I have always loved cottage garden landscapes.  Did you know they originated among peasants in England {with every plant having a purpose, i.e. hedge to provide privacy, herbs for cooking, medicinal plants, flowers for cutting, etc.}?

I love that even though they appeared chaotic and untamed, they were actually a well-thought use of space–I wonder if English peasants would laugh at the idea of suburbanites paying landscapers good money to replicate their style?

The key to cottage gardens is to find and layer plants that will provide color from early spring to late fall–as well as having shrubs, etc. that are evergreens, so that even in the winter, you have clearly defined landscaping.

Most cottage gardens are densely planted for this reason–plus, as an added bonus, the dense plantings offer less space for weeds to thrive.  Remember to mix in other organic elements, like gravel, walking stones, etc.

Here’s the 411 on the best plants to start your cottage garden:

1. Coralbells.  These are typically pink, red or white flowers that bloom in early spring.  They attract hummingbirds and add great color to semi-shaded spots.
2. Daisy.  Daisy flowers are pretty much required in a cottage garden.  They are hardy and look great in a simple vase.
3. Foxglove.  Foxgloves look like little bright colored bells.  They have a habit of reseeding themselves each year, so they are pretty low maintenance for the the high impact color they provide.
4. Hollyhock.  Hollyhocks are  perennials, which basically means a one-time investment.  They are typically taller {4-8 feet}, with a wide choice of flower colors.  They are perfect for a layered cottage garden look.  In beds, these can be planted near the back, with shorter flowers planted in front of them for a wall of color.
5. Lavender.  Lavender is one of those ornamental herbs that can provide you with TONS of uses.  Lavender has deep purple flowers that attract bees.  It can also be dried or added to tons of recipes to add a delicate flavor.  I think EVERY garden needs Lavender.
6. Violas.  Violets always make me think of Alice and Wonderland.  They are perfect for the garden, because they add color to cooler seasons.  For looking so delicate, they actually can withstand spring and fall weather really well, giving you a much needed burst of color in bleaker gray weather.
7. Boxwoods.  Boxwoods are an evergreen shrub that are favored in cottage gardens because they can be groomed and shaped to either provide privacy or to define spaces within the garden.
8. Forsythia.  Forsythia is a large shrub that blooms bright yellow in the spring and then stays green through late fall.  Most rose gardeners tell you to wait to prune your roses until the Forsythia blooms–they are a fantastic addition to the garden for that reason alone {they are like a little spring alarm clock}.  They have a kind of wild, untamed look with a pop of color.
9. Basil and Thyme.  Edible herbs are essential to a cottage garden, not just because they are usable, but also because they detract pests.
10. Peony.  Peonies are crazy beautiful and basically thrive on neglect.  They add color and size to the garden–plus they smell amazing when they are blooming.
11. Iris.  Iris flowers are great cut and placed in vases {I used to bring them to my teachers in the spring when I was a little girl}.  You typically start them from bulbs {or transplants from a neighbor} and they come in basically EVERY color imaginable.  They are another one of those one time effort plants and look super classy when they are planted with a green backdrop {think:  evergreens or ornamental grasses}.
12. Ornamental grasses.  Grasses are a low maintenance way to get green into your landscaping {or purple}.  They are pretty much impossible to kill and they make fantastic backdrops for more colorful flowers.
13. Hosta.  Hosta is another great pop of green color.  They are great because they can tolerate quite a bit of shade, they are perennials, and they have shoots of tall purple flowers in the spring.
14. Sweet William.  Sweet William is another flower that usually self-seeds, making it a low-maintenance choice.  It has clusters of bright colored, highly fragrant flowers.  Hummingbirds and butterflies love them.  Some varieties even have purple leaves, which adds another color dimension to the garden without really even having to try.
15. Hydrangea.  Hydrangeas have massive flowers, in a variety of color.  They usually bloom from June to September, so you get a lot of bang for your buck.
16. Catnip.  Catnip is an extremely hardy green herb.  It makes great tea and repels mosquitoes.  If you are looking to put your plants to work, this one will do the job.
17. Cone Flower/Echinacea.  Cone flowers are typically purple {though you can definitely find other colors} perennials with huge orange cone-like centers.  They attract birds to the garden and bloom from June to August.
18. Bleeding Hearts.  Bleeding hearts are so pretty and delicate, they are almost unreal.  They are prized because they have beautiful heart-shaped flowers, but thrive in the shade.
19. Delphinium.  Delphinium are short-lived bloomers, but they are literally so breath-taking when they do bloom, they are totally worth it.  The colors on these tall flowers {about 20″} are so vibrant, they almost seem unreal.
20. Lady’s Mantle.  Lady’s mantle makes great ground cover.  It has large green foliage and gets tiny yellow flowers throughout the summer.  It is happy in full-sun to part-shade.

Happy planting,

Mavis