Twenty Brilliant Blooms Transforming English Cottage Gardens
In the heart of the English countryside, the quintessential cottage garden is a vibrant tapestry of colour, fragrance, and life. Kim Wilson, author of "Die Gärten der Jane Austen" ("In the Garden with Jane Austen"), published in 2025, takes us on a journey through this timeless garden style.
For an authentic cottage garden experience, incorporate a few herbs, fruit-bearing plants, and vegetables amongst the flowers. These diverse elements not only add to the garden's charm but also contribute to its productivity.
One such flower that graces the cottage garden is the hollyhock (Alcea sp.). Towering at a height, it presents a tall spire of vibrant, slightly cupped flowers that emits a soft floral scent. Nasturtium (Tropaeolum manjus), with its peppery edible flowers, serves as an excellent showy groundcover and is perfect for an English cottage vegetable patch.
Allium (Allium sp.), an ornamental variety, adds a touch of whimsy with its pom-pom or firework-like blooms. These can be found in nearly every shade of purple. Phlox (Phlox sp.), blooming in the latter half of the summer, attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Field poppy (Papaver rhoeas), with its bright, daisylike flowers, is easy to grow from seed. The hardy, fragrant sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) fills a room with its scent, while the easy-to-grow cosmos (Cosmos sp.) is perfect for cut flower arrangements.
English cottage garden flowers are now chosen mostly for ornamental purposes, but historically, they included a mix of vegetables, fruit, medicinal herbs, and flowers. Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum) with its large, heart-shaped leaves, provides excellent groundcover under fruit trees and contrasting texture to cottage garden flowers.
Tulips, though technically perennials, are only reliable for one year. They are commonly grown around flowering trees and bushes, and their striking blooms add a burst of colour in the spring.
The key to creating a classic English cottage garden is lots of brightly colored, self-seeding flowers. Daylily (Hemerocallis sp.) and iris (Iris sp.) offer a wide range of colours and are popular choices. However, daylilies flower for only a few weeks, while iris clumps often become crowded over time and require division every three to four years.
Lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina) is favoured for its silvery, suede-like foliage, while hardy geraniums (cranesbill geraniums) come in a range of colours. Pot marigolds, with their vibrant orange, yellow, or peach blossoms, are a delight throughout the summer and into fall. They prefer filtered sun or part shade and grow well in pots.
Delphinium (Delphinium sp.) requires staking to keep them upright and prefers well-drained soil and full sun. Foxglove (Digitalis sp.), with its tall spikes of tubular blooms, attracts bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds.
Lastly, a hodgepodge of bright flowers planted closely together is what really makes an English cottage garden. These flowers, each with their unique charm, create a riot of colour and fragrance that is as inviting as it is beautiful.
So, step into the world of the English cottage garden, and let its charm and beauty transform your space into a haven of tranquility and beauty.
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