25 Best Cottage Garden Flowers (and which ones are easy-care!)

[@glorialowe6237]

I’m in my eighties and living with a very small garden but when I watch your videos I’m young again walking around your garden and making plans for next season.

[@mypreciousgarden]

What do you grow in your small garden ? :)

[@glorialowe6237]

@ I grow old roses Glauca - Moyessi Geranium and Nevada also Gallica Tuscany. Lots of hardy geraniums, Tarragon as a bush Asparagus as a fern a Gooseberry because Christopher Lloyd grows them - lots of tulips as annuals Allium Bulgaricum all in a zone 5 Canadian garden. 😊

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@sarahfox3312]

You’re 80 years young!

[@elainehallows5160]

@glorialowe6237 Reading your lovely comment has boosted my mundane chilly morning 100% 🌻

[@AJsGreenThumbLLC]

Ooof! I am so envious of the climate in most of the UK. That moisture keeps plants looking so ridiculously healthy and lush. That backdrop you are immersed in is ridiculously beautiful! Thanks for the comprehensive list of cottage garden beauties Alexandra.🤩

[@maralfniqle5092]

It's the soil, saturated with milenia of blood and bone.

[@mariyaatanasova1556]

Please do not be. We are plagued by fungi and mildew which love humid and warm conditions. One day my plants just randomly die.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you. I think we are lucky in that our climate is quite mild (well, it doesn't feel mild sometimes, but compared to what lots of other people get, it's really quite gentle in both winter and summer)

[@nicolasbertin8552]

it's a double edged sword though, their soils are too rich, so they need the Chelsea chop on many plants, and they often can't grow alpine plants coz it's too wet. In some gardens, people have had the long tradition of tilling the soil to make it poor, just so they could grow poppies and echium.

[@dustyflats3832]

Absolutely loved this video! It is full of great info. Thank you!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

You are so welcome!

[@emit8242]

Excelent video Alexandra💐. Respect for what you do🌹. Thank you 🙏🏼

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@HoosierDaddy_]

OK. This is the most perfect cottage garden video I have ever seen. There aren't really any questions unanswered here. If you want a perfect cottage garden and use the plants and advice according to this video, you will have a perfect cottage garden! Well done!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you so much!

[@MrScandinavio]

I’m in Dunedin, NZ and my cottage garden staples also include Bearded Iris, Small ferns, Lylac, hostas, aquelegia and tall stems of Lillies. This may be moving into the woodland range, but to me they just bring so much extra structure and fragrance.

[@jeanrichardson2044]

Zinnias and dahlias absolutely adored by bees and monarch butterflies in my tiny Taranaki garden.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Yes, I agree, all lovely plants.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Dahlias and zinnias should really have been on the list. I'll have to do another 'cottage plants' video!

[@gracepeterson7483]

Excellent narrative as always, Alexandra. And every photo was eye candy! 💗💗

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you, I really wanted to find the prettiest images from the past few years, so it was a joy to do.

[@gracepeterson7483]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden 💗💗💗

[@jerrycomo2736]

SE Florida Cottage Garden-Dealing with weeds: As the shrubs grew in and close together and annual layers of mulch, the weeds there are no problem. However, among the low ground cover plants, weeding was a weekly maintenance task. Now instead of pulling out the weeds, I use a hedge trimmer about every 2 months and trim the weeds into a soft undulating green wave. I no longer have the colorful low plants but, the low undulating waves of green look neat and maintained.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That sounds interesting!

[@RandeeHalladay]

Another excellent video, wonderful flower photos and video.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@togetvj]

That's a wonderful video, full of ideas. I am going to try growing Cleome. I've been gardening for over 50 years and each garden has had its own challenges. I have a small garden now so I like to have levels (various heights). I grow a miniature James Grieve apple tree which is about 10 now and yields several pounds of fruit each year. I grow a Hydrangea paniculata 'White Lady' as a small tree at the bottom of my sloping garden with hardy geraniums growing beneath. My fence, which allows light and air through, is only 5ft high but against it I grow Lonicera periclymenum 'Scentsation' on the north facing side, pruning it back each early spring and it still flowers abundantly; I leave it to make berries over winter. I grow David Austin 'Wild Eve' roses on the north-facing fence too; she's grown as a shrub rather than climber and quite happy there, little troubled with blackspot. I have had an uphill battle with many plants lost due to the Vine Weevil but last year I applied Nemasys over several months and this year have seen no vine weevils or grubs at all. I have a beautiful Japanese Maple 'Katsura' which I attacked this year with pruning saw and pruners, turning it into a tree rather than a shrub, allowing plants to grow underneath rather than be engulfed with deep shade. I also grow a dwarf lilac Syringa 'Red Pixie' and this winter plan to prune it into a tree as it is fighting for room with my ferns, which are my favourite plants. I have lost many plants living here, high on the Pennines but one stalwart has been Penstemon 'Heavenly blue'. Another survivor has been Dicentra formosa, and I much prefer it to spectabilis. Lastly, resistant to everything it would seem is Thalictrum aquilegifolium.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

What a lovely collection of plants!

[@francineh.7825]

Cottage gardens are my favourite! It's so interesting to see that where we live plays such a huge part in our garden design and how these plants do. I live in central Canada and at my former house I planted 100 tulips and they all came up reliably for many years, hydrangeas are also a much loved plant in my province.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

That's a really good record for tulips. Some of mine have come back when I planted them very deep, but not reliably.

[@krasasto9441]

Thank you so much for this video. Right in the beginning you give such a well-balanced and convincing explanation on how to deal with (non-)native plants, providing they're not invasive, in view of the climate crisis. That was very helpful for me!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you. It is a fascinating topic because native plants are so important, but in the UK our wildlife is very reliant on a wide range of non-natives and that's good too.

[@danthanhcg]

What a beautiful cottage garden.!🥰

[@susettesantiago5509]

How beautifully ethereal throughout….cottage gardens are so pretty and relatively easy to

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@bewoodford2807]

Thank you Alexandra- great video. I have just taken on new allotment plot and am planning on having a cut flower patch so teh information you have given will be very useful to use in my planning. Happy gardening 🙂

[@cerridwencottagediary9194]

I am watching in this in my cottage in Wales with the fire crackling and snow on the hills but now dreaming of my garden in full bloom again. Your videos are so beautifully made and a visual treat

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you so much!

[@jefftaplin6544]

Oh Alexandra, what a lovely informative video. As always you "hit a home run" with this one. As the days grow small and the winter winds begin to blow, its so nice to be reminded that now is the time to plan for next season. Thank you for all the research and information. Much appreciation from zone 6B, Missouri, USA!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you!

[@nspector]

Another marvelous video. I want to mention that the geraniums you talk about here are sterile ones. That's why they flower for so long; they are bred to not make seeds, but the plant doesn't know that, so it keeps making flowers in an attempt to produce seeds. One year, maybe 12 to 15 years ago, before I understood this, I grew geranium from seed. They grew well and flowered nicely, but really only once in early summer. I've since bought several sterile ones that flower much longer. As I write this, I realize that the geraniums sold at garden centers are probably only the sterile varieties. But I'll post this anyway in case it's useful to anyone.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Good point. I am getting some self-seeding with my ground cover hardy geraniums (although not much, so it may be a question of variety) but I will look into it.

[@nspector]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden After reading your reply, I did some reading online and discovered that I know even less than I thought I did. Apparently, plants can be "largely sterile," but infrequently self-seed. I don't understand the biology of that phenomenon, but it may explain why you have self-seeded hardy geraniums. I have some too, (though I don't think any have ever flowered), and always assumed they were from the remaining plants I grew myself -- most I've moved to a different spot than where my bought geraniums are -- but now I'm not sure! Maybe you'll have better luck with research and can fit in an explanation in a future video.

[@dopaminey9946]

Good to see you in a garden surrounded by all those flowers.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@debs-more-plants]

Awesome video!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@callisto742]

Wonderful as always. Thank you!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@adrabruzzese7610]

Cottage gardens are my favorite.❤

[@donnareed-f8h]

Beautiful and informative, as always. Thank you.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@penelopehammerton2907]

Can l just add Rudbeckia and the wonderful Echinacea, Cheyenne Spirit a favourite of mine. Also for those of us with small gardens and find Lavender taking up half the path. I planted Lavender Blue Spear grows 30cm x 30cm. Hardly ever see it in a nursery but can be ordered on line. And Verbena Bonarensis Rigida is a shorter variety grows 12"/14" so that may be of help to some gardeners. Thank you Alexandra for your videos, always great content.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Great suggestions and thank you!

[@upnorth21]

Love the look of a cottage garden! Love learning all about the plants. Thank you!

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@sannaericditsler4034]

A great video. You covered just about everything a person could want in a garden. Thank you.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you.

[@ianwilsongardendesign2236]

This was so informative and interesting. I loved the selection of plants and the clear and well-captured photos/videos. It really made me want to have more of a cottage garden. I like the bearded irises in my garden, and Salvia does well here in NZ - North Island especially.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you! Bearded irises are really beautiful, will include them if I do another 'cottage garden plants' video!

[@melaniefullerton3055]

Thank you for gathering this into one beautiful video. Lovely photos and very helpful.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you, I'm so glad you enjoyed it.

[@vilmamizeraite1433]

Hi Alexandra, great video as always. I can’t believe that echinacea did not make your top 25 😢I love them, but unfortunately haven’t managed to grow them from the seed as yet, and shop bought from previous year, did not come back this year 😮. But never mind, I’ll just keep trying every year 😂

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I agree, I love them too, but because I've never had much success growing them, I thought they might be a bit tricky. When I get to the bottom of it all, I'll do another list and they'll definitely make that one.

[@vilmamizeraite1433]

❤​@@TheMiddlesizedGarden

[@agronomoaccastello]

Congratulations from Italy Alexandra, I love your videos and I take a lot of inspiration 💚

[@lorrainel2314]

Brilliant, thank you.

[@PlantRelated]

One of the best channels ❤

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@emkn1479]

Medlar is one I want to try growing, along with jujube, Asian pear, and pluot.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Oh, yes, and medlar trees are very pretty small trees.

[@kiwiopklompen]

Oh i loved this one so much - saved, downloaded and thanks so much! So many familiar cottage garden friends and a few new ones to try out. Brilliant. Thanks A xo❤

[@KarinLowrie-vi9cv]

Thank you! Great advice as usual. I suspect that is an orange hardy chrysanthemum behind you. I can’t find hardy chrysanthemums in my area, Washington state. The garden centers only have the “hot house” mums. I shall keep looking as it is stunning.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

It is so fabulous, it's Burnt Orange chrysanthemum and the flower is like a tiny firework.

[@pollopacheco1891]

Love your program ❤thanks from Chile 🇨🇱

[@geraldinefields1730]

Thank you.

[@VictoriaHeilman-mo3qb]

Do you ever see the "Russian Sage" plants for they're quite beautiful .

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Yes, I agree they're lovely and I considered including them, but decided that they come under 'salvia'. They used to be called 'Perovskia' and are now called Salvia Yangii. Even rosemary is now botanically a salvia. It is extraordinary what we are learning as a result of DNA science.

[@VictoriaHeilman-mo3qb]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden yes I was also surprised it's in the Salvia Family also .

[@Herr_Flick_of_ze_Gestapo]

I love ze Cosmos flowers. I and my little helper von Smallhausen plant zhem every year right besides ze secret entrance of our fully soundproof gestapo bunker.

[@sunitashastry5270]

Such beautiful flowers. I can get most of them to grow in my 5 b garden. But some appear to be a little ph sensitive. Lupines for example just will not grow in the ground in my soil.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Yes, I agree that can be a problem, as can too much rain.

[@sc3pt1c4L]

-17 for verbena bonariensis? More like -2 up north. Mine never make it through the winter on my heavy clay.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Yes, I agree - 'hardiness' is so dependent on other factors, particularly heavy clay or high rainfall or a combination of both, so I'm always aware that some of the hardiness advice won't apply.

[@marksketchley2607]

I live in zone 5 USA -20°F. I grew verbena b. last year. I left the seed heads. Will the seed germinate next year?

[@adrabruzzese7610]

They may not, they say they only reseed and germinate in zone 7 or above. But I'm in 6b and they reseed for me. If they are in a super sunny spot they may come back for you. Or you can cut the dried heads and bring them inside for winter and just toss them where you want verbena in the spring. They do germinate easily.

[@nspector]

Hi, in zone 5 the plants probably won't survive the winter, but the seeds may well germinate and flower next season.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I agree with both replies. And sometimes it's also a question of how wet your winters are, as wet, cold soil can rot seeds or roots.

[@petrysialeroux8316]

Lovely video. Even though sweet peas can be complicated I love them. But when do you sow sweet peas in colder areas? I tried in autumn and then in spring but they never appeared. Although I had success with them in the Cape in South Africa.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

When I did grow sweet peas, I sowed them in autumn but kept them under cover throughout the winter, hardened them off and planted them out once the frosts were over. But that is what I definitely call high maintenance. But I agree, they are so beautiful

[@petrysialeroux8316]

@TheMiddlesizedGarden thanks a lot.

[@nicolasbertin8552]

A good selection, but IMO missing two of the most importants : achilleas, whether it's ptarmica, filipendulina or millefolium and veronicas, with their american cousin, veronicastrum.

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Lovely plants!

[@deniseewert6372]

❤❤❤

[@kevinjamesparr552]

You know how to make it interesting . Why not sell film to BBC .Best gardening talks and visits to gardens . Interviews with top garden heads .Its amazing as it deals with what all gardeners need .Advice and interest

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Ah, thank you so much, that's so kind of you.

[@maralfniqle5092]

Sadly we hardly have any self seeding cottage plants in Australia anymore

[@nicolasbertin8552]

The main issue with lupins isn't that they're "annuals" but that they don't grow in alkaline soils. In France, that's about 60% of the soils. A better plant for that is baptisias. They last for decades, and tolerate pH up to 8.0. They're not easy to sow because they require a winter out, and they take 2-3 years before flowering, but once they're here, they're here. Nothing can kill them, they especially like dry conditions. Regarding tulips... I don't know why people keep spreading this myth that they don't come back year after year... They DO if you pick the RIGHT ones. Most tulips sold in supermarkets and garden centers are hybrids. They last a year or two, and have flowers twice bigger than the botanical varieties. The botanical varieties however, will behave like daffodils, and form larger and larger clumps, and of course flower every year. And no, they aren't all of boring colors. A good example is the Lilac Wonder tulip, everyone asks what it is after seeing it. Yeah it's smaller than the hybrids, but if you plant it in clumps, it's gorgeous immediately. Don't you have them in the UK ? You must do.

[@angelabromley3712]

I really want to try native paw paw fruit trees. US

[@1Kent]

So many flowers so little space.

[@joecity9]

What no delphinium? That's alright. There is something about them that poisons me. So, I dug them up and banished them forever.

[@vilmamizeraite1433]

I am sure delphiniums were mentioned🤔 when you say poisonous, do you mean you are allergic?Or you just not keen on them😂 I personally love them, slugs keep destroying them in my garden, but I keep trying to increase their population each year. I’ll take yours too, please 😉😂

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Yes, I mentioned delphiniums briefly just after lupins, saying they were both relatively high maintenance.