Cottage Garden - Photo by Tony Hisgett (CC BY-SA 3.0)
The romantic charm of a cottage garden never goes out of style—lush, colourful, and slightly unstructured, it’s a timeless favourite that suits the Irish landscape beautifully. Particularly here in the west of Ireland, with our mild, damp climate and rich soils, we have a natural advantage when it comes to creating a thriving, flower-filled garden.
One of the best ways to embrace the cottage garden aesthetic is by planting up a herbaceous border—a layered display of perennial flowers, interspersed with flowering shrubs and annuals for long-lasting colour.
Whether you're starting fresh or revamping an existing space, here’s our guide to planting a stunning cottage-style herbaceous border in your garden. Before you get planting however, be sure to prepare your ground paying particular attention to digging out any perennial weeds as time spent now getting rid of these will save you some heartache later. Your bed or border may also benefit from the addition of compost and/or grit to improve drainage.
What is a Cottage Garden?
Cottage gardens are informal, densely planted spaces full of colour and scent. Traditionally, they combine perennials, annuals, herbs, and shrubs with a slightly chaotic but harmonious feel. Think bees buzzing, flowers tumbling over one another, and seasonal interest from early spring to late autumn.
10 Perfect Perennials for a Cottage Garden Border
These herbaceous perennials are well-suited to the west of Ireland’s cool, moist climate and will return year after year with minimal fuss:
- Lupinus polyphyllus (Lupins) – Tall spires of pink, blue, purple, and white flowers add height and drama.
- Alchemilla mollis (Lady’s Mantle) – Soft, scalloped leaves and frothy lime-green blooms.
- Geranium ‘Rozanne’ (Cranesbill) – Violet-blue blooms all summer, great groundcover.
- Delphinium elatum (Delphiniums) – Tall, dramatic spikes in blue, purple and white.
- Phlox paniculata – Scented mid-summer blooms in pinks, purples, and whites.
- Achillea millefolium (Yarrow) – Flat flower heads in pastels, great for pollinators.
- Campanula lactiflora (Milky Bellflower) – Starry pale blue to violet flowers.
- Digitalis purpurea (Foxglove) – Tall spires of bell-shaped blooms, loved by bees.
- Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’ – Warm-toned daisies from midsummer to autumn.
- Astrantia major (Masterwort) – Elegant, pincushion-like flowers in partial shade.
Tip: Plant taller varieties toward the back of the border, medium in the middle, and low-growing fillers at the front.
Lupins - Image by wal_172619 from Pixabay
5 Flowering Shrubs to Add Structure & Year-Round Interest
Shrubs add backbone to your cottage garden and provide continuity when perennials die back in winter:
- Philadelphus coronarius (Mock Orange) – Sweetly scented white flowers in early summer.
- Hydrangea macrophylla – Blooms from midsummer to autumn; blue or pink based on soil.
- Rosa ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ – Fragrant, old-fashioned blooms. Great for structure and scent.
- Spiraea japonica – Compact shrub with pink flower clusters and colourful foliage.
- Deutzia scabra – Masses of small white or pink flowers in early summer.
5 Annual Bedding Plants for Instant Colour & Seasonal Impact
Annuals provide fast, fabulous colour to fill gaps and keep the garden vibrant from spring to frost:
- Cosmos bipinnatus – Tall, airy plants with daisy-like blooms in pink, white and purple.
- Nigella damascena (Love-in-a-Mist) – Unique blue or white flowers with fine foliage.
- Calendula officinalis (Pot Marigold) – Bright orange or yellow blooms, great for bees.
- Antirrhinum majus (Snapdragons) – Spikes of vibrant flowers, ideal for borders or containers.
- Salvia splendens – Bold red or purple flower spikes into autumn.
Sow directly in spring or plant out after last frost for maximum effect.
Cosmos - Image by spenicillins from Pixabay
Gardening in the West of Ireland: Climate Tips
- Soil Prep: Improve drainage with compost or grit in heavy soils.
- Shelter: Use hedging or fencing to protect tall plants from wind.
- Mulching: Apply mulch in spring/autumn to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- Feeding: Use a balanced organic fertiliser in spring for strong, healthy growth.
Final Thoughts
Creating a cottage garden border is a joyful process—each season brings more colour, fragrance, and life. Whether you’re working with a sunny south-facing plot or a cooler, part-shaded corner, there are plenty of cottage-style plants that will thrive here in the west of Ireland.
Call in to one of our garden centres near Boyle or in Roscommon Town this spring and let us help you choose the perfect plants for your garden—we have a full selection of hardy perennials, shrubs and bedding plants to bring your cottage garden to life. Alternatively you can browse our selection on line and have them delivered to your door anywhere in the island of Ireland.
Banner image by Garry Knight (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Cover image by Paul Dickson (geograph.org - CC BY-SA 2.0)
