The Best Plants for an English Cottage Garden

Cottage garden displays are the British gardener's bread and butter. Its beauty, however, isn't the only draw. From attracting pollinators to its higgeldy-piggeldy unkempt look that many strive for, there's plenty of reasons why people love a good English cottage garden with these traditional plants. 

The best part about the cottage garden? You can easily chuck several varieties together to create its classic look. Each season has its own stars, but if you're looking to create a display for this coming spring then you might want some inspiration! Here's our top five cottage garden plants that will enhance and entrance throughout the season.

Foxgloves

Foxgloves are quintessential English plants for the early cottage garden display. They're structural, attract pollinators, and are generally just an impressive bloom for the summer cottage garden. Grow them in borders or large containers for a striking show. 


Why not try:

- Digitalis purpurea White
- Digitalis Apricot Beauty
- Digitalis Regal Red


Primula

Many Primulas flower in Spring, but the variety Primula denticulata are perfect for filling the spring cottage garden. Also known as the drumstick Primula, this bloom will flower for months on end, sitting in pretty drifts wherever they're planted. Their whimsical shape and perfect shades of purples, blues and pinks will highlight your displays, regardless of where they sit. 

Why not try:
- Primula denticulata Blue
- Primula denticulata Pink
- Primula denticulata Alba

Delphiniums

Cottage gardens scream whimsical, and Delphiniums can give you exactly that. Flowering throughout many months of Summer, this plant will brighten your beds with ease. Their wide range of shades make them perfect for a border placement, and will flower for months on end.  


Why not try:
- Delphinium Astolat
- Delphinium Galahad


Clematis

Climbing plants like Clematis have the power to add vertical attraction to your Cottage Garden, similarly to what a climbing rose would. Clematis are often regarded as a summer-flowering option, but there are indeed several varieties that will flower in early spring - adding not only much needed colour, but maybe even some fragrance! 

If you have an empty trellis or pergola, consider growing some spring-flowering clematis in place of summer varieties while you wait. 

Love these Cottage English Plants? Why not try...

- Clematis montana var rubens 'Elizabeth'
- Clematis Princess Diana
- Clematis Hagley Hybrid


Shop our full range of English cottage garden blooms online to create the most amazing summer display!