So Your Garden Style Is: Cottage
If you love flowers and relaxed, natural gardens then a cottage garden could be for you
The cottage garden originated hundreds of years ago in rural England when farmers and other owners of country cottages would plant herbs and vegetables in small plots around their homes to feed their families. Flowers were usually only planted to fill the gaps between vegies and for use as companion plants. Gradually, cottage gardens became popular for their ornamental appeal until the flowers became the dominant plants.
In recent years, the trend has leaned towards minimalist planting with a strong focus on foliage in our gardens, but flowers are now making a comeback. Not your designer flowers such as orchids. We’re now seeing old-fashioned cottage garden flowers including the hydrangea, dahlia, delphinium and peony taking centrestage.
Some say this change goes hand in hand with our new-found interest for the old-fashioned things in life including knitting, baking and florals. Others say that it’s about increased environmental awareness, with flower-filled gardens particularly for beneficial insects such as bees. Or maybe it’s just that garden design trends are cyclic, as they are in the fashion industry. Whatever the reason, the great thing for lovers of cottage flowers is they are back, and about time, too. Take a look at these gorgeous examples.
In recent years, the trend has leaned towards minimalist planting with a strong focus on foliage in our gardens, but flowers are now making a comeback. Not your designer flowers such as orchids. We’re now seeing old-fashioned cottage garden flowers including the hydrangea, dahlia, delphinium and peony taking centrestage.
Some say this change goes hand in hand with our new-found interest for the old-fashioned things in life including knitting, baking and florals. Others say that it’s about increased environmental awareness, with flower-filled gardens particularly for beneficial insects such as bees. Or maybe it’s just that garden design trends are cyclic, as they are in the fashion industry. Whatever the reason, the great thing for lovers of cottage flowers is they are back, and about time, too. Take a look at these gorgeous examples.
Say it with flowers
Flowers are the most important element in contemporary cottage gardens, but with so many to choose from, where do you start? The first thing to understand is that there are flowering plants which last only one year (annuals), those that last for two years (biennials) and others that live for several years (perennials). In addition we have flowering shrubs, trees and climbers that can live for many years. Most cottage gardens are a mix of all of those types – the ratio depends on your taste and how much work you want to do in your garden.
Flowers are the most important element in contemporary cottage gardens, but with so many to choose from, where do you start? The first thing to understand is that there are flowering plants which last only one year (annuals), those that last for two years (biennials) and others that live for several years (perennials). In addition we have flowering shrubs, trees and climbers that can live for many years. Most cottage gardens are a mix of all of those types – the ratio depends on your taste and how much work you want to do in your garden.
Self seeders
Cottage gardens are about a combination of plants, colours, scents and shapes. If you select plants that like to self sow (propagate naturally from seeds they drop) you will soon have plenty of plants to fill up your garden beds. Good self seeders include alyssum, aquilegia (above), Californian poppy, calendula, cineraria, Dietes, hellebore, Viola.
The only problem with self-seeding types is they may pop up in places you hadn’t banked on. However, you can move seedlings if you are careful and choose the right place to plant them. Better still, grab any seed pods when they start to ripen (usually they darken and look quite dry), then scatter the seed where you want the plants to grow.
Cottage gardens are about a combination of plants, colours, scents and shapes. If you select plants that like to self sow (propagate naturally from seeds they drop) you will soon have plenty of plants to fill up your garden beds. Good self seeders include alyssum, aquilegia (above), Californian poppy, calendula, cineraria, Dietes, hellebore, Viola.
The only problem with self-seeding types is they may pop up in places you hadn’t banked on. However, you can move seedlings if you are careful and choose the right place to plant them. Better still, grab any seed pods when they start to ripen (usually they darken and look quite dry), then scatter the seed where you want the plants to grow.
Pastel perfect
If you’re after a romantic cottage garden avoid bright-coloured flowers. Go for the faded softness of creams, pale pinks and blues, lemon, lavender and lilac instead. Try to select some upright plants, such as the foxgloves see here, to add vertical accents to your garden beds.
If you’re after a romantic cottage garden avoid bright-coloured flowers. Go for the faded softness of creams, pale pinks and blues, lemon, lavender and lilac instead. Try to select some upright plants, such as the foxgloves see here, to add vertical accents to your garden beds.
Interest rates
Shrubs, flowering trees and climbers add interest to cottage gardens when the annuals are past their best or the garden is looking a little bare. Easy-care flowering types for cottage gardens include the lavender used in this Sydney garden as well as camellia, Choisya, flowering cherry varieties, fuchsia, hebe, heliotrope, hydrangea, Michelia, magnolia, rhododendron, rosemary, Santolina, viburnum, along with many rose varieties, particularly the Flower Carpet Rose series and David Austin roses.
Shrubs, flowering trees and climbers add interest to cottage gardens when the annuals are past their best or the garden is looking a little bare. Easy-care flowering types for cottage gardens include the lavender used in this Sydney garden as well as camellia, Choisya, flowering cherry varieties, fuchsia, hebe, heliotrope, hydrangea, Michelia, magnolia, rhododendron, rosemary, Santolina, viburnum, along with many rose varieties, particularly the Flower Carpet Rose series and David Austin roses.
On the curve
An uncontrived, informal look is best for cottage gardens. Think meandering paths and curved flowerbeds rather than orderly straight lines. Also, allow plants to cascade over the edges of paths, walls and fences.
An uncontrived, informal look is best for cottage gardens. Think meandering paths and curved flowerbeds rather than orderly straight lines. Also, allow plants to cascade over the edges of paths, walls and fences.
Balancing act
Balance the softness of flowers with some structure. For colourful flowers use evergreen shrubs and plants with lovely foliage such as the clipped box spheres and the Japanese maples used here in this Sydney garden.
Balance the softness of flowers with some structure. For colourful flowers use evergreen shrubs and plants with lovely foliage such as the clipped box spheres and the Japanese maples used here in this Sydney garden.
Adding container plants
Containers, troughs and pots should be made of materials that continue the romantic look of the cottage garden. Think weathered and/or mossy concrete or terracotta, soft pastel-coloured ceramic glazes, ‘distressed’ painted metal or pastel-painted timber.
Fill containers with flowering annuals and bulbs, flowering shrubs or clipped evergreens to balance the flower colour and form.
Containers, troughs and pots should be made of materials that continue the romantic look of the cottage garden. Think weathered and/or mossy concrete or terracotta, soft pastel-coloured ceramic glazes, ‘distressed’ painted metal or pastel-painted timber.
Fill containers with flowering annuals and bulbs, flowering shrubs or clipped evergreens to balance the flower colour and form.
Enforcing natural elements
Go for natural or vintage materials and accessories in the garden including unpainted timber, stone, recycled bricks, junk shop furniture with distressed paintwork, wicker chairs, rusted metal archways and urns. Try to avoid matching sets of anything – the cottage garden look should be relaxed and laid-back.
Go for natural or vintage materials and accessories in the garden including unpainted timber, stone, recycled bricks, junk shop furniture with distressed paintwork, wicker chairs, rusted metal archways and urns. Try to avoid matching sets of anything – the cottage garden look should be relaxed and laid-back.
Contemporary cottage
Modern variations on the traditional cottage theme mix old-fashioned roses, annuals and perennials with non-flowering plants such as clipped shrubs, flax, grasses and native species. Here in this Sydney garden grasses and clipped evergreen spheres add a contemporary touch to beds of flowering perennials and blossom trees.
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Modern variations on the traditional cottage theme mix old-fashioned roses, annuals and perennials with non-flowering plants such as clipped shrubs, flax, grasses and native species. Here in this Sydney garden grasses and clipped evergreen spheres add a contemporary touch to beds of flowering perennials and blossom trees.
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You’ll love it if… You like romantic, uncontrived, informal gardens with lots of pretty flowers and plenty of seasonal changes. You prefer soft, pastel colours rather than bold brights.
Difficulty ranking: It is not difficult to create the profusion of plants that characterise cottage gardens but some editing will be necessary at times. A relaxed look does actually take a bit of work to realise. Using self-seeding plants will make it easier to replace annual plants every year.
Key plants: Flowering annuals, shrubs and climbers in soft pastels.