This Summer Cottage Garden Plan Overflows with Color
Add plenty of color and texture to your yard with this eye-catching summer cottage garden plan. It relies on classic perennials such as bellflower, lamb's ear, cranesbill, and delphinium, just to name a few of the showstoppers in this free design. It's perfect for a sunny border along a lawn or walkway. Get the full plant list below, along with the detailed layout diagram as a downloadable PDF.
Plants for Creating the Summer Cottage Garden Plan
Most of the plants in this garden plan do best in moist, well-drained soil so adding a generous amount of compost to your soil before planting will help ensure that this beautiful cottage garden will flourish for you.
- 3 Boxwood (Buxus spp.): Zones 5-9, depending on species
- 3 Dame's rocket (Hesperis matronalis): Zones 4-9
- 1 Lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina): Zones 4-8
- 4 Cranesbill (Geranium x oxonianum): Zones 4-8
- 1 Penstemon 'Sour Grapes': Zones 7-10
- 2 White peach-leaved bellflower (Campanula persicifolia 'Alba'): Zones 3-8
- 4 Leopard's bane (Doronicum cordatum): Zones 4-8
- 2 Yarrow (Achillea 'Coronation Gold'): Zones 3-9
- 2 Larkspur (Consolida ajacis): Annual
- 3 Delphinium Pacific Giants: Zones 4-7
- 1 Sedum 'Autumn Joy': Zones 3-10
If you aren't able to find the exact cultivars listed above, they can be substituted with others of that perennial plant that offer similar colors, shapes, and sizes.
Because some plants can become overly aggressive and spread out of control in certain climates, always check which species are considered invasive in your area before planting. For example, dame's rocket vigorously reseeds itself and has been reported to invade natural areas in various states around the country; you may want to replace it with a shorter garden phlox variety such as 'Jeana' to achieve a similar look in this plan.
Get the Free Summer Cottage Garden Plan
Our free garden plan for this design includes an illustrated version of the planted garden, a detailed layout diagram, a list of plants for the garden as shown, and complete instructions for installing the garden.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between a cottage garden and a traditional garden?
Traditional gardens are usually all about symmetry, but cottage gardens embrace a more informal, relaxed, or even chaotic style. It's a distinct type of garden that uses curves and dense plantings to create a charming atmosphere.
- How big should a cottage style garden be?
Cottage gardens tend to have their herbs, vegetables, and flowers packed into a tiny area. These garden types are typically a quarter-acre or less in size.
- What are the best colors for a cottage garden?
Many cottage gardens include an array of flowers in pale blues, purples, and lavenders. Pastel yellows, pinks, and whites are also great colors to add to this type of garden design.