Top 5 Plants for an Idyllic English Country Cottage Garden

Quaint and quintessential, traditional and timeless, an English country cottage garden is a wildlife haven as well as being calming for the senses. Whether you're starting from scratch or looking to refresh your existing garden, here are top 5 plant picks to to help you achieve that idyllic country cottage feel.

If you’re dreaming of creating an idyllic English country cottage garden these would be my top 5 to start with. For me a cottage garden is all about creating a space that's full of charm and a sense of timeless beauty. I’ve chosen the 5 plants here as together they provide a beautiful contrast in height, shape, structure, texture, and fragrance and whether you have a sprawling garden or a small patio, these plants can be grown to suit the space available, whether en masse or in small borders or containers. Some of these options, like sweet peas, are also relatively inexpensive to grow from seed, making them a fantastic choice for gardeners on a budget…

1. Rose

No English country garden is complete without a beautiful display of roses. From the classic English Rose to climbing varieties like Rambling Rector, roses provide a lovely focal point for any cottage garden. With their delightful fragrance and vibrant colours, roses are the epitome of romantic charm.

2. Lavender

For a touch of tranquility, add some lavender to your garden. This fragrant herb is known for its calming properties and stunning purple flowers. Lavender is perfect for borders, containers, and even as a hedge. Its scent will also attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.

3. Foxglove

With their tall spires of bell-shaped flowers, foxgloves add a touch of whimsy to any garden. These biennials bloom in late spring and come in a range of colours from pink to purple. Again, these are a great choice to help atrtact pollinators like bees.

4. Cosmos

For a carefree and colourful addition to your cottage garden, try planting some cosmos. These daisy-like dainty flowers come in a range of colours and heights, and they're easy to grow from seed. Cosmos add a touch of wildflower charm as well as being another favourite of bees and butterflies.

5. Sweet pea

With their delicate trailing vines, sweet peas are the perfect addition to any cottage garden. These annuals come in a range of colours from pink to purple to white, and they're perfect for climbing up trellises or spilling over the edges of containers. Easy to grow, sweet smelling and a pollinator draw, these are always a firm favourite.

Whether you add fragrant roses, tranquil lavender, whimsical foxgloves, carefree cosmos, or delicate sweet peas, these plants will add charm a little cottage charm to any space.