The cottage garden, also known as the English country house garden, is wildly romantic, playful and full of colorful flowers. We introduce you to the most beautiful plants for this garden style and present a simple planting plan for replanting.

In a nutshell

  • a must in the cottage garden: roses
  • many blooming flowers and perennials
  • only a few selected crops, if any
  • Flowers from spring to autumn
  • no lawn

roses

Roses, whether climbing, bed or hybrid, always give a garden a playful and romantic flair. That is why they should not be missing in any cottage garden. Characteristic is a rose arch overgrown with climbing or rambler roses, which forms the background or the center of a colorful perennial bed. English and historical roses with densely filled flowers in delicate colors are particularly in demand. But modern, more robust varieties also fit well in an English country garden.

Tip: Rose stems, which you can also cultivate in a large tub and set up as a trellis along the main path, look particularly pretty.

Old roses

Old roses, also known as historical roses, have been cultivated for many centuries. The fragrant, densely filled flowers in mostly delicate pastel colors are typical of these varieties. Most Old Roses are once flowering. Examples of particularly attractive varieties for the cottage garden are:

'Gallica officinalis'

  • probably the oldest variety from the 14th century
  • Flowers strongly scented, pink, semi-double
  • shade tolerant

'Mme Hardy'

  • French breeding from 1832
  • densely filled, strongly scented flowers
  • white with green eye

'Louise Odier'

  • Breeding from 1851
  • densely filled, strongly scented flowers
  • pure pink
  • repeat-flowering

English roses

Classic for an English country house garden would be, how could it be otherwise, English roses. These combine the beauty of the old varieties with the replantability of modern roses, with breeder David Austin making a name for himself in the 1960s. The Austin roses have lost none of their appeal to this day. There are countless varieties, of which we suggest three to you here:

'Lady Emma Hamilton'

  • Breeding from 2005
  • densely filled, strongly scented flowers
  • orange-red-yellow
  • repeat-flowering

'Munstead Wood'

  • Breeding from 2007
  • densely filled, strongly scented flowers
  • dark crimson
  • flowers often, bushy growth

'Graham Thomas'

  • Breeding from 1983
  • very full, intensely scented flowers
  • amber yellow
  • flowers often, bushy growth
Source: T.Kiya from Japan, Rose, Graham Thomas, バラ, グラハム トーマス, (12552870863), edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.0

climbing roses

The vigorous and very robust climbing roses are characterized by very long shoots, which in the case of the rambler roses - a subtype of climbing roses - can be up to ten meters long and very elastic. These roses are wonderful for growing over romantic rose arches and pergolas. Beautiful varieties for the English country garden are, for example:

  • 'Golden Gate': golden yellow, semi-double flowers, blooms often
  • 'Uetersener Klosterrose': cream-colored, semi-double flowers, blooming repeatedly
  • 'New Dawn': soft pink, semi-double flowers, blooms often
  • 'The Albrighton Rambler': soft pink, very double flowers, blooms repeatedly
  • 'Bobby James': creamy white, semi-double flowers, blooming once

Tip: Clematis, which is also available in a wide range of varieties, is a perfect companion for climbing roses. Lavender also looks lovely with roses, even though these two species have different requirements in terms of location and care.

flower

Mixed borders are typical of the cottage garden, in which, in addition to roses, perennials and shrubs, there are also annual and biennial summer flowers and bulbs. The purpose of this arrangement, known as a "mixed border", is that the colorful flower bed is in continuous bloom from early spring to late autumn.

Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus)

  • Growth: upright, up to 60 centimeters high
  • Flowers: single or double flowers in many colors
  • Flowering period: June to August
  • Site and soil: sunny, rich in humus

Bluebells (Campanula)

  • Growth: usually upright and bushy, varies depending on the species and variety
  • Flowers: white or purple bell-shaped flowers
  • Flowering time: varies depending on the species and variety, sometimes continuously flowering
  • Site and soil: sunny to semi-shady, nutritious

Notice: There are around 300 different species of bluebells, most of which are deciduous. Some species, such as the cushion bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana), also belong to the evergreen plants.

Campanula portenschlagiana

Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)

  • Growth: upright, up to 80 centimeters high
  • Flowers: Ray flowers in blue, pink or white
  • Flowering period: May to September
  • Location and soil: sunny, lean

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)

  • Growth: upright, up to 100 centimeters high
  • Flowers: striking flower shape in many colors
  • Flowering period: June to September
  • Site and soil: sunny to semi-shady, nutritious

Marigolds (Calendula officinalis)

  • Growth: upright, bushy, up to 60 centimeters
  • Flowers: Capsicum flowers in yellow or orange
  • Flowering period: May to October
  • Site and soil: sunny to shade, rich in humus

Tulips (Tulipa)

  • Growth: upright, bulbous
  • flowers: of many colors
  • Flowering time: Spring bloomers
  • Location and soil: full sun, loose

Tip: In order for tulips to be able to develop their splendor to the full, it is best to plant them in tuffs of nine to twelve bulbs.

Ornamental onion (Allium spec.)

  • Growth: upright, up to 150 centimeters depending on the type and variety
  • flowers: round flower-balls, mostly violet
  • Flowering time: mostly May to June
  • Location and soil: sunny, lean

Zinnias (Zinnia)

  • Growth: variable, depending on the species and variety
  • Flowers: Capsicum flowers in many colors and shapes, filled and unfilled
  • Flowering period: July to October
  • Location and soil: sunny, lean

Notice: The colorful zinnias used to be a must in every cottage garden. They are also predestined for the English cottage garden due to their richness of color and shape.

perennials

Also indispensable are perennial perennials, whose white, pink, violet or blue flowers paint magical garden pictures. Always plant several specimens of a species close together to make them appear more lush.

Tip: Traditionally, the borders are framed with low boxwood hedges or a wrought iron border.

Columbine (Aquilegia)

  • Growth: variable, depending on the species and variety
  • Flowers: showy flower shape with spur, many colors, double and single
  • Flowering time: variable, depending on species and variety, often May to July
  • Site and soil: sunny to semi-shady, nutritious, moderately moist
Columbines, Aquilegia

Asters (Aster)

  • Growth: bushy, growth height varies depending on species and variety
  • Flowers: daisy flowers in many colors and shapes
  • Flowering time: varies by species and variety, summer and autumn bloomers
  • Location and soil: sunny to semi-shady, rich in humus to poor (depending on the variety)

Bearded Iris (Iris barbata)

  • Growth: upright, up to 120 centimeters
  • Flowers: Conspicuous single flowers in many colors
  • Flowering period: July to October
  • Site and soil: sunny, rich in nutrients
Source: Kor!An (Андрей Корзун), Iris 'Paint in Black' 02, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

monkshood (aconite)

  • Growth: upright or twining, up to three meters high depending on the species
  • Flowers: blue or yellow flower spikes, depending on the species
  • Flowering time: early summer, summer or autumn, depending on the species
  • Location and soil: mostly semi-shady to shady, nutritious, rather moist

Tip: There are around 300 different monkshood species, many of which are protected. However, all of these species have one thing in common: they are highly toxic and should therefore not be planted if children regularly walk through the garden.

Foxglove (digitalis)

  • Growth: variable, depending on the species
  • Flowers: Showy inflorescences in many colors
  • Flowering time: depending on the species, summer bloomers
  • Location and soil: semi-shady, rich in nutrients

Notice: The thimble is also highly toxic in all its parts and therefore dangerous for children and pets.

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)

Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla)

  • Growth: low, covering the ground
  • Flowers: Yellow-green flower clusters
  • Flowering time: Summer bloomers
  • Location and soil: sunny to shady, nutritious

Catnip (Nepeta)

  • Growth: bushy, rather low
  • Flowers: Labiate flowers in white, violet, blue or pink
  • Flowering time: April to July
  • Site and soil: sunny, lean and dry

Tip: Catnip, of which there are around 20 types suitable for the garden, is a reliable insect magnet and therefore an important bee plant in the cottage garden.

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

  • Growth: bushy, up to 60 centimeters
  • flowers: violet, blue
  • Flowering period: July to August
  • Location and soil: sunny, lean

Carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus)

  • Growth: bushy, up to 40 centimeters
  • Flowers: red, pink, white or yellow, double and single
  • Flowering period: June to September
  • Location and soil: sunny, lean and fresh
Source: Photo by David J. Stang, Dianthus caryophyllus CFPC Malea 1zz, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Phlox/ Tall Phlox (Phlox paniculata L.)

  • Growth: bushy, up to 120 centimeters
  • Flowers: numerous umbels of many colors
  • Flowering period: June to September
  • Site and soil: sunny to shade, rich in humus

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

  • Growth: bushy, up to 100 centimeters
  • Flowers: Large daisy flowers of various colors
  • Flowering period: July to September
  • Site and soil: sunny to semi-shady, rich in humus
Coneflower "Tangerine Dream", Echinacea purpurea

Larkspur (Delphinium elatum hybrids)

  • Growth: upright, up to 200 centimeters
  • Flowers: blue grape flowers
  • Flowering period: June to July, September to October
  • Location and soil: shady, nutrient-rich

Yarrow (Achillea)

  • Growth: up to 150 centimeters, depending on the type and variety
  • Flowers: Flower umbels in creamy white, pink, red or yellow
  • Flowering time: summer flowering
  • Location and soil: sunny, slightly sandy

Sun Bride (Helenium Hybrids)

  • Growth: up to 140 centimetres, clump-forming
  • flowers: large, mostly yellow
  • Flowering period: July to September
  • Site and soil: sunny, rich in humus

Coneflower (Rudbeckia)

  • Growth: upright, clumpy
  • Flowers: large basket-flowers, yellow to reddish-brown
  • Flowering time: July to October, depending on the species and variety
  • Location and soil: full sun, nutritious, fresh
Coneflower, Rudbeckia

Perennial lupins (Lupinus polyphyllus)

  • Growth: up to 120 centimetres, clump-forming
  • Flowers: tall racemes inflorescences in white, pink, red or violet
  • Flowering period: June to August
  • Site and soil: sunny, rich in humus
Lupins, Lupinus

Perennial peonies (Paeoniaceae officinalis)

  • Growth: clumpy, knee-high
  • Flowers: cup-shaped flowers of various colors, filled or unfilled
  • Flowering time: from the end of April, beginning of May
  • Site and soil: sunny to semi-shady, low in humus

Tip: In addition to the early-flowering perennial peonies, there are other species, for example the popular farmer's peonies (or farmer's roses) or the Rockii hybrids with the particularly large flowers.

Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea)

  • Growth: upright, up to 200 centimeters
  • Flowers: large single flowers of various colors
  • Flowering period: July to September
  • Site and soil: sunny to shade, rich in nutrients

Tip: So that the long, flower-bearing stalks don't snap off, you should plant the plants, also known as mallows, in a windless place and support them with a plant stick or something similar.

Cranesbill (Geranium)

  • Growth: clump-like, up to 100 centimeters (depending on species and variety)
  • Flowers: cup-shaped flowers of various colors
  • Flowering time: mostly from May to August
  • Site and soil: sunny to shady, nutritious, fresh to moist

Bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis)

  • Growth: clumpy, up to 80 centimeters
  • Flowers: showy flower shape, pink-white or pure white
  • Flowering period: May to June
  • Site and soil: sunny to semi-shady, nutritious
crying heart

shrubs/ woody plants

Low trees, lush bushes and maybe one or the other fruit that you nibble straight off the bush in summer: these trees belong in an enchanted English country garden.

Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)

  • Growth: large shrub, up to 600 centimeters high
  • flowers: white or violet panicle flowers
  • Flowering period: May to June
  • Site and soil: sunny to shade, rich in humus

Currants (Ribes)

  • Growth: semi-shrub or shrub, up to two meters high
  • Flowers: April to May
  • Fruits: edible berries
  • Site and soil: sunny to semi-shady, nutritious

Gooseberries (Ribes uva-crispa)

  • Growth: semi-shrub or shrub, up to two meters
  • Flowers: April to May
  • Fruits: cherry-sized, edible
  • Site and soil: sunny to shade, rich in humus

herbs and vegetables

Although the cottage garden is not primarily designed as a kitchen garden, there are many attractive vegetable plants. So nothing speaks against aromatic herbs or pretty useful plants in the flower bed.

vegetables

  • Artichoke (Cynara scolymus): large purple flower heads
  • Sorrel (Rumex sanguineus): decorative leaves, tolerates shade
  • Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare): large, white bulbs with attractive foliage
  • Chard (Beta vulgaris): Attractive, variegated stems with large leaves
  • Runner beans (Phaseolus vulgaris var. vulgaris): grow tall thanks to climbing aids, privacy screen

herbs and medicinal plants

  • Dill (Anethum graveolens): strongly fragrant umbels from July to September
  • St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum): many golden yellow cup flowers from June to August
  • Oregano (Origanum vulgare): likes it sunny and dry
  • Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): aromatic kitchen herb, usually not hardy
  • Sage (Salvia officinalis): many varieties with beautiful flowers
  • Thyme (Thymus vulgaris): many varieties with different foliage and growth characteristics

planting plan

Characteristic of the cottage garden are seemingly wildly planted, lush blooming flowers, perennials and fragrant herbs. These appear natural and playful, but usually follow a sophisticated planting plan. As an example, we are presenting a planting plan for the small, sunny front yard for replanting.
Plant an area of about two by four meters as follows:

  • Bed border with lavender bushes, approx. 10 to 12 plants per square meter
  • a summer lilac, placed in a bed corner
  • next to it group St. John's wort (one plant) and yellow yarrow (three plants).
  • Placed more in the middle of the bed: 2x catnip, 4x sage, 3x verbena
  • in between as highlights: 1x purple coneflower, 1x coneflower (Rudbeckia)
  • hollyhocks can also be planted on one edge

This planting plan features mostly insect-friendly plants with a long flowering period, so you can enjoy bees, bumblebees, butterflies and hoverflies - and find plenty of food for them. Because a cottage garden full of flowers should not only look romantic, but also attract many insects.

frequently asked Questions

What exactly is a cottage garden?

A cottage garden is basically nothing more than an English cottage garden. In earlier times, the small residential buildings - cottages - mostly equipped with only two rooms - were mainly occupied by workers and farm workers' families. In the 19th century, in the course of Romanticism, the romanticizing cottage gardens were finally formed, which were primarily intended to please the soul.

Which decorative elements are typical for a cottage garden?

Typical decorative elements are, for example, trellises for climbing plants, pergolas, wrought iron (e.g. low fences for edging beds), small covered gazebos. On the other hand, you will rarely find water in the cottage garden: artificial streams, water features, a fountain or even a garden pond do not belong here.

Are Cottage Garden and English Garden the same?

Even if guidebooks often suggest otherwise: "The" English garden does not exist. Instead, the cottage garden is a garden style that is also known as an English country garden. There are other styles as well. For example, you will not find a lawn in a cottage garden, which is typical of many English gardens.

Category:

Garden plants