55+ Cottage Garden Flowers and Plants (Perennials, Annuals & Bulbs)

Would you like to create a cottage garden in your yard, and are wondering what to plant in it? Check out the list of cottage garden flowers and pictures below for inspiration.

You can use it to identify flowers and plants you have seen and liked, or to discover new types of cottage garden flowers to grow!

Of the 55+ plant varieties in this list, some are uncommon, while others are more popular cottage garden plants. Each one has a photo and basic care notes, so you can see if it would be a good fit in your cottage garden.

You can also download a free cottage garden flowers names printable, and a shopping list, from the project card at the bottom of the page to take with you when you go plant shopping.

Some of the links below are affiliate links. I earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you, if you purchase through an affiliate link.

What makes a cottage garden special?

Cottage gardens are known for their relaxed, romantic style, but they’re also practical and easy to adapt to different spaces.

• Budget-friendly and easy to create
• Works well in small spaces
• Flexible design that’s simple to change
• Dense planting helps reduce weeds

Choosing the right mix of plants is key to achieving the layered cottage garden look.

• Plant perennials and bulbs that offer year-round interest.
• Couple them with annuals and biennials for long-lasting color.
• Choose plants with varying heights to create a layered look.
• Pick fragrant flowers for a traditional romantic feel.
• Select plants with staggered bloom times for season-long interest.
• Always consider your specific soil, sunlight conditions, and hardiness zones.

Note on USDA hardiness zones:

Hardiness zones are a helpful guide for selecting plants, but they don’t guarantee survival. Local conditions such as soil, sunlight, and microclimate can affect how well a plant grows, so use your own gardening experience when making final choices.

Browse by plant type:

This list includes over 55 cottage garden plants. Use the links below to jump to each section.

🌿 Perennials
🌸 Annuals
🌷 Bulbs
🌼 Biennials
☀️ Full sun flowers

English cottage garden perennials

Perennials are a sustainable, cost-effective choice for English gardens. They return year after year without needing to be replanted. They increase in size as they mature, filling up spaces in a garden very quickly. These are some of my favorite perennials for a cottage garden:

Russian sage (Salvia yangii, formerly Perovskia atriplicifolia)

If you love butterflies and bees in your yard, plant Russian sage. This tall, drought-resistant cottage garden plant is a premier choice for attracting pollinators.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 3-5 feet (0.9-1.5 meters) tall
• Bloom time: Mid-summer through mid-fall
• Colors: Lavender blue and light purple
• Zones: USDA zones 4-9

Purchase the cottage garden perennial Russian sage on Etsy.

Bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis – formerly Dicentra spectabilis)

What could be more romantic than a plant with flowers shaped like hearts? It’s the perfect cottage garden plant! See my tips for growing bleeding hearts here.

• Sun: Partial to full shade
• Height: 2-3 feet (60-90 cm) tall
• Bloom time: Mid to late spring
• Colors: White, pink, and red
• Zones: USDA zones 4-9

Purchase bleeding heart, a cottage garden perennial, here.

Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)

Loved for their large, lush blooms, hydrangeas are a staple plant for a cottage garden. To get the most out of your plants, see my hydrangea care guide.

• Sun: Partial sun to partial shade
• Height: Typically 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 m)
• Bloom time: Late spring through early fall
• Colors: Determined by soil pH – blue to red or pink.
• Zones: USDA zones 5-9

Shop for hydrangea cottage garden perennials here.

Love lies bleeding (Amaranth caudatus)

One of the more unusual cottage garden plants is Love Lies Bleeding. It’s great as a back-of-the-border plant. It offers dramatic height with its stunning tassels and texture.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 3-8 feet (0.9-2.4 m)
• Bloom time: Mid-summer through fall
• Colors: Deep crimson, blood red, and magenta
• Zones: USDA zones 2-11

You can buy Love Lies Bleeding cottage garden seeds here.

Rose (Rosa)

Roses are considered the quintessential cottage garden plant due to their romantic, old-fashioned appearance. Both normal rose bushes and climbing roses are popular.

Variegated roses add an especially feminine touch to the color palette and diverse look of an English cottage garden.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 3-5 feet (90-150 cm)
• Bloom time: Late spring through early fall
• Colors: Almost all colors except true blue and black
• Zones: USDA zones 3-11

Check out Pink Eden climbing roses on Etsy.

Delphinium (Delphinium elatum)

The tall, vertical shapes of delphiniums add dramatic height and vibrant color at the back of borders in English-style gardens. They are known as the “queen of the border”.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 1-6 feet (30 -180 cm)
• Bloom time: Early to late summer
• Colors: Blue, purple, pink, and white
• Zones: USDA zones 3-7

See all delphinium seeds for planting here.

Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum)

The tall, pink flowers of Joe Pye weed look fabulous at the back of any cottage garden. They bloom until fall, encouraging pollinators far and wide to come for a visit.

• Sun: Full sun to partial shade
• Height: 3-10 feet (0.9-3 m)
• Bloom time: Mid-summer to fall
• Colors: Mauve-pink, lavender, or dusty rose-purple
• Zones: USDA zones 3-9

See Joy Pye weed plants and seeds on Etsy.

Bee balm (Monarda)

Bee balm is a mid-height perennial that is well-suited to the middle of a cottage garden border. It has long-lasting blooms, is deer-resistant, and very attractive to bees.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 2-4 feet (60-120 cm)
• Bloom time: Mid-summer to early fall
• Colors: Red, pink, lavender, white, purple, and magenta
• Zones: USDA zones 3-9

Get bee balm, cottage garden flowering plants, and seeds here.

Coneflower (Ecinacea)

Coneflowers are ideal flowers for cottage gardens because of their rustic appearance, low-maintenance nature, and long-lasting blooms. See my guide with tips for growing coneflowers here.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 2-4 feet (60-120 cm)
• Bloom time: Mid-summer through early fall
• Colors: Purple-pink, red, orange, yellow, white, and magenta
• Zones: USDA zones 3-9

See coneflowers for sale on Etsy.

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

Who can resist these cheeky yellow flowers with dark brown centers? It’s easy to see how this flower got its common name! The plant’s ability to self-sow means that you’ll always have it to attract pollinators to your cottage garden.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 2-3 feet (60-90 cm)
• Bloom time: Mid-summer through the first frost
• Colors: Yellow, orange, bronze, red, and gold
• Zones: USDA zones 3-9

Shop for black-eyed Susan plants here.

False goat’s beard (Astilbe x arendsii)

Astilbe is one of the few cottage garden shade plants with vibrant blooms. It is very easy to care for. See my post for how to grow astilbe here.

• Sun: Partial to full shade
• Height: 4-5 feet (120-150 cm)
• Bloom time: Late spring to late summer
• Colors: White, pink, red, violet, lavender, and crimson
• Zones: USDA zones 3-9

Etsy has astilbe plants for sale in many colors.

Lupines (Lupinus perennis)

Lupines have tall, spiky flowers and are suited to the old-fashioned look of an informal mixed border. Their late spring blooms are highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 1-4 feet (30-120 cm)
• Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
• Colors: Blue, purple, pink, white, yellow, and red
• Zones: USDA zones 3-8

Get lupine seeds and plants for cottage gardens here.

Catmint (Nepeta)

Catmint is a great front-of-the-border cottage garden perennial that is very low-maintenance, once established. It has silvery-green foliage and a cascading habit that allows it to spill over into paths and fill in spaces between roses and peonies.

Cutting catmint back in late spring after the initial flowering will encourage it to flower again in late summer.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 1-3 feet (30-90 cm)
• Bloom time: Late spring to early fall
• Colors: Blue and purple
• Zones: USDA zones 3-8

Purchase catmint cottage garden flowering plants here.

Lavender (Lavandula)

The fragrant, informal blooms of lavender make it perfect for edging pathways in cottage gardens. The soft purple flowers and silvery-green foliage have the perfect look for a rustic garden setting.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 1-3 feet (30-90 cm)
• Bloom time: Late-spring through late-summer
• Colors: Purple, violet, and violet-blue
• Zones: USDA zones 5-8

Buy lavender for your cottage garden here.

Peonies (Paeonia)

Peonies are a staple in English cottage gardens. They have romantic, ruffled, and highly fragrant blooms. They add a nostalgic look to a cottage garden and their deep green foliage lasts all summer, even after the flowers have faded.

Once established, they will live for decades, sometimes over 50 years!

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 2-4 feet (60-120 cm)
• Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
• Colors: White, pink, red, maroon, coral, and yellow
• Zones: USDA zones 3-8

You can buy peonies here.

Sedum Autumn Joy (Sedum telephium’Autumn Joy’)

If you are looking for cottage garden plants with color-changing flowers, Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ is the perfect choice. The blooms change from pink to dusty red and will continue flowering in mid-fall when other plants have finished blooming.

It looks pretty at the front of a border surrounded by other low-growing sedum varieties.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 6 inches-2 feet (15-60 cm)
• Bloom time: Mid-summer to mid-fall
• Colors: Changes from pink to rose, dusty red, and maroon
• Zones: USDA zones 3-9

Mountain Crest has Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ plants for sale.

Creeping phlox (Phlox sublata)

The dense, colorful carpet of spring blooms that creeping phlox produces is effective at suppressing weeds and controlling erosion on sloped ground. Its trailing habit softens the hard edges of pathways and patios near cottage gardens.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 4-6 inches (10-15 cm)
• Bloom time: Mid to late spring
• Colors: Pink, purple, lavender, white, blue, and red
• Zones: USDA zones 3-9

Purchase creeping flox to plant in your garden here.

Peruvian lily (Alstroemeria)

Peruvian lily makes a wonderful English cottage garden flower, due to its exceptionally long-lasting blooms. It is low-maintenance and quite drought-tolerant once established. It attracts pollinators, is deer-resistant, and lasts well as a cut flower in vases indoors.

• Sun: Full sun to partial shade
• Height: 1-4 feet (30-120 cm)
• Bloom time: Late spring through autumn
• Colors: Pink, red, orange, yellow, white, and purple
• Zones: USDA zones 7-10

See Peruvian lilies for sale here.

Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum)

Shasta daisies are ideal cottage garden plants because of their cheerful flowers, minimal maintenance, and long bloom period. Get tips for growing shasta daisies here.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 2-3 feet (60-90 cm)
• Bloom time: Early summer through autumn
• Colors: White with yellow centers
• Zones: USDA zones 5-9

See the perennial cottage garden flower Shasta daisy here.

Clematis (Clematis)

If you have a fence that you’d like to hide next to your cottage garden, clematis is a perennial climbing vine that works beautifully. Check out this post to learn how to grow and care for clematis. 

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 3-30 feet (0.9-9 m)
• Bloom time: Early spring to late fall
• Colors: Purple, lavender, blue, pink, red, white, and yellow
• Zones: USDA zones 4-9

Get the cottage garden climbing vine clematis on Etsy.

Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)

Rose of Sharon is a perfect cottage garden plant because it offers a romantic, upright structure, late summer color, and thrives in full sun. Its vase-shaped blooms attract swallowtails and other pollinators like crazy.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 8-12 feet (2.4-3.6m)
• Bloom time: Mid-summer through early fall
• Colors: Pink, blue, purple, lavender, white, and red
• Zones: USDA zones 5-9

Buy Rose of Sharon for your cottage garden here.

Annuals for cottage gardens

For non-stop, intense color from spring through autumn, be sure to include annuals in your cottage garden plan. These plants fill gaps between the perennials and bulbs, and are very cost-effective since they can be started from seeds. Many also self-seed, adding to an informal look, and they are attractive to all pollinators.

Mandevilla (Mandevilla spp.)

If you are looking for flowers that will climb obelisks and trellises, try growing mandevilla vine. Its aromatic flowers attract bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies all summer long.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 10-20 feet (3-6 m) long
• Bloom time: Late spring through first frost
• Colors: Pink, white, and red
• Growing season: Often grown as an annual, but perennial in warm climates (Zones 9–11)

Buy mandevilla vine plants on Etsy.

Sweet peas (Lathyrus orodatus)

Sweet peas bring romantic charm to a cottage garden with their intense fragrance and vibrant colors. They quickly climb up trellises, arbors, and arches to add vertical interest in your garden.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: Vines can grow 6-8 feet (1.8-2.4 m) long
• Bloom time: Late spring through mid-summer
• Colors: Pink, red, blue, purple, lavender, maroon, white, and apricot
• Growing season: Cool-season annual

Purchase cottage garden annual sweet pea seeds here.

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)

Nasturtiums are one of the best cottage garden annuals, thanks to their nature as a trap crop, which repels garden pests. This makes them a great companion plant. See my tips for growing nasturtiums here.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 1-10 feet (30 cm – 3 m)
• Bloom time: Early summer through fall (they slow down in mid-summer)
• Colors: Orange, yellow, red, cream, salmon-pink, and maroon
• Growing season: Cool-season annual

Purchase seeds for many colors of nasturtiums on Etsy.

Sunflower (Helianthus annus)

Sunflowers display a trait known as heliotropism – their heads follow the sun across the sky. If you’d like to grow sunflowers, check out my sunflower care tips post.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 3-16 feet (0.9-4.8 m)
• Bloom time: Mid-summer to early autumn
• Colors: Yellow, gold, orange, red, maroon, brown, cream, and white
• Growing season: Warm-season annuals

Etsy has lots of different colored sunflower seed mixes for sale.

Larkspur (Consolida ajacis)

Larkspur is the birth flower of July. It is popular in cottage gardens for attracting butterflies, but it is highly poisonous to humans, pets, and livestock.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 2-6 feet (60-180 cm)
• Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
• Colors: Blue, purple, pink, and white
• Growing season: Cool-season annual

Get a mix of larkspur seeds for your cottage garden.

Dahlia (Dahlia)

Dahlia can be either an annual or a perennial, but in my experience in North Carolina, it won’t come back each year unless I dig up the tubers, so I have included it in the list of annuals for cottage gardens. If you like really large flowers, check out my growing dinner plate dahlias guide. They are extraordinary!

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 3-4 feet (90-120 cm)
• Bloom time: Mid-summer to the first frost
• Colors: Nearly every color except true blue
• Growing season: Often grown as an annual, but perennial in warm climates (Zones 8–11)

You can buy dahlia tubers in many colors for your cottage garden here.

Zinnia (Zinnia eleganx)

Zinnias are what is known as a composite flower. Each flower head contains many small flowers. They were once known as “youth and old age” because old blooms stay fresh while new ones open.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 2.5-3 feet (75-90 cm)
• Bloom time: Mid-summer to first frost
• Colors: Most colors except true blue
• Growing season: Warm-season annual

Etsy has nice mixes of zinnia seeds for your garden.

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)

Snapdragons get their common name because their cool-weather flowers snap open like a dragon’s mouth when you squeeze them.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 6 inches-4 feet (15-120 cm)
• Bloom time: Early spring through early summer and late summer through fall
• Colors: Yellow, orange, pink, purple, burgundy, and white
• Growing season: Cool-season annual

Shop for snapdragon seeds here.

Cosmos (C. bipinnatus)

Cosmos is known for its ability to thrive in poor soil conditions. They are pollinator magnets, flower all season long, and often self-seed. See my guide to growing candy stripe cosmos here.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 1-6 feet (30-180 cm)
• Bloom time: Mid-summer through fall
• Colors: Pink, white, red, maroon, purple, and bi-color varieties
• Growing season: Warm-season annual

See cosmos seeds to plant in your cottage garden here.

Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima)

Sweet alyssum is a low-growing front-of-the-border annual with honey-scented white flowers that attract insects. It is edible and is a companion plant that reduces aphid populations in a cottage garden.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 3-9 inches (7-22 cm)
• Bloom time: Spring until the first frost (slows down in summer)
• Colors: White is the most common
• Zones: Cool-season annual

You can buy sweet alyssum seeds here.

Verbena (Verbena x hybrida)

Verbena is a drought-tolerant ground cover that can withstand harsh conditions. Be careful not to overwater the plant, since this can lead to powdery mildew.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 6 inches to 6 feet (15 cm-1.8 m)
• Bloom time: Late spring through late fall
• Colors: Purple, lavender, white, red, pink, coral, and blue
• Growing season:  Often grown as an annual, but perennial in warm climates (Zones 9–11)

Check out purpletop verbena seeds on Etsy.

Begonia (Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum)

There are four main types of begonias: wax, tuberous, cane, and rhizomatous; all are well suited to cottage gardens. If you’d like to grow them in your garden, see my tips for growing begonias.

• Sun: Partial shade
• Height: 6-24 inches (15-60 cm)
• Bloom time: Early summer to the first frost
• Colors: Red, pink, white, yellow, orange, and salmon
• Growing season: Warm-season annuals

Shop begonia plants on Etsy.

Marigold (Tagetes erecta)

Because of their strong, musky scent and bright colors, marigolds are often used to decorate gravestones and altars in Mexico to help souls find their way back during the Day of the Dead.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 6 inches to 4 feet (15-120 cm)
• Bloom time: Late spring through late fall
• Colors: Yellow, orange, gold, and red
• Growing season: Warm-season annuals

See all marigold seed mixes on Etsy.

Petunia (Petunia x atkinsiana)

Petunias are a self-cleaning plant, which is good news for you, since you won’t need to spend time deadheading them to remove spent flowers.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 6-18 inches (15-45 cm)
• Bloom time: Spring to the first frost
• Colors: Pink, purple, red, white, and near-black
• Growing season: Warm-season annual

You can buy petunia seeds in many colors here.

Celosia (Celosia argentea)

The flowers of celosia plants are very long-lasting. They have three forms: crested, plumed, and wheat-shaped.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 1-3 feet (30-90 cm)
• Bloom time: Late spring through fall
• Colors: Red, orange, yellow, pink, magenta, and purple
• Growing season: Warm-season annual

Purchase celosia seeds for your cottage garden here.

Bulbs for cottage gardens

Planting bulbs in your cottage garden gives you early-season color and year-round interest. Bulbs are some of the first plants to flower when the weather starts to warm up, and they naturalize easily, so their presence grows each year.

Here are some of my favorites:

Daffodil (Narcissus)

Daffodils are one of the first bulbs to bloom in spring, and they symbolize rebirth and new beginnings. All parts of the daffodil are poisonous to humans and animals, which is why squirrels and deer avoid them.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 16-20 inches (40-50 cm)
• Bloom time: Early to mid spring
• Colors: Yellow and white
• Zones: USDA zones 3-8

Buy daffodil bulbs for your cottage garden here.

Tulip (Tulipa)

The petals of tulip flowers are edible and have a mild, sweet flavor. See this post to learn how to grow and care for tulips.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 16-24 inches (40-60 cm)
• Bloom time: Mid to late spring
• Colors: Almost all colors, except true-blue
• Zones: USDA zones 3-8

Purchase a mix of tulip bulbs to plant in your garden here.

Crocus (Crocus)

Crocuses are early spring-blooming bulbs that often push their way up through the snow! Fun fact: the stigma of crocus flowers is used to produce the expensive spice called saffron!

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 3-6 inches (7-15 cm)
• Bloom time: Late winter to early spring
• Colors: Purple, lavender, white, yellow, and orange
• Zones: USDA zones 3-8

Shop for crocus bulbs here.

Snowdrops (Galanthus)

The bulbs of snowdrops produce natural antifreeze proteins that prevent ice crystals from damaging their cells. This allows them to bloom in the snow! The flowers are toxic to pets and humans if ingested. Their small height makes them a good choice for front-of-the-border plants for an English cottage garden.

• Sun: Full sun to partial shade
• Height: 3-8 inches (7-20 cm)
• Bloom time: Late winter to early spring
• Colors: White
• Zones: USDA zones 3-8

See snowdrop bulbs for your cottage garden here.

Ornamental onion (Allium)

Alliums do double duty when it comes to critters. They are pollinator magnets for bees and butterflies, and also act as a natural pest repellent for deer and rabbits, due to their pungent onion scent.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 1-4 feet (30-120 cm)
• Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
• Colors: Blue, white, pink, yellow, and red
• Zones: USDA zones 3-9

Get allium bulbs to plant in your garden here.

Iris (Iris)

One representation of the iris flower is the fleur-de-lis, a symbol of French royalty. Many garden irises are called “bearded” because they have a fuzzy line of hairs running down the center of their lower petals. See my growing iris guide for tips on caring for this lovely cottage garden plant.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 2-3 feet (60-90 cm)
• Bloom time: Spring to early summer
• Colors: Almost all colors, except true red
• Zones: USDA zones 3-9

You can buy iris bulbs in many colors on Etsy.

Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis)

The flowers of hyacinth are so fragrant that they are often used in perfume making. They are deer-resistant, but squirrels like to dig them up.

• Sun: Full sun to light shade
• Height: 6-12 inches (15-30 cm)
• Bloom time: Early to mid-spring
• Colors: Blue, purple, pink, white, red, and yellow
• Zones: USDA zones 4-8

See hyacinth bulbs for sale here.

Canna lily (Canna x generalis)

Cannas are not true lilies. They are closely related to arrowroot, ginger, and bananas. Because of their tall height, they make a nice back-of-the-border plant for cottage gardens.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 3-6 feet (90-180 cm)
• Bloom time: Early summer to the first frost
• Colors: Red, yellow, orange, pink, cream, and white
• Zones: USDA zones 7-11

Check out the canna lily bulbs on Etsy.

Gladiolus (Gladiolus spp.)

Gladiolus is a fast-growing perennial bulb with tall, sword-shaped leaves and vibrantly colored flowers. It is the birth flower for those born in August and symbolizes strength and integrity. See this post for gladiolus care tips.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 2-6 feet (60-180 cm)
• Bloom time: Mid to late summer
• Colors: Red, pink, yellow, orange, white, lavender, purple, burgundy, green, and tan
• Zones: USDA zones 7-10

Etsy has a nice range of gladiolus bulbs here.

Daylily (Hemerocallis)

Daylilies make ideal cottage garden plants due to their low-maintenance nature and abundant blooms. They are graceful, and their arching foliage adds season-long appeal. Get tips for how to grow daylilies here.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 1-4 feet (30-120 cm)
• Bloom time: Late spring through summer
• Colors: Yellow, red, pink, purple, orange, and near-black
• Zones: USDA zones 3-9

Buy daylilies in many colors on Etsy.

Blazing star (Liatris spicata)

Liatris is an unusual pollinator-friendly cottage garden plant that blooms from the top down, unlike most other plants. They act as a monarch butterfly magnet, offering them a critical nectar source, and serving as a host plant. See my liatris growing guide here.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 2-4 feet (60-120 cm)
• Bloom time: Mid-summer to early fall
• Colors: Purple, magenta, and lavender
• Zones: USDA zones 3-9

Purchase liatris bulbs here.

Oriental lily (Lilium orientalis)

Oriental lilies are loved for their massive blooms, tall height, and intense fragrance. They are native to Japan and Korea, and last a long time in a vase. Learn how they differ from their Asiatic lily cousin here.

• Sun: Full sun to part shade
• Height: 3-5 feet (90-150 cm)
• Bloom time: Mid to late summer
• Colors: White, pink, red, yellow, magenta, and orange
• Zones: USDA zones 3-9

Shop for Oriental lilies on Etsy.

Red hot poker (Kniphofia)

Are you looking for a back-of-the-border plant with unusual flowers? Try growing red hot poker plants in your cottage garden. Their fiery blooms are deer-resistant and can grow up to 6 feet tall.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 1.5-6 feet (45-180 cm)
• Bloom time: Early summer to fall
• Colors: Bicolor – yellow, cream, red, and orange
• Zones: USDA zones 5-9

Get red hot poker bulbs and seeds here.

Biennials for an English cottage garden

Biennials offer a cross between annuals and perennials. They have a two-year life cycle and often self-seed, allowing them to continue growing after the second year and pop up in other areas of your cottage garden.

Hollyhock (Alcea)

Hollyhocks make great back-of-the-border plants. They attract pollinators and often self-seed. This guide to growing hollyhocks will help you get the best blooms.

• Sun: Full sun
• Height: 3-8 feet (0.9-2.4 m)
• Bloom time: Mid-summer to early fall
• Colors: Pink, red, purple, yellow, white, and maroon
• Zones: USDA zones 3-9

Shop for hollyhock plants and seeds here.

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)

Fun fact: All parts of the foxglove plant are highly poisonous, yet they are historically important in creating heart medicine. Learn how to grow foxglove here.

• Sun: Dappled sun to partial shade
• Height: 3-5 feet (90-150 cm)
• Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
• Colors: Purple, pink, white, yellow, apricot, and rose
• Zones: USDA zones 4-9

Purchase foxglove biennial here.

Forget me not (Myosotis sylvatica)

The flowers of forget-me-not start pink and turn blue as they open. The yellow center changes to a creamy brown/white after pollination, signifying that the plant no longer has pollen.

• Sun: Full sun to partial shade
• Height: 6-12 inches (15-30 cm)
• Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
• Colors: Sky-blue
• Zones: USDA zones 3-9

See forget-me-not plants and seeds here.

Honesty Plant (Lunaria annua)

The seed pods of Lunaria leave behind papery, silver-white membranes that resemble coins. This gives fall interest in a cottage garden. The plant is a member of the Brassicaceae family and are edible.

• Sun: Full sun to partial shade
• Height: 2-3 feet (60-90 cm)
• Bloom time: Mid-spring to early summer
• Colors: Purple, violet, pink, or white
• Zones: USDA zones 5-9

Etsy has Honesty Plants seeds here.

Dame’s rocket (Hesperis matronalis)

The flowers of Dame’s rocket have no aroma during the day but release a scent at night to attract moths and butterflies. The plant is often mistaken for phlox and is highly invasive in North America.

• Sun: Full sun to partial shade
• Height: 2-4 feet (60-120 cm)
• Bloom time: Late spring to mid-summer
• Colors: Purple, lavender, mauve, pink, or white
• Zones: USDA zones 3-9

You can purchase Dame’s Rocket plants and seeds here.

Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus)

Sweet William flowers are edible and popular in cottage gardens because of their clove-like aroma. See my Sweet William care guide here.

• Sun: Full sun to partial shade
• Height: 1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
• Bloom time: Late-spring through summer
• Colors: Red, pink, white, purple, and violet
• Zones: USDA zones 3-9

See all sweet William plants and seeds here.

Canterbury bells (Campanula medium)

Like most biennials, Canterbury bells grow on a two-year cycle, growing foliage in the first year and producing flowers in the second before dying. If you leave them to go to seed, they will often scatter the seeds and reappear in unexpected spots in the garden the following year.

• Sun: Full sun to partial shade
• Height: 2-3 feet (60-90 cm)
• Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
• Colors: Blue, purple, pink, and white
• Zones: USDA zones 5-8

Shop for Canterbury bells plants and seeds here.

Full sun English cottage garden flowers

Do you have a garden that gets sunlight for most of the day? Many traditional English cottage garden plants thrive in full sun, including hollyhocks, lupines, and peonies. Here are some popular choices:

• Russian sage
• Roses
• Delphinium
• Zinnias
• Bee balm
• Daylilies

See the lists above for more flowers for a cottage garden that love the sun.

Types of cottage garden flowers printable

This list includes several types of cottage garden flowers. You can print the  list as high-resolution JPGs or PDFs by using the links below:

• Get the high-resolution cottage garden plant name printable (JPG)↗
• Get the PDF names of cottage garden flowers printable (PDF)↗

Printing instructions for the cottage garden flower printable:

• Select portrait orientation and “fit to page” on your printer settings for a full-page printout.
• You can also print out the list from the project card at the bottom of this page. Scroll down to the card and press “print”.

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🌿 Create your dream cottage garden with this complete guide to 55+ beautiful cottage garden flowers and plants from perennials to annuals, bulbs, and biennials. Each plant includes photos and easy care notes to inspire your garden… Share on X

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Admin note: This post about the best plants for a cottage garden first appeared on the blog in July of 2013. I have updated the post with new cottage garden flowers photos, a printable shopping list, two printables, and a slideshow video for you to enjoy.

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