Last Updated on April 23, 2025 by April
Cottage-style gardens have this wonderfully relaxed, welcoming vibe—think layers of flowers, a bit of organized chaos, and blooms that seem to pop up in every corner. They’re informal by nature, with a wild mix of plants that take turns showing off as the seasons roll by.
If you want that look in your own yard, just start mixing flowers of different heights, colors, and scents. Arrange them loosely—front, middle, back, whatever feels right. There aren’t really any hard-and-fast rules here, so let your taste lead the way and chase that classic cottage garden charm.
Whimsical Plants For Your Cottage Garden
The right plants along the edge really set the tone for your entire garden. Some of the picks below bring a punch of color, others offer scent, and a few are just plain tough—or all three.
Ornamental Alliums, Zones 4-10
Alliums are a go-to for a little architectural drama. Those upright stems topped with round, whimsical blooms—purple, blue, pink, white, or even yellow—are hard to miss. Most stay compact enough for the front, but if you fall for a taller type, just tuck it further back. Their globe flowers look especially good next to softer, mounding plants.
Butterfly Weed, Zones 3-9
Butterfly weed’s upright habit and bushy foliage make it a natural for border groupings or mixed into prairie-style beds. The orange or yellow flower clusters are magnets for monarchs and other butterflies, and they fill in those tricky spots along paths or garden edges without fuss.
Catmint, Zones 3-8
Catmint’s got that aromatic leaf thing going on, and it sends up dense wands of tiny purple, blue, or even pink blooms. Bees can’t get enough. Its relaxed, mounded shape is perfect for softening hard edges or massing along a walkway where you’ll brush against it.
Dianthus, Zones 3-9
Dianthus is pure cottage nostalgia—fringed, clove-scented blooms in pink, red, or white. Some are upright, others sprawl a bit, but all stay compact enough for the front row or as a sweet path edging. Certain types even rebloom, so you get color for longer than you might expect.
Lavender, 5-9
Lavender’s unmistakable—fragrant, silvery foliage, upright purple-blue spikes. Its shrubby shape works as a low hedge or just dotted along the front of a sunny bed. It likes things dry and sunny, and pollinators adore it. If you trim it back after flowering, you’ll keep it tidy and might even coax more blooms.
Yarrow, Zones 3-9
Yarrow is one of those “why not?” plants—fragrant, ferny leaves, and flat-topped flower clusters in every shade from yellow and red to purple or white. It forms low mats that define your border and plays nicely with other sun-lovers. Plus, it’s tough as nails and doesn’t ask for much.
Bee balm, Zones 3-9
Bee balm (Monarda spp.) brings a blast of color and a spicy scent to the middle of the border. Its upright stems and wild, sparkler-like blooms light things up from early summer into fall. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds? They can’t resist.
Black-eyed Susan, Zones 3-9
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia spp.) is a classic—tough, sunny, and adaptable. Those golden, bronze, or even reddish petals keep the show going from midsummer on, and they fit in just about anywhere, from native beds to cottage chaos.
Coneflowers, Zones 3-9
Coneflowers (Echinacea spp.) have that iconic daisy shape with a bold, raised center. The colors? Everything from purple and white to orange and pink. They’re not just pretty—they’re a buffet for butterflies and, later, birds who snack on the seeds.
Cosmos, Zones 2-11
Cosmos is all about airiness. Feathery leaves, tall stems, and flowers that seem to float above the rest—pink, white, orange, you name it. They’re quick to bloom and honestly, they look good with pretty much anything you plant nearby.
Dahlias, Zones 8-11
Dahlias are the drama queens here—big, bold, and geometric. They need sun and, if you pick the tall ones, a little support. The range of colors is wild, from soft pastels to in-your-face brights, so there’s one for every mood or border scheme.
Garden phlox, Zons 4-8
Garden phlox is a reliable workhorse, pumping out clusters of scented blooms in magenta, lavender, salmon, and more. They flower from mid-summer into fall and look great either massed together or scattered among grasses and other midsize plants.
Shasta daisies, Zones 4-9
Shasta daisies are the definition of classic: crisp white petals, sunny yellow centers, and a tidy, bushy habit that keeps them visible but not overwhelming. They slot into the middle of the border and just keep blooming.
Sweet peas, Zones 3-8
Sweet peas bring something different—climbing vines with delicate, fragrant flowers in soft pastels and bicolors. Give them a trellis or fence to scramble up and they’ll reward you with a nostalgic, cottagey vibe.
Zinnias, Zones 2-11
And if you want nonstop color, zinnias are your friend. Upright, branching, and tough, they churn out bright blooms for months. Medium-sized types fill the middle nicely, while shorter ones can spill toward the front for a layered, full look.
Clematis, Zones 4-9
Clematis is endlessly versatile for the back row. You can train it up trellises or fences, and the flower colors run the gamut from white to deep purple. Some types even have cool seed heads after blooming, which adds a bit of texture.
Delphinium, Zones 3-7
Delphinium brings that classic tall, spiky look. The colors are mostly blues, whites, pinks, and purples, and a cluster at the back of the border is always eye-catching, especially during their big bloom in early to mid-summer.
Foxgloves, Zones 4-9
With foxgloves, you get height and a nice succession of blooms. Both annual and perennial types exist, and the bell-shaped flowers come in pinks, purples, whites, yellows, and apricots. Let some go to seed and you’ll be surprised by new plants popping up here and there.
Hollyhock, Zones 3-9
Hollyhock is a staple for that classic cottage look—tall spires loaded with big, open flowers in just about every color you can imagine. These do best with something solid behind them, like a fence or wall, to keep them upright and out of the wind.
Roses, Zones 5-9
Roses are flexible in the background—go for tall bushes or climbers, depending on your space. Climbing roses look great on arbors or trellises, while big bush types fill in behind shorter plants. There’s a ton of choice in color and shape, so you can really play around with combinations.
