get the look: cottage garden
Traditional blooms and some new favourites too, cottage garden flowers make the perfect addition to any outdoor space, whether you’re based in the country with acres of land or looking to fill smaller beds and borders and a few planters in the bustling city
Lavender and Daisies Collection
If you put me on the spot and asked me to name two drought-tolerant, minimal TLC, long-performing, and beautiful plants to pair up at the front of a sunny border, patio, or to line a path, these two would be my first selection
focus on: foxgloves
Digitalis (foxgloves) are an essential component of the ultimate cottage garden look. These statuesque spires can help introduce essential height to your borders
Tulip 'Spring Green'
A classic green and ivory tulip which is very reliably perennial - a really long-standing cottage garden favourite
Philadelphus maculatus
'Sweet Clare'
Highly scented, delicate white flowers with blotched crimson edging that bloom well into late summer
Bumper Border Bulb Mix
We had this soft and beautiful scented mix of tulips and narcissus all around our lawn this spring and I picked and picked and picked
Hesperis matronalis var. albiflora
Pure scented white sweet rocket flowers that grow happily in sun or shade – these were a favourite of Marie Antionette
Allium sphaerocephalon
A small-headed rich, blackcurrant allium that is later-flowering than most and invaluable for it. I love it in bud, as much as in full flower, very pretty and will gently self-sow
Narcissus 'Geranium'
A wonderful multi-headed narcissus, with delicious scent and flowers that last for ages in the garden and vase
Alchemilla mollis
This acid-green, fluffy-flowered plant is one of the best ever foliage plants for the garden and vase
Delphinium elatum 'Faust'
The brightest, richest Yves Saint Laurent true-blue. You can't miss it
Geranium pratense 'Cloud Nine'
The prettiest, delicate powder-puff flowers in a soft mauve which, as a double, holds its petals longer than most hardy geraniums
Phlox paniculata 'Blue Paradise'
A beautiful blue-lilac phlox with incredible scent that attracts the butterflies and bees
Campanula poscharskyana
We love this bellflower which carpets and softens the base of our well-head here and like good-old Erigeron karvinskianus, thrives in the cracks of paths, walls and steps, with no soil
Verbascum 'Petra'
Easy to grow, loved by pollinators, and thrives in poor soil, this is a definite contender for the perfect cottage garden flower
Rose Border Tulip Mix
This really is a collection to scatter gun through flower borders to give good value, long-lasting colour and height to enliven any rose or flower garden
Westcountry Lupin Collection
My-oh-my who doesn't want more of this kind of thing in their life – luxurious, tropical parrot plumes to knock anyone's socks off
a rosy romance
Quintessential roses
discover more looks
get the look: prairie garden
create a naturalised garden
a recipe for abundant borders
