Leslie Massey
A cottage garden is a style of garden that originated in Europe, with a long history dating back to the 1300s when they were used by peasants and workers to grow vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers. Nowadays, cottage gardens are characterised by their informal, relaxed, and maximalist plantings, often featuring winding paths, abundant flowers, and a mix of annuals and perennials. In Australia, the key to creating a successful cottage garden is choosing plants that are suited to the local climate and soil type. This might include a mix of indigenous and endemic plants, such as coastal rosemary, lomandra, water gum, and seaside daisy. To add height and visual interest, vertical accents such as delphinium, hollyhock, and foxglove can be planted at the back of borders. By incorporating these elements, Australians can create a charming and nostalgic cottage garden that evokes a sense of romance, whimsy, and extravagance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Style | Relaxed, informal, wild, sporadic, exuberant, maximalist, quaint, romantic |
| Plants | Perennials, annuals, bulbs, shrubs, herbs, vegetables, fruit trees, flowers |
| Colours | Various shades of green, pink, white, purple, bright colours |
| Planting style | Packed tightly, overflowing, abundant |
| Pathways | Winding, mysterious, informal, leading to a focal point such as a seating area or water feature |
| Soil | Choose plants to suit your soil type and pH level |
| Climate | Choose plants appropriate for your climate |
| Indigenous plants | Choose plants that are indigenous or endemic to your local area |
| Examples of plants | Alyssum, candytuft, brachyscome, lobelia, nasturtium, lavender, cosmos, sweet william, cornflower, California poppies, foxglove, lily, hollyhock, delphinium, rosemary, thyme, oregano, parsley, potatoes, carrots, beetroot, gooseberries, lettuce, kale, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
Choose a mix of flowers, vegetables, and fruits
Cottage gardens traditionally included fragrant herbs, vegetables, and at least one fruit tree alongside flowering plants. While these may not be required for sustenance, you can include herbs or vegetables for their fresh foliage and aroma.
When choosing flowers, opt for a mix of annuals and perennials. Annuals are self-seeding, reducing maintenance as more plants will grow each year without intervention. Some examples of annuals include aster, buddleia, chrysanthemum, daisy, daphne, fuchsia, lavender, salvia, cyclamen, daffodil, hyacinth, jonquil, tulip. For perennials, consider alyssum, candytuft, brachyscome, lobelia, viola, cosmos, snapdragon, sweet william, lavender, cornflower, Californian poppies, nigella, phlox, pincushion flower, yarrow, marigold.
For vertical accents, delphinium, hollyhock, foxglove, lupin, dahlia, and lily are good options. Climbers such as sweet pea, nasturtium, rose, thunbergia can also add height and interest to your cottage garden.
In terms of vegetables, potatoes, carrots, radishes, turnips, beetroot, gooseberries, raspberries, fennel, lettuce, silverbeet, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, rocket, and mustard greens are all suitable for cottage gardens.
When selecting fruits, consider the size and scale of your garden. Smaller spaces may benefit from dwarf varieties or espaliered trees, while larger areas can accommodate standard-sized fruit trees. Some fruit options include citrus trees such as lemon, lime, or orange, as well as stone fruits like dwarf nectarines or apricots. Passionfruit and grapevines can also be trained to grow against a wall or fence, adding vertical interest.
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Select plants that suit your soil
When creating a cottage garden in Australia, it's important to select plants that suit your soil. The key to success is choosing the right plants for your soil rather than changing your soil to suit your plants. Before you start planting, find out your soil's pH level and whether you have sandy or clay soil. Then, choose plants that will thrive in those conditions.
For example, if you have sandy soil, you might choose plants that prefer well-drained soil, such as lavender, rosemary, or cacti and succulents. If you have clay soil, you might select plants that prefer moist, nutrient-rich soil, such as astilbe, bee balm, or hostas. Consider the amount of sunlight your garden receives, and choose plants that will thrive in those light conditions. For shady spots, try plants like Ajuga australis, which produces beautiful purple blooms and grows well under trees. For sunny areas, opt for sun-loving plants like daisies, poppies, or marigolds.
In addition to light and soil type, consider your local climate. Australia's diverse climate means that plants that thrive in one region may struggle in another. Choose plants that are indigenous to your area, as they are naturally adapted to the local conditions. Visit your local botanic garden to get ideas for plants that are well-suited to your region.
When planning your cottage garden, consider mixing annuals and perennials, a traditional approach to cottage garden planting. Include self-seeding annuals to reduce maintenance, as they will pop up year after year without any additional effort. Herbs, vegetables, and fruit trees were traditionally incorporated into cottage gardens, so consider adding some of these for their fresh foliage, aroma, and, of course, their practical benefits.
Finally, while cottage gardens are known for their wild and exuberant plantings, you can add structure by repeating colours and plants throughout the garden. Pick a few key colours and plants to create a cohesive look and tame the chaotic nature of cottage gardens. For example, you could choose a colour scheme of pink and purple and repeat these colours in different areas of your garden.
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Pick a colour palette and repeat colours
Picking a colour palette and repeating the colours are essential steps in creating a cohesive cottage garden. While cottage gardens are known for their busy and chaotic look, picking a few key colours will help tie the whole space together.
Firstly, consider the colour palette you want to work with. This can be based on your personal preference or the style you want to achieve. For example, a romantic and whimsical cottage garden might feature soft pastel colours, while a vibrant and energetic cottage garden could include bright pops of colour. You can also refer to the colour wheel to choose plants that complement or contrast each other, creating a dynamic and eye-catching display.
When it comes to repeating colours, select a few key shades and distribute them evenly throughout the garden. This can be done by grouping plants of similar colours together or scattering them throughout to create a cohesive look. For example, if you want to include pink flowers, you can plant them in clusters or repeat them at regular intervals to create a sense of balance and harmony.
In addition to repeating colours, you can also repeat specific plants or plant types to add unity to the design. Choose one or two plants that you particularly love and feature them in different areas of your garden. This could be a particular flower, such as daisies or lavender, or a type of plant, such as herbs or shrubs. Repeating plants will help to create a cohesive and well-designed look, rather than a random assortment of plants.
Lastly, don't be afraid to experiment and mix different plant heights and varieties. Cottage gardens are known for their relaxed and informal style, so feel free to combine annuals, perennials, bulbs, and shrubs to create a diverse and vibrant space. You can also include vertical accents, such as delphiniums or hollyhocks, to add height and contrast to your garden. By repeating colours and plants throughout your cottage garden, you'll achieve a beautiful and cohesive space that captures the charm and romance of this classic garden style.
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Design winding paths and add vertical accents
When designing a cottage garden in Australia, creating winding paths and incorporating vertical accents can add charm, intrigue, and a sense of exploration to your outdoor space. Here are some instructive guidelines to achieve this:
Design Winding Paths
- Path Layout: Plan meandering paths that curve gently through your garden, avoiding sharp turns or abrupt changes in direction. This promotes a relaxed and inviting atmosphere.
- Path Width: Vary the width of your paths to create interest. Wider paths can accommodate seating areas or small rest spots, while narrower passages create a sense of discovery as visitors brush past fragrant herbs and soft foliage.
- Materials: Opt for natural materials that blend with the cottage garden aesthetic. Gravel, crushed shell, or brick paths edged with flat stones or pavers are excellent choices. These materials age gracefully and develop a patina that enhances the rustic charm.
- Border Plantings: Softening the edges of your paths with generous border plantings. Allow
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Include native Australian plants
Australian native plants are a great choice for a cottage garden. They are hardy, drought-resistant, and easy to care for, requiring little extra watering or feeding once established. They also attract plenty of wildlife. When selecting plants, it's important to consider your local climate and conditions. Visit your local botanic garden to get an idea of what plants are local to your area.
For a soft colour palette, opt for native plants in pastel shades of pink, white, purple, and mauve. Geraldton wax (Chamelaucium) is a great choice, with tiny abundant flowers in white, pink, peach, and lilac shades. It's drought-tolerant and flowers from late winter to spring. Tea tree (Leptospermum) is another attractive option, with fine leaves and pretty flowers in a range of sizes and shades. Low-growing forms will cascade beautifully over walls, while taller varieties can be used as informal hedges. Coastal rosemary (Westringia) has lovely silver-grey foliage and flowers almost all year round in shades of white, soft purple-blue, and lilac.
Native mint bush (Prostanthera) is another excellent choice for spring, with purple or white flowers. Correas are also well-suited to cottage gardens, with their dainty bell flowers in pastel shades that are loved by native wildlife. Honey myrtles and paperbarks (Melaleuca) are evergreen and hardy, often with cream-white bottlebrush-style flowers or warm pink tufty flowers that attract beneficial pollinators. Grevilleas come in many colours and sizes, and smaller-flowered varieties like Liliane and Pink Pearl are generally more wildlife-friendly.
For ground cover, consider the Swan River daisy (Brachyscome) and boobialla (Myoporum), which flower densely in shades of white, pink, and mauve. Native salt bush (Rhagodia) is a hardy outback shrub that copes well with humid environments, featuring attractive silvery leaves all year round. Yellow buttons (Chrysocephalum) are a great alternative to perennial daisies, with silver-green foliage that complements other flowering plants. Ornamental grasses like knobby club rush (Ficinia) and mat rushes (Lomandra) add texture and can fill gaps in rockeries.
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