29 Cottage Garden Perennials And Biennials
From delicate columbine to vibrant lupines and charming poppies, this list of cottage garden perennials and biennials includes a variety of colors, heights, and zones. The perfect selection of plants to fill the front, middle and back of your border.
If you’re a gardener who loves flowers, it’s almost impossible not to love a cottage garden.
All of the beautiful plants, with their diverse range of colors, textures, and fragrances, bring a sense of charm and enchantment to any outdoor space.
Which is why I often use cottage garden perennials and biennials when I’m planting garden beds.
And these are some of my favorites.
Note: All of the perennials at the top of the list with the biennials at the bottom.
1 | Delphinium
Scientific name: Delphinium
Zones: 3 to 7 – Treat as an annual in warmer climates.
Exposure: Sun
Height: 2′ to 6′ depending on the variety
Bloom time: Summer
Flower color: Purple, blue, white, red, pink, yellow
Delphinium is a cottage garden classic that is often chosen for its gorgeous blue flowers.
But the spikey flower stalks come in blue and purple as well as a variety of other colors.
Plant them in spring at the back of the border. Use multiples of the same color for the best effect.
They can be started from seed or purchased from the local nursery in pots.
The main drawback of these beautiful perennials is they can be finnicky and are a little high maintenance to grow so follow these tips for the best results:
- Prior to planting, dig manure and compost into the bed to a depth of 12″. Soil quality is paramount to success in growing delphiniums.
- Water regularly since the soil needs to be kept consistently moist but not wet or the stems will rot.
- Feed with a well-balanced, liquid, slow-release fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Apply manure in the fall for added supplementation of these heavy feeders.
- Prune out the main flower stem after it has finished blooming to the joint with the secondary flowers. It should rebloom in late summer if it is cut back.
- Cut to the ground in late fall.
Delphiniums attract pollinators and repel deer and rabbits.
The flowers and foliage are poisonous and can cause skin irritation.
If you don’t want to do all this work, you may want to consider growing Larkspur or Baptisia instead.
2 | Sunflowers
Scientific name: Helianthus
Zones: 5 to 9
Exposure: Sun
Height: 3′ to 8′
Bloom time: Summer through to frost
Flower color: Yellow with darker centers
Sunflowers are traditional cottage garden plant with large, sunny yellow flowers.
You can grow it as an annual if you want to harvest the seeds. But perennial varieties are also available.
Because of their height, they work best at the back of the border. And may need staking to keep them from flopping over.
They grow in average to rich well-drained soil.
The clump size can be contained by division every 3 to 4 years.
Do not over fertilize or you will get too much green growth.
My favorite variety is Multiflorus helianthus. It is a perennial sunflower that has narrow green leaves and yellow chrysanthemum-like flowers that last for most of the season. It is mildew resistant, and does not need to be deadheaded. The oil in the seed heads is enjoyed by small birds.
3 | Monkshood (or Wolf’s-bane)
Scientific name: Aconitum napellus
Zones: 3 to 8
Exposure: Part sun to light shade
Height: 1′ to 4′ depending on the variety
Bloom time: Fall
Flower color: Blue
Monkshood is an easy to grow, tall, back of the border plant, that bears hooded blue flowers.
Because of its height, it may need staking if the flowerheads start to droop.
It likes organic, rich, well-drained soil and regular watering is important.
As with most perennials, it dies back to the ground in the fall.
Beware that it is poisonous to people and pets if ingested.
4 | Black-eyed susan
Scientific name: Rudbeckia
Zones: 4 to 9, depending on the variety
Exposure: Sun to partial sun
Height: 1′ to 9′, depending on the variety
Bloom time: Late spring through fall
Flower color: Yellow with dark centers
Rudbeckia is an easy care member of the aster family with lovely yellow petals and dark centers.
This cottage garden perennial grows in average soil, needs no fertilizing, and will withstand dry conditions once established.
Black-eyed Susan comes in a large variety of sizes, from dwarf (such as ‘Becky’ or ‘Toto’ at 1-foot tall), to giant (such as R. maxima at 9-feet high) so you can easily find one that will fit your space.
Deadhead to prolong bloom time. Then cut to the ground after freeze-up in the fall.
Clumps do not need dividing unless you want more plants.
Rudbeckia can be started from seed in the spring. They will bloom the first year, but will only reach their mature height in about 3 years.
It also attracts butterflies, bees and birds to the garden.
5 | Sneezeweed
Scientific name: Helenium
Zones: 3 to 8
Exposure: Sun
Height: 3′ to 5′
Bloom time: Fall
Flower color: Yellow, orange, gold, brown, red
Helenium is a daisy-like native plant has been hybridized to produce pretty flower colors of orange, red, gold, and brown in addition to the original yellow.
Unlike rudbeckia, this perennial will not tolerate dry conditions. It is the perfect plant to place near a down-spout so that it gets to grow in moist, well-drained soil.
Mulch it well to retain moisture and to ensure the acidic medium they require.
Fertilize once a year in the spring with a balanced flower fertilizer and also pinch the plant back, to encourage branching.
After the blooms are finished, cut the flower stocks down to the foliage.
Divide the plant every 3 years to keep it vigorous.
Sneezeweed makes an excellent cut flower.
6 | Tall garden Phlox
Scientific name: Phlox paniculata
Zones: 4 to 8
Exposure: Sun to part shade
Height: 2′ to 4′
Bloom time: Mid summer to fall
Flower color: white, red, pink, lavender, multi-colors
No cottage garden is complete without the majestic old fashioned, fragrant clusters that make up the bright blossoms of Phlox paniculata.
Grow phlox in average, well-drained soil and mulch to retain moisture and keep the roots cool.
It is susceptible to mildew so plant it where it will have good air circulation and avoid overhead watering. Also, look for mildew resistant varieties, like ‘Bright Eyes’ — pink with red eyes.
Deadhead to prolong the flowering season and cut back in the fall.
The classy flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
8 | Globe thistle
Scientific name: Echinops bannaticuts
Zones: 3 to 10
Exposure: Sun
Height: 1′ to 3′
Bloom time: Summer
Flower color: Blue, purple
For 8 weeks in summer, the distinctive blue globes of globe thistle provide attraction to painted-lady butterflies and human admirers alike.
This easy care plant withstands dry conditions, will thrive in sandy soil and does not need fertilizing.
Its spikey foliage also repels deer and rabbits.
Plant it in May or June near the back of the border.
Spent flowers are perfect for dried flower arrangements in the fall.
Cut the plant to the ground in late winter.
9 | Lupines
Scientific name: Lupinus polyphyllus
Zones: 4 to 7 – Grow as an annual in warmer zones.
Exposure: Sun
Height: 1′ to 4′
Bloom time: Early summer
Flower color: White, pink, red, yellow, blue, purple, bicolor
Hybrid lupines have been developed from the North American native to produce magnificent spires of multicolored blooms that are another back-of-the-border plant.
And their shape makes a contrasting statement among all the daisy-shaped blooms in the cottage garden.
Plant in rich, moist, well-drained acidic soil. They will benefit from an application of acidifying fertilizer if the soil is alkaline.
And make sure to put them in their forever home. They do not transplant well because of their tap roots.
Having said that, they are fairly short-lived plants, usually growing for 3 or 4 years before dying out. (So forever isn’t really that long in this case).
Water when the soil is dry and deadhead to encourage more blooms.
Mulch to retain moisture and keep the roots cool.
Taller varieties may need staking.
Note that lupins are toxic if ingested.
10 | Bergamot or Bee Balm
Scientific name: Monarda didyma
Zones: 4 to 9
Exposure: Sun
Height: 1′ to 3′
Bloom time: Summer to fall
Flower color: Red, purple, white, pink
Monarda is a low-maintenance, North American native herb with feathery flowers that draw butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds to the cottage garden.
The leaves smell like mint and can be used to make tea.
Plant in humus-rich well-drained soil that does not get soggy in the winter.
Deadhead to promote more blooms and divide the clump every 3 years.
Bee balm is fast growing and spreads by rhizomes.
It needs good air circulation because it is prone to powdery mildew. Look for new cultivars that are resistant.
Bergamot is one of the most rabbit resistant plants in the garden. And is also not enjoyed by deer.
11 | Coneflower
Scientific name: Echinacea
Zones: 3 to 9
Exposure: Sun
Height: 1′ to 3′
Bloom time: Summer
Flower color: Pink, orange, yellow, red, chartreuse, purple, white
Echinacea is another cottage garden favorite with its bright daisy-like blooms that have different-colored centers.
This is another native plant that has seen a lot of interest from hybridizers, so you can now find a selection of flower colors, and forms (doubles, tufted centers, etc.)
Most Coneflowers have deep tap roots so are difficult to transplant. But this also means they will tolerate some drought after they are established.
Deadhead to encourage more blooms or let them go to seed to provide winter food for the birds. If you do this, they will also self-seed. And the plants that grow from seed often revert back to the non-hybridized form. (Still pretty but maybe not what you were originally looking for).
Cut the plants to the ground in the fall or late winter.
12 | Peony
Scientific name: Paeonia lactiflora
Zones: 3 to 8
Exposure: Part sun to sun
Height: 30″ to 36″
Bloom time: Late spring
Flower color: dark burgundy, white, pink, rose, coral, red
Another essential cottage garden plant is the herbaceous peony.
This bushy perennial comes in a large selection of colors and blossom types and often has fragrant flowers.
Peonies live for many years and do not like to be moved so choose their location carefully.
If you are planting bareroot tubers, they do better if planted in the fall. Peony roots need to winter chill in order for the plant to set bud. For this reason, plant the tubers only 2″ deep and do not cover with mulch over winter.
To keep your peonies looking their best:
- Fertilize with compost or manure around the root in spring.
- Ensure that it gets 1½” to 2″ of water weekly.
- Prune spent blossoms back to the first bud.
- Cut the stems to 2″ from the ground in fall.
13 | Shasta daisy
Scientific name: Leucanthemum x superbum
Zones: 5 to 8
Exposure: Sun to part sun
Height: 1′ to 4′
Bloom time: Spring to fall, some repeat bloom
Flower color: White with yellow centers
Every cottage garden needs some white to provide contrast with the colors of other perennials and so that the garden glows at night.
The best way to achieve this is to grow plenty of Shasta daisy mounds.
There are varieties for every height requirement so you can plant them anywhere in your garden.
My favorite is ‘Becky’. It has stunning 4-feet tall flowers which makes it a great back of the border performer. Tall varieties like this one will need staking.
All daisies need well-manured soil and good drainage. They prefer to be too dry than too wet and are quite drought tolerant.
Deadhead to prolong blooming.
The plants are short lived so divide every 2 or so years, in early spring. They will self-seed but those seedlings probably will not be true replicas of the parent plant.
In the fall, cut the stems to basal growth and cover with mulch for winter protection.
Leucanthemum are disease-free and deer and rabbit resistant. They are also a magnet for butterflies.
Be sure to pick your daisies for long-lasting indoor bouquets.
14 | Chrysanthemum
Scientific name: Dendranthema x grandiflorum or Chrysanthemum
Zones: 5 to 9
Exposure: Sun to part sun
Height: 1′ to 3′
Bloom time: Late summer to fall
Flower color: Purple, lavender, green, burgundy, orange, pink, yellow, bi-color
With the wide range of colors and sizes, it is possible to find mums to enhance any garden color scheme.
And since they bloom in the fall, using them in your cottage garden means you’ll have flowers all the way to winter.
Plant in spring in rich, well-drained soil and water frequently. They do not need to be fertilized 3 inches of mulch is beneficial.
To produce a bushier, stronger plant, pinch off 1-inch from the top of the stems 2 or 3 times in the spring. This will cause more branching, and eventually more blooms.
15 | Columbine
Scientific name: Aquilegia vulgaris
Zones: 3 to 9
Exposure: Sun to part shade
Height: 1′ to 3′
Bloom time: Spring to summer
Flower color: Red, orange, yellow, blue, purple, pink, white
Columbine is one of my favorite, happy, easy care perennials.
The delicate nodding heads of the flowers, along with attractive blue-green foliage, look so pretty in my cottage garden.
It is an easy to grow native with basically no problems.
Plant in rich loamy well-drained soil in partial shade and fertilize once a month during the growing season.
Mulch to conserve moisture.
Deadheading will prolong bloom times.
Aquilegia self-seeds and I just let them grow where they come up for a more random look in the garden. It is not aggressive so you don’t have to worry about it taking over.
16 | Oriental poppy
Scientific name: Papaver orientale
Zones: 3 to 8
Exposure: Sun
Height: 2′ to 3′
Bloom time: Late spring
Flower color: Shades of red, orange, white or pink with dark centers
Poppies bring some drama to the early summer landscape.
Although the silky large blooms only last 10 days, they deserve a space for their splash of color and interesting seed heads.
Plant them behind later blooming perennials so their leaves are hidden after they have finished flowering.
I find that poppies are best started from seed because they do not like to be disturbed. Prepare the soil to a depth of 2″ and scatter the seeds on top without covering. Water well. Thin the seedlings to 5″ apart.
Poppies do not like wet feet so make sure to plant in well-drained soil.
They are deer and rabbit resistant, attract butterflies, and are nice as cut flowers.
17 | Bearded Iris (or German flag)
Scientific name: Iris germanica
Zones: 3 to 10
Exposure: Sun
Height: 2′ to 4′
Bloom time: Spring to summer
Flower color: Red, orange, yellow, blue, purple, brown, white, black, pink
Bearded iris is a showy, spectacular classic that is a cottage garden must-have.
It comes in a variety of heights — from tall to dwarf. Some rebloom and are fragrant. And the evergreen, sword-shaped foliage adds an element of diversity to the boarder.
Plant in humus rich, well-drained soil with the rhizomes on top of the soil. They need sun exposure to grow. Do not mulch.
Fertilize with bone meal in the spring.
This perennials benefit from division every 4 to 5 years. Do this in August.
In the fall, cut the leaves back to 6″ but do not add them to the compost pile.
Iris are drought tolerant, repel deer, and are poisonous to pets.
It also makes an excellent cut flower.
18 | Bleeding Heart
Scientific name: Lamprocapnos spectabilis, formerly Dicentra spectabilis
Zones: 3 to 9
Exposure: Shade to part shade
Height: 1′ to 3′
Bloom time: Spring
Flower color: Pink, white, red, red/white
Who doesn’t love Bleeding Heart’s gently arching stems that dangle heart-shaped flowers?
They thrive in the shade so they are perfect to plant under shrubs or trees in your cottage garden.
However, this plant dies back to the ground in the summer (after it has finished blooming), so be sure to have something growing in front of it to fill the space.
Plant in a sheltered place in humous rich soil, water regularly, surround by mulch and enjoy its carefree charm.
19 | Aster (or Michaelmas daisy)
Scientific name: Symphyotrichum or Aster
Zones: 4 to 8
Exposure: Sun
Height: 1′ to 3′
Bloom time: Fall
Flower color: Purple, blue, pink, white
Aster is a traditional cottage garden plant that requires little care.
North American native, it brings a cheerful daisy-like face to the autumn landscape.
Plant in average, well-drained soil and pinch back a couple of times in the spring to encourage bushier plants.
I fertilize mine in the spring with manure and then mulch with cedar chips.
The plant will bloom better if lifted every 3 to 4 years and the dead center roots discarded. Re-plant the healthy outer roots after amending the soil with compost or manure.
Cut the stems to the ground after blooms are finished.
Asters attract bees to the fall garden. They make excellent cut flowers in a bouquet.
20 | Yarrow
Scientific name: Achillea
Zones: 3 to 8
Exposure: Sun
Height: 1′ to 3′
Bloom time: Summer
Flower color: Yellow, white, violet, peach, amethyst
Yarrow is a medium height cottage garden perennial that is now available in many other colors besides the original yellow.
Plant in average, non-amended soil. It likes dry conditions.
Once the blooms are spent, cut the plant back by half to make it look neater. You may also get a second round of flowers.
Look for new varieties, like the ‘firefly series’ from Proven Winners, that are less invasive than older types.
Yarrow is deer and rabbit resistant. And it attracts bees and butterflies.
21 | Pincushion flower
Scientific name: Scabiosa
Zones: 4 to 10
Exposure: Sun
Height: 12″ to 20″
Bloom time: Late spring to summer
Flower color: White, pink, lavender, red, burgundy, cream
Scabiosa has a host of beautiful button-like blooms borne on sturdy thin stems that flutter in the breeze.
It is easy to grow as long as it has sun and well-drained soil.
Plant it in early spring, water moderately at the base of the plant, and enjoy the flush of flowers in about 90 days.
Deadheading is important to keep the plant blooming.
Because this is laborious on so many individual stems, you can shear them all off in mid-summer. The plant will rebloom, and continue to attract bees and butterflies.
Propagate by dividing every 3 years.
22 | Cranesbill
Scientific name: Geranium
Zones: 4 to 8
Exposure: Partial shade
Height: 1′ to 2′
Bloom time: Late spring through fall
Flower color: Blue, violet, pink, white, and many more
The hardy geranium makes a great edging plant for your cottage garden because of its long bloom time, dainty profusion of flowers, and ease of maintenance.
I am partial to ‘Johnson’s Blue’ (blue flowers that will rebloom if sheared to the ground after first blooming), ‘Rozanne’ (violet-blue flowers from late spring to freeze-up), and ‘Southcombe Double’ (double pure pink blooms all season).
Cranesbill needs average soil and moisture. However, it will tolerate some drought after it is established.
Cut it back in mid-summer to prevent it from getting too leggy and it will bloom again.
I also cut mine to the ground in the late fall when I am tidying the garden for winter.
It is free from disease. Deer and rabbits do not like it.
23 | Pinks
Scientific name: Dianthus
Zones: 3 to 10
Exposure: Sun to part sun
Height: 5″ to 12″
Bloom time: Early spring to summer
Flower color: White, lilac, red, pink, yellow
Although some varieties of Dianthus grow up to 3′ tall, I am referring here to the low growing, mat forming kind that are commonly called ‘pinks.’
They are perfect for front of your garden border where their bright clear colors, grey-blue foliage, and clove fragrance can be appreciated.
Plant in average well-draining soil in early spring. Give 1 inch of water weekly and fertilize with compost once a year.
Deadheading is very important to prolong bloom. Although most pinks will not bloom in the heat of summer.
Perennial Dianthus is short lived so save seeds to re-sow where necessary.
While this plant is deer resistant, rabbits think they are salad. And butterflies and hummingbirds love the sweet nectar.
Biennials
The rest of the plants on our list are biennials.
Biennials are plants which only live two years and don’t bloom until the second year.
Most readily self-seed so you don’t usually have to re-plant them every year (like you do with annuals).
But in order to have them bloom every year, you will need to plant them two years in a row. Otherwise, you will only get flowers every other year.
24 | Hollyhock
Scientific name: Alcea rosea
Zone: 3 to 8
Exposure: Sun
Height: 3′ to 8′
Bloom time: Summer
Bloom color: Blue, pink, purple, red, white, yellow, black
No cottage garden is complete without the tall colorful stocks of hollyhock gracing the back of the border.
Single or double cup-shaped flowers cover the spikes from top to bottom.
Start from seed in the spring for bloom next year. Or buy 2-year old plants from the nursery that will bloom this year.
Then they will self-seed as long as you don’t cut the stems off before they have gone to seed.
Because of their height, Hollyhocks need to be staked or tied to a trellis or fence.
They are low maintenance and drought tolerant once established.
In late fall, it is important to cut off the dead stocks, and clean up the area around the plants to prevent the spread of rust disease.
25 | Foxglove
Scientific name: Digitalis purpurea
Zone: 3 to 8
Exposure: Sun to part sun
Height: 1′ to 8′ depending on the variety
Bloom time: Early summer
Bloom color: Pink, purple, orange, white, yellow
Foxglove is a good companion plant for hollyhock, and is also a cottage garden classic.
It’s tubular spires have dangling, speckled flowers on all sides along the stem.
It grows a small mound of foliage the first year and the blooming spikes appear the second year.
Water during droughts using a drip system to prevent the leaves from contracting fungal spores.
Once they have bloomed do not deadhead if you want them to self-seed.
To overwinter, cut the plant back to the crown and cover with mulch.
If you want to grow Digitalis from seeds, sow them 1-foot apart, directly on top of the soil in late summer, and water in.
Note that digitalis is very toxic, so wear gloves when handling the seeds and foliage.
26 | Sweet William
Scientific name: Dianthus barbatus
Zone: 3 to 9
Exposure: Sun to part shade
Height: 1′ to 2′
Bloom time: Early summer
Bloom color: White, pink, red, bicolor
Sweet William is another old favorite biennial that has been used in cottage gardens for eons.
It belongs to the carnation family and sports multi-flowered, sweet smelling, colorful flower-heads above blue/grey foliage.
These plants are fairly drought tolerant and need no more than 1 inch of water weekly in the heat of summer.
Deadhead regularly to allow reblooming.
Dianthus barbatus benefit from a layer of organic compost followed by mulch. In addition, it needs fertilizing with a slow release fertilizer every 6 – 8 weeks.
Sow seeds of this biennial in summer for blooms the following year. Seeds should be planted 1/8″ deep in fertile, well-drained, slightly alkaline soil and watered in gently.
It attracts butterflies and bees, and does well grown in containers.
27 | Wallflower
Scientific name: Erysimum cheiri
Zone: 3 to 10
Exposure: Full sun to part sun
Height: 1′ to 3′
Bloom time: Spring to fall
Bloom color: Yellow, orange, purple, pink, blue, red, white
The beautiful, fragrant, four-petal flowers of wallflowers are loved for their easy maintenance.
Once established, wallflowers are drought tolerant.
In warm climates, the foliage is evergreen.
Promote healthy plants by cutting them almost to the ground in early spring.
Once they start blooming, be sure to deadhead faithfully.
To propagate, take cuttings in late spring. Or let some flowers go to seed.
You can also buy seeds and plant them in the fall or spring in sandy, well-drained soil. If you mix compost with the soil before planting, they will not need further fertilizing.
28 | Forget-me-nots
Scientific name: Myosotis sylvatica
Zone: 3 to 8
Exposure: Part shade to sun
Height: 6″ to 12″
Bloom time: Early to mid spring
Bloom color: True blue, white, pink, pale purple
Myosotis is one of the few plants that produces a true blue flower.
Scatter seeds in the garden and you will be rewarded next year with an understory sea of delicate blue flowers.
Because it self-seeds so rampantly, it is considered invasive in the Midwest.
Some gardeners deadhead to prevent invasion, others let it go.
I pull mine up after it is finished blooming.
There always seem to be enough seeds grow for the nice showing I love each year.
I neither water nor fertilize forget-me-nots.
They are also ignored by all garden pests including deer. However, they do attract butterflies.
29 | English Daisy
Scientific name: Bellis perennis
Zone: 4 to 8
Exposure: Sun to part sun
Height: 6″ to 12″
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
Bloom color: Red, pink, white
The cute, pompom-like, double flowers of the English daisy are great for edging the path under spring bulbs.
They grow best in fertile, well drained, moist soil.
English daisies are not drought or heat tolerant, so won’t do well in areas with hot summers.
However, they are disease free and deer resistant.
Deadhead regularly to prolong blooms into the summer. Then leave some flowers on the stems to let them reseed themselves.
I hope you have found some helpful suggestions to enhance your urban cottage-look garden.
Other garden ideas you might like
- How to design a modern cottage garden
- The best shrubs for a cottage garden
- Flowers for a summer cutting garden
Or browse all of our perennial plant articles.