35 Best Cottage Garden Flowers to Grow will give you some ideas on making your yard look amazing with plants that transform the space they’re grown into a magical oasis.
If you’re looking for more garden inspiration, How to Grow a Tea Garden and Create a Cozy Backyard Garden will help you on your gardening journey.
A cottage flower garden evokes happiness in most people with just one glance. We immediately start daydreaming about what it would be like to live in a home surrounded by a beautiful garden.
Instead of just dreaming about a pretty landscape, why not elevate your space into a place that soothes your soul? Layering your garden beds with cottage flowers is the easiest way to do this.
Whether you decide to have various colors dancing outside your front door. If you prefer a more subtle color palette to decorate your landscape – cottage flowers will deliver the look you envision.
I created a cottage garden in my first home. It was a labor of love, born of trial and error. Ultimately, a garden that started blooming in early spring until late fall was my reward for all that work.
The garden flowers graced many local events. BBQs, weddings, dinner parties, and even memorials had cuttings from my garden, adding pure beauty to the occasion.
My garden produced so many flowers that neighbors knew that they could always stop by and gather some to take home.
One day when I was walking my dogs, I met someone I didn’t know in my neighborhood. When we talked about where we lived, I told her I had the yellow house around the corner. “Oh,” she said, “you’re the one with the magical garden.” That comment made me so happy. I always wanted an enchanting garden.
I’m moving soon, and a forest surrounds my new cottage. It’s a blank slate for my imagination.
The one thing I know for sure is that this new house will have plenty of flowers dancing in the wind. I can’t imagine a home without them.
Below, are some of my favorite flowers to add to your cottage garden. It’s essential to ensure you buy the right flowers for your area.
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Here are the Best Cottage Garden Flowers to Grow
Types of Flowers
1. Bellflowers
Bellflowers are hearty cottage perennial plants with bell-shaped flowers. They bloom in shades of white, purple, blue, or pink. They also go by the name balloon flower.
There are over three hundred different species, and the plants come in various sizes. They range from low-growing plants to plants that grow up to six feet tall.
2. Bleeding Hearts
Bleeding Heart flowers are an unusual beauty that gives your garden a dainty touch. They bloom in early spring and are either pink and white or solid white.
This perennial plant likes to be in a full shade or part shade area. I planted my Bleeding Heart flowers below the trees in my front yard, and they did well. These cottage garden flowers like moist soil.
3. Butterfly Bush
My two butterfly bushes do exactly what their name suggests – they attract butterflies to their blooms. One thing you should know, these bushes grow fast. They can get up to 12 feet tall and 15 feet wide.
Their beautiful long trusses bloom from summer to autumn. The butterfly shrub is low-maintenance flowering plant that thrives in a sunny spot.
Please note that this cottage garden flower bush can be invasive, depending on your climate.
4. Catmint
Catmint is a gorgeous, easy-to-grow plant with pink, purple, violet, blue, or white flowers. It blooms in late spring and early summer. It will start flowering again in fall after the weather cools down.
Beneficial insects love catmint, and it deters bad bugs at the same time. In my cottage flower garden, I had my catmint next to a pale pink rose bush called “Ballerina.” They looked beautiful together.
5. Columbine
This perennial plant is found in woodlands and meadows throughout the Northern Hemisphere. There are about 60-70 different species that come in a variety of colors. They are a tender perennial, so more care is required.
The Columbine flower is the perfect choice if you’re looking to attract hummingbirds with cottage garden flowers. On average, they reach two feet tall.
6. Coneflowers
Coneflowers are also known as Echinacea. It is a perennial plant that can grow between two to four feet tall.
They flower mid-summer through the fall. This plant not only has purple flowers, but they come in various other colors that will work well with your garden plans.
7. Cosmos
Cosmos are considered annual flowering plants, but gardens in zones 9 and 10 might find them to be a perennial. They will reach approximately 12 inches tall and come in a wide range of colors.
The flowers are easy to grow and will bloom from summer to early fall. You can buy plants from the nursery, but these plants are easy to grow from seeds. Here are cosmos seeds on Amazon.
8. Crocus
Crocus flowers are usually the first to arrive on the scene in any cottage garden, depending on what else you plant. They give hope after a long, hard winter with their colorful blooms peeking out from the white snow.
The flowers are easy to grow, low-growing plant, and a hardy plant. They should be planted in late summer to early fall.
Please note: Crocus can be poisonous to cats.
9. Daffodils
You should plant your daffodil bulbs September through late November. They grow in full or partial sun.
The flowers are up late winter or early spring, giving your cottage garden a beautiful color after a long winter. They come in a variety of colors, but most flowers are either white or yellow. They are the perfect addition to any spring garden.
10. Dahlias
Dahlias are beautiful flowers and they come in a wide variety of colors and sizes. The width of the flowers can range from 2″ to 15″ wide. They have a growing season of 120 days long.
They are winter hardy in zones 8 to 11. In zones 2 through 7, gardeners dig the tubers up and store them for winter.
11. Daisies
Daisies are such happy flowers. They are easy flowers to grow and do their best in full sun. Daisies are a great option when searching for tall white blossoms.
The flowers come in all shapes and sizes. You will want to cut them and deadhead regularly to encourage more blooms.
My favorite type of daisy is the Shasta daisy. You can find seeds here on Amazon.
12. Daylilies
Finding the right location to plant your Daylilies will provide you with years of beautiful blooms without much effort. They are a perennial that loves the sun.
Daylilies are showy flowers that comes in all different sizes and colors. You can have them line your garden’s edge, and they look gorgeous when paired with ornamental grasses.
Please note: Lilies can be poisonous to cats.
13. Delphiniums
Delphiniums are gorgeous flowers and they make my heart soar whenever I see them. Their spikes of flowers come in purple, pink, white, and blue color.
Cool and moist summers are when they perform the best. They can be challenging to grow, so if you’re a beginner gardener, you should wait until you have some experience.
14. Forget-me-nots
This flower gets my approval simply because they are an actual blue flower, and blue is my favorite color. Forget-me-nots also have pink and white blooms.
These delicate blooms ooze simplicity, and I’m all about simple living. The tiny flowers look beautiful in small vases in my kitchen.
Forget-me-nots bloom in spring and like full to part sun. You can grow them in zones 3 to 8. They like well-drained soil and self-sow, so they will expand over time once you plant them.
Imagine how beautiful they will look with either daffodils or tulips.
15. English Primrose
English Primrose are perennials that are very easy to grow. They bloom in early spring and can last throughout summer. I planted quite a few of them, and I’ve done nothing else with them ever since. Every year they give me beauty without any work.
You can plant your flowers in a lightly shaded area with well-draining soil for the best results.
16. Geraniums
Geraniums are vibrant flowers that like full sun in the morning and a light afternoon shade. They look gorgeous in containers or window boxes.
They flower in various colors, including red, orange, salmon, white, pink, lavender, and violet. You’ll want to plant the right type, depending on where you live. Some of the species don’t like hot summers.
17. Heather
When I moved into my home, my front yard was blessed with a heather plant in one of my garden beds. This plant is an evergreen branching shrub. As time went on, it grew larger, and the branches spilled over the raised bed gardens I created.
They like full sun and come in white, pink, purple, and a variety of reds.
18. Hollyhocks
If you’re looking for tall flowers, take a closer look at hollyhocks. They can grow up to 9 feet tall!
You’ll want to plant them in a location with full sun, with moist, with good drainage. Hollyhocks are a biennial plant. That means the first year, you will get stalks with leaves, and in the second year, the flowers will bloom. They will then die, and you will have to plant more flowers.
19. Hyacinths
Hyacinths are grown from bulbs and planted in the fall. They grow best in the sun or partial shade.
The bulbs grow annually, but the flowers are smaller after the first season. Hyacinths come in a variety of colors and sizes.
20. Hydrangeas
I remember when my sister and I visited Seattle for the first time. We arrived when hydrangeas were in full bloom everywhere. Ever since that trip, I’ve been in love with these vibrant blooms. You can learn more about growing hydrangeas here.
Hydrangeas prefer morning sun and partial afternoon shade. They will grow in partial shade too.
The colors of your blooms will change depending on how much acid is in the soil. They come in pink, blue, green, white, and purple.
When I bought my hydrangea bushes, I planted six of them together. One with blue flowers, the next one pink, then blue, then pink, and so on.
It’s been fun to see all the different colors they have turned depending on the soil acid content. You can control the color, but I found it more fun to see what color they wanted to be from year to year.
21. Irises
Irises need at least six hours of sunlight. They need well-drained soil and make sure they have breathing room.
You want to plant their bulbs in late summer. There are over 300 different species of Iris. The most popular iris is the Bearded Iris, which grows up to 28 inches.
22. Lavender
This perennial plant is from the Mediterranean. It adds incredible fragrance, color, and visual interest to any garden it graces.
I have several different types of lavender growing in my garden. One of the plants is at the edge of my walkway. When your leg brushes against it, the smell is intoxicating. I also have several pink-flowered lavender plants that I love.
It is best to plant in the spring when the soil starts heating up. Lavender doesn’t like wet feet, so keep it away from moist areas.
23. Lilacs
Lilac bushes need at least six hours of sunshine daily for beautiful blooms. You also want to ensure the soil drains well in the area where you plant the bush.
You can plant lilacs in the spring or fall. Depending on the variety you grow, make sure you plant them 5 to 15 feet apart. The most popular plants are the lavender flowers. They also come in white, violet, blue, pink, magenta, and purple.
24. Lily of the valley
What’s not to love about lily of the valley? The dainty bell-shaped flowers, beautiful fragrance, and bright green foliage that go along with the white flowers.
Lily of the valley is a shade-loving plant that works well at the base of trees or shrubs. In addition to the snowy white color, you can also get pale pink or entirely pink flowers.
Please note: Lily of the valley can poison cats and dogs.
25. Morning Glories
My back fence is covered with morning glories. I wish I could say I’m an expert gardener that created this wonderland, but morning glories grow naturally in my area, and they are considered invasive.
Morning glories come in a variety of colors. Purple, white, pink, blue, red, and bi-colors are the hues you get to pick for your garden. They are tubular flowers that attract humming birds. Please make sure you plant them so they get full sun.
26. Pansies
Pansies are annuals, so you’ll have to plant seeds or buy new plants yearly. They require partial sun and good soil.
They don’t like humidity or heat, so they do best in spring and fall.
27. Peonies
The drawbacks to growing peonies are that they can be challenging to grow, and they have a short blooming season. Their overwhelming beauty is worth the price.
Make sure you plant your peonies in full sun and have well-draining soil. They have single, semi-double, and double flowers that come in white, yellow, pink, red, and purple.
Please note: Planting these beauties at the right depth is essential. If you plant them too deeply, they won’t flower. Please make sure you grow them according to the instructions of the variety you buy.
28. Phlox
Phlox is easier to grow from cuttings or transplants than seeds. You want to plant phlox in the spring
They need at least six hours of sunlight in well-watered soil.
30. Poppies
Poppies are annuals that are self-sowing if you leave the blooms on the plant so they can drop their seeds. They bloom until late spring or early summer.
Plant your seeds in direct sun and well-drained soil for best results. Poppies come in various vibrant colors like orange, yellow, purple, pink, white, and red flowers.
31. Roses
Roses are a popular garden flower that’s easy to grow if you buy the right variety for your area. You also want to ensure you get disease-resistant plants for the best results. My garden was filled with English roses.
Go to a local nursery to find out what types of areas grow best. Or you can join a local gardening Facebook group to ask the kinds of roses members did the best with in your area.
For more information on growing roses, please take a look at my article 31 Secrets to Growing Roses.
31. Snapdragons
Snapdragons are short-lived perennials. To en sure you have flowers blooming every year, treat them as annuals and plant new ones in partial shade if you want them to bloom all summer.
They have tall stems and can grow 3-4 feet tall and come in various colors. For more tips on How to Grow Snapdragons, you will find 13 tips here.
32. Sweet Pea Flowers
Don’t you love the smell of sweet peas? Their sweet scent can perfume a room with only one small bouquet of blooms.
They have pink, purple, white, red, blue, and bicolor blooms, so you can pick the perfect color for your garden. Spring through summer, they flower and require full sun.
The plants have tendrils and climb up trellises. These flowers are easy to grow from seed.
33. Tulips
Wild tulips come back year after year. Cultivated tulip bulbs are hit-and-miss if they come back.
When I was young, I lived in a house where the tulips bloomed like clockwork every spring. When I buy bulbs, they sometimes bloom for a few years before they stop flowering. Some bulbs only come up for one year. It all depends on the variety you buy.
Tulips are a beautiful way to welcome spring. They come in various pale and bright colors.
For best results, you should plant your tulip bulbs in the fall 6-8 weeks before the first frost.
34. Wisteria
Wisteria adds a little fairytale magic to gardens. Those lovely blooms cascading down from a pergola or arbor make a grand statement to all who stop by.
Wisteria grows best in full sun and well-drained soil. These fragrant flowers will make a perfect addition to your cottage garden. They are perennial flowers, so you only have to plant them once.
Please note: Wisteria is potentially poisonous to pets.
35. Zinnia
Zinnias are gorgeous flowers and one of the easiest flowers to grow. They reward you with lots of colorful blooms. They have single, semidouble, and double varieties.
They are annuals, so they will only grow for one season. For best results, directly sow zinnia seeds into the soil because they don’t like to be transplanted. You’ll want to make sure your zinnias get full sun.
In a charming country garden, vibrant bursts of color sway gently in the warm summer breeze. These delightful blooms not only add a cheerful touch to the landscape but also serve as magnificent cut flowers, bringing their beauty indoors.
Among the rows of the vegetable garden, these summer flowers stand tall, attracting the industrious buzzing of bees and other essential pollinators. Each delicate petal showcases the intricate design crafted by nature, adorning the flower bed like a living tapestry.
The flower’s fragrant aroma perfumes the air, inviting humans and insects to revel in their splendor. From their lush green leaves to their beautiful blossoms, flowers epitomize the essence of a picturesque garden, harmoniously blending nature’s colors and scents into a captivating symphony.
We’ve reached the end of Best Cottage Garden Flowers to Grow. I hope you enjoyed it.
Let me know in the comments below what your favorite cottage garden flowers are to grow.
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Thanks for stopping by. I’m so happy you found us!
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Shauna
Friday 24th of March 2023
Mountain Laurel is beautiful as well
Kelly
Saturday 25th of March 2023
Yes, I love Mountain Laurel as well. Great idea! - Kelly
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Barbara
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I love your knowledge of plants and your garden ideas
Kelly
Wednesday 30th of June 2021
Thank you so much Barbara! I really appreciate the feedback. Kelly