12 Must-Have Flowers for a Classic Cottage Garden (US Favorites)

A flower cottage garden thrives on three elements: soft billows of perennials packed shoulder-to-shoulder, self-sowing annuals that pop up in charming chaos, and a rotating cast of blooms from spring through frost. This isn’t the kind of garden where plants stand at attention in military rows. Instead, foxgloves lean into roses, catmint spills over pathways, and bee balm crashes the party wherever it pleases.
Key Takeaway: Successful cottage gardens combine layered heights (tall to low), embrace generous self-sowers for effortless abundance, and prioritize plants that feed pollinators …