Cottage gardens are planted according to the personal taste of the garden owner, but there are some very typical plants and flowers that definitely appear in them. These are both annual and perennial plants, shrubs and ornamental trees can also occur in them.
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Low perennial plants
The boxwood plants mentioned at the beginning are kept low and are mostly used to border flower and herb beds. Small cushion perennials can alternate with it or replace the boxwood. Lavender, in particular, likes to take the place of the book; when cut short, it can separate one area of the garden from another, and it can also grow as a lush solitary plant next to roses. In addition, the perennial phlox is one of the typical plants in the cottage garden. Phlox flowers in several colors and can therefore be selected to match the neighboring planting.
The white alyssum (Lobularia or Alyssum maritinum) is like a fragrant white cloud in the garden and attracts bees and butterflies accordingly. Sun and semi-shade are popular, and the Alyssum would also make a beautiful bed border. The blue cushion (Aubretia) is also suitable to be used as a bed border or as a foreground plant. Due to the beautiful color, it goes just as well with roses as with the taller perennials phlox or delphinium. Other small varieties in the cottage garden:
- Busy Lizzie
- lily of the valley
- loyal to men
- ice plant
- Petunien
- First
- Ranunkeln
- snowdrop
No less popular and extremely typical is the marigold , also known as marigolds. Not only does it please the gardener with its bright yellow or orange flowers, it also keeps snails out of the way. Marigolds smell a bit harsh when the sun shines on them, maybe that’s the pleasant side effect.
Pansies do not belong in a cottage garden just because of their name. They are easy to care for and very colorful. These are the ideal conditions for thriving in a garden that originally was a cottage garden and was not always in the owner’s eye.
Tall perennial plants
The higher-growing perennials that are typical of a cottage garden should be placed somewhat in the background or in their own bed. This definitely includes the Bleeding Heart , not only the typical cottage garden plant, but also the plant of the garden lover in general. Its heart-shaped flowers look very unusual and beautiful. Bleeding heart (Dicentra) is a shade plant and should be in a sheltered spot in the garden. She is very sensitive and delicate. Most of the Bleeding Heart is offered in a growth height of up to 80 cm, a dwarf form forms a real carpet of flowers.
Hollyhocks can always be seen in the cottage garden. They love a sunny spot and can reach a height of up to 2 meters. The soil should be nutrient-rich and permeable. The hollyhock can also tolerate drought, a moderately moist soil is perfectly sufficient for it.
Not every beautiful plant in the garden is gentle and lovely, the best example being the globe thistle (Echinops ritro). It should also not be missing in any cottage garden, even if it is quite unapproachable and sometimes defends itself against the owner. It likes a dry location that is sunny and is very frugal. Its steel-blue, spherical flowers are often used in dried bouquets and for decoration.
No cottage garden without daisies, that’s for sure. A cottage garden has always been a source of beautiful and wildly romantic bouquets of flowers. Many a flower lover would like to have the opportunity to have such a bouquet in the vase today. Marguerites are also available in different heights and could be planted as a small border or as a perennial around 1 meter high.
In addition, these plants and flowers also fit wonderfully into a cottage garden:
- Wisteria
- Buntnessel
- Christrose
- dahlias
- Eisenhut
- Fat Her
- Fingerhut
- lilac
- Freesien
- Geranien
- Kornblume
- snapdragons
- Spring flowering bulbs such as daffodils and tulips
The hydrangea (Hydrangea) is more of a shrub than a perennial plant because of its possible height. There are species that are around 150 cm high and can reach an impressive size. Other varieties of the hydrangea family are smaller, but just as keen on flowering. It can also be admired as a climbing plant on old houses. The botanical name Hydrangea reveals what the plant is about: water = Hydra. The peasant hydrangea needs a lot of moisture on the ground, but not on the flowers and leaves. The flower balls consist of many small individual flowers.
Peonies are similar lush flowering plants that are very common in a cottage garden. They’re a bit diva-ish, though, and will take a few years to gain momentum. This means that the first few years she will only grow and show none of her beautiful flowers. For this reason, it should not be transplanted, but should remain in its wind-protected place and, if possible, in the semi-shade.
After that, however, it blooms profusely and in many colors. The different varieties can show more or less densely filled flowers, which initially only appear as a solid ball. As soon as this ball of flowers begins to open slightly, you can cut off a long stalk of the peony and place it in the vase. It also harmonizes with delphiniums and especially with lilacs.
A cottage garden without Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) is probably only half as beautiful. Sweet William are robust plants that bloom in all sorts of colors and also look very nice as cut flowers in a vase. The Sweet William is related to the Carnation, which unfortunately has gone out of fashion. A little sister is the cushion carnation, which can also be used as a bed edging in the cottage garden.
No cottage garden without fruit and vegetables
Fruit trees used to only grow in meadows, but fruit bushes such as currants, gooseberries and raspberries could definitely be found in every cottage garden. Their fruits were used to make a delicious jam or to end up fresh in a cake. Raspberries need a trellis to grow, so they were often used as a fence or up against a wall. Currant bushes were usually at the end of the cottage garden facing the meadow or field. Its fruits are white, red or black, the latter having a particularly aromatic and strong taste. As cassis they are processed into desserts such as ice cream, their juice in sparkling wine results in the famous drink Kir Royal.
Gooseberries are uninviting and bright red, but they also have their charms as a fruit. Green or green-red, they hang on the bush, which has long thorns and thus defends itself against the harvest. Contrary to their appearance, gooseberries can also become very sweet if left to ripen in the sun long enough.
Herbs and vegetables definitely belong in a cottage garden. It was intended to enrich the family menu. Of course, the planting of vegetables can only be done within a certain framework. Endless long rows of lettuce, vegetables or strawberries were more likely to be found in the field. In the cottage garden it is important to keep to the crop rotation. However, this is easy to do by dividing and delimiting the beds, because you can change them every year.
Over the years it has been found that some vegetables don’t “get along” when placed side by side in a row. In addition, certain combinations can be used to ward off pests (see Tagetes). Since there is something of everyone and close together in a cottage garden, it is important to know what gets along and what doesn’t.
Tip on using berries
Puree the different berries and freeze them without adding sugar. With berry mixtures, make sure there is a good ratio of berries so that the fruit puree does not become too sour. Portion well; small plastic cans are suitable for this. Defrost in winter, add a little milk and possibly sugar: the healthy smoothie is ready.
herbs
Herbs should not be missing in a cottage garden, just like colorful cut flowers. They are not only healthy in salads, but also good to use for many a ailment. Some of them are cultivated for several years, others are better put out again over the next year. These herbs can enrich a cottage garden:
- savory
- Dill
- Estragon
- Liebstöckel (Maggikraut)
- marjoram
- Oregano
- Parsley smooth and curly
- peppermint
- rosemary
- chives
- thyme
- lemon balm
In addition to the herbs, which taste best fresh from the garden, there are also one or the other flower or plant in a cottage garden that can be used to make cosmetic or healing ointments. The marigold is the best example of this. It is an annual plant whose flowers can be used for a calendula ointment. The sunnier, the more of the healing active ingredients it can develop. When a dog rose bush is planted, rose hips can be harvested, which make a healthy tea. The elderberry bush is called the pharmacy in the garden, its flowers are delicious when baked and the juice is a very effective remedy for coughs and prevention.
Beautiful decorative elements in the cottage garden
A cottage garden is not only beautiful and useful because of its flowers and plants. It should also offer a beautiful sight and give the garden owner the opportunity to relax here. A nice shady and cozy place to sit is ideal for this. If there is a shady tree on the neighboring property, you will have it easy. An awning can easily be attached to three posts, which can also be covered with climbing plants. A clematis called clematis is ideal here.
In any case, the climbing rose should not be missing in a cottage garden. It climbs along a rose arch or along the wall and intoxicates the garden owner with its full fragrance. Varieties such as polyantha roses are particularly rich in fragrance and lushness. A water pump or a fountain in the cottage garden is just as suitable, preferably made of cast iron and richly ornate. A pewter watering can is the typical working tool in the cottage garden. However, there are also models made of plastic in hardware stores today, made in a country house style and not as bright green as the modern versions.
Rose balls, fence stools and decorative elements made of metal are very popular in a cottage garden to provide an eye-catcher, especially during the time when everything is not yet in bloom. An old zinc tub that has been filled with water also looks very popular and great. A small dwarf water lily can be used here, a few pond lentils or a small marsh marigold that gives a yellow splash of color. A small gargoyle – my favorite here would be a frog prince – ensures that the water always stays clear and that the plants are supplied with oxygen.
Conclusion
Today, cottage gardens are no longer the exclusive supply of fruit and vegetables, but more of a hobby. If the house garden is to be laid out in the style of a cottage garden, it is important to remember that vegetables and fruit are work. It is better to plant one or two tomato stalks than rows of lettuce that cannot be processed afterwards. You should also only plant berries if you feel like making jam. Otherwise, it is better to fill the cottage garden with beautiful flowering and green plants and enjoy a lush, fragrant herb bed.
