there for their culinary and health benefits. Vegetables and fruits planted in the garden are there for food.

A cottage garden is designed to be visually appealing and balancing to the soul. Take a second to stop and smell the roses.