These 45+ Borders Nail the Cottage Garden Aesthetic
Cottage gardens may look effortlessly charming, but that effortless look actually takes quite a bit of… well, effort!
That’s the beauty of the cottage garden look. You know you’ve achieved the perfect cottage garden when people think it took no effort to achieve. So, instead of diving in head first without any inspiration, I’ve pulled together over 45 of the best cottage garden borders.
These looks should give you some ideas on what plants work together, how to create different textures and movement, color palettes, and overall looks.
Get the Cottage Garden Look
- Mix Flowers Freely, Not Formally: Combine tall spires (like foxgloves and delphiniums), frothy fillers (like nigella and gypsophila), and low growers (like forget-me-nots and creeping thyme). Fill gaps cheaply by sprinkling Forget-me-not seeds around established plants.
- Let Plants Self-Seed: Embrace a little wildness—many cottage garden favorites like poppies, cosmos, and honesty will scatter seeds and return each year with minimal effort.
- Use Curved Paths and Natural Edges: Avoid straight lines—meandering bark or gravel paths framed with blooms add to the informal charm and invite exploration.
- Include Structural Features: A rustic bench, birdbath, obelisk, or trellis with climbing roses or sweet peas adds vertical interest and that timeless English garden feel.
- Choose a Soft, Romantic Color Palette: Go for pastels like pink, lavender, cream, and soft blue, with occasional bold pops of red or orange to keep things lively and balanced.
My Top Cottage Garden Borders
There are so many ways to achieve the cottage garden look in your borders that I’ve picked out a huge collection for you to take inspo from. If you see one you love, make sure you save it to Pinterest to avoid losing it:
1) Petunias and Geraniums
This cottage garden border bursts with vibrant colors and textures, blending cheerful blooms with lush greenery for a welcoming feel. To create a similar look, mix tall and short plants, ensuring a natural, layered effect that invites pollinators.
Include petunias, geraniums, lobelia, and sweet alyssum, pairing them with companion plants like marigolds for pest control and echinacea for height and interest.
2) Natural Cottage Woodland
This colorful cottage garden is glimpsed through a natural frame of weathered tree trunks, offering a secret garden feel. Bursting with cheerful poppies and daisies in shades of red, pink, yellow, and white, the border creates a wild yet inviting display that brightens the lush greenery around it.
Let the plants intermingle naturally for an unstructured, romantic feel that invites bees, butterflies, and a bit of magic.
3) Echium and Crocosmia
This garden border bursts with vibrant purple flowers and lush green foliage, creating a lively and inviting atmosphere. To replicate this look, mix tall purple Echium with bright yellow daisies and bold red Crocosmia for stunning color contrast.
For the border, include Echium, Crocosmia, and yellow coreopsis as companions. This combination will thrive together and add texture and interest.
4) Spears of Purple Alliums
A vibrant display of purple alliums adds a striking touch to this garden, surrounded by lush greenery and charming textures. For a similar look, mix in some white foxgloves and bright pink peonies for a pop of color and height variation.
To achieve this look, include purple alliums, white foxgloves, and pink peonies, along with companion plants like lavender and lady’s mantle for added interest.
5) Structured Cottage Garden
This garden bursts with life, featuring a mix of vibrant colors and soft textures that create a welcoming feel. To replicate this look, use layered plantings and include pathways for easy access and enjoyment.
For the border, include alliums, foxgloves, and lady’s mantle. Pair them with companion plants like lavender and salvia for added color and fragrance.
6) Black-Eyed Susan Retreat
This garden border bursts with vibrant colors and textures, combining cheerful blooms and lush greenery to create a cozy, inviting feel. For a similar look, mix tall sunflowers with shorter daisies and add some herbs for fragrance and function.
Include black-eyed Susans, lavender, and foxgloves for height and variety. Pair them with companion plants like marigolds to deter pests and attract pollinators.
7) Irises and Daisies
This vibrant corner of the garden pairs bold irises with soft white daisies beneath a young tree, creating contrast and harmony in a semi-shaded space. The deep purple, yellow, and white irises offer upright drama, while the simple daisies sprawl casually below, softening the scene with their cheerful charm.
Plant clumps of bearded or Dutch irises in groups for impact, allowing their sword-like foliage to add texture even after flowering. Underplant with osteospermum or African daisies, which thrive in sunny or lightly shaded spots and provide long-lasting blooms through spring and summer.
8) Classic Foxgloves
The cottage garden border bursts with colorful foxgloves, creating a lively and inviting atmosphere. To replicate this look, mix tall and short plants for depth, and choose complementary colors for a harmonious feel.
Include foxgloves, delphiniums, and lavender for height and fragrance, pairing them with lower-growing plants like creeping thyme and daisies for a balanced display.
9) Perennials and Ferns
The mix of vibrant blooms and lush ferns creates a cozy, inviting feel in this garden. Use a variety of perennials and ferns to add texture and color throughout the seasons.
Include orchids, lady’s slippers, and hostas for height and interest, and pair them with ferns like Japanese painted fern for a layered look. Add some purple rhododendrons for a splash of color and natural charm.
10) Peony and Iris
The vibrant mix of peonies and irises creates a lively, colorful border that feels both wild and inviting. Layer in some taller plants like irises with shorter blooms like daisies for depth and texture.
To achieve this look, include peonies, irises, and yellow daylilies, pairing them with companion plants like lavender and catmint for added fragrance and harmony.
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11) Jam-Packed Cottage Garden
This garden border bursts with color and charm, featuring a mix of soft pinks, blues, and whites that create a cozy, inviting feel. Layering different textures and heights with plants like forget-me-nots and daisies will help you achieve a similar look in your own garden.
To replicate this border, include forget-me-nots, pink campion, and white daisies. Pair them with low-growing herbs like thyme for great companion planting.
12) Shades of Pastel Purple
This garden border is a beautiful blend of purple hues and lush textures, creating a cozy, inviting feel. For a similar look, mix tall asters with low-growing catmint for height and depth, adding some ornamental grasses for movement.
Include asters, catmint, and Agastache, pairing them with companion plants like lavender and echinacea to enhance color and attract pollinators.
13) Allium and Columbine
The garden border shines with vibrant purple alliums and soft columbine, creating a lovely mix of textures and colors. To replicate this look, plant clusters of alliums alongside delicate columbine, and add some cheerful yellow flowers for contrast.
Include alliums, columbine, and companion plants like lady’s mantle and foxglove for a full, lush effect. This blend offers great height and interest throughout the season.
14) Purples and Pinks
This garden border bursts with vibrant purples and pinks, creating a lively yet soothing atmosphere. Layering different heights and textures adds depth, so mix in some tall blooms with low-growing plants for a full look.
To achieve this style, include Geraniums, Aquilegia, and some vibrant orange Asclepias for a pop of color. Pair these with companion plants like lavender and catmint for added fragrance and texture.
15) Snapdragons and Foxgloves
This stunning front garden overflows with upright spires of foxgloves and snapdragons in a rich mix of soft pinks, purples, apricots, and whites. Nestled against a stone house, the border blends traditional cottage garden charm with vertical drama and dense planting, perfect for pollinator appeal.
To achieve a similar effect, plant foxgloves (Digitalis) toward the middle or back of the border, allowing their tall, bell-shaped flowers to rise above. Interplant with snapdragons (Antirrhinum) for a continuous flush of color, and include textured foliage plants like artemisia or silver mound to provide a soft, silvery contrast.
16) Lavender and Asters
This garden border bursts with vibrant purples and lush greens, creating a cozy, inviting feel. To replicate this look, mix taller plants like Agastache with lower Asters for depth and texture.
Include Agastache, Asters, and some low-growing ground cover like Creeping Thyme. Pair them together for a colorful and harmonious display.
17) Cottage on a Budget
This garden border bursts with color from vibrant flowers and lush greenery, creating a cozy, inviting feel. Mix various heights and textures for interest, using perennials for lasting beauty and seasonal blooms for pops of color.
Include primroses, pansies, and forget-me-nots for a cheerful look. Pair with low-growing herbs like thyme to add fragrance and attract pollinators.
18) Wildflower Cottage Garden
This garden border bursts with vibrant colors and textures, creating a lively and inviting atmosphere. To replicate this look, mix wildflowers like poppies and cornflowers with lush greenery for a natural feel.
For a similar border, consider planting California poppies, cornflowers, and phacelia. Pair them with companion plants like lavender and chamomile for added beauty and harmony.
19) Whimsical Cottage Garden
This garden border bursts with vibrant colors and textures, mixing wildflowers and lush greenery for a relaxed, cottage feel. To recreate this look, choose a mix of perennials and annuals for continuous blooms and easy maintenance.
Include red poppies, blue forget-me-nots, and cheerful calendula, pairing them with taller plants like foxgloves and delphiniums for height and interest. Companion planting with marigolds can help deter pests while adding more color.
20) Purples and Greens
This garden border bursts with vibrant purple and green hues, creating a lively and inviting atmosphere. Mix taller plants like foxgloves with low-growing varieties like violets for a layered effect and plenty of texture.
Include lavender, foxglove, and white alyssum for color and contrast. Pair with companion plants like thyme and geraniums to enhance growth and attract pollinators.
21) Iris and White Ground Cover
The mix of purple irises and delicate white ground cover creates a stunning contrast that invites exploration. To recreate this look, plant taller blooms at the back and let ground-hugging varieties spill forward for a layered effect.
Include purple irises, white alyssum, and creeping thyme for a vibrant border. Pairing these with lavender will enhance fragrance and attract pollinators.
22) Rhododendron and Herbs
This garden design mixes vibrant rhododendrons with lush herbs, creating a lively and inviting atmosphere. To achieve a similar look, plant colorful blooms alongside fragrant herbs for texture and visual interest.
Include rhododendrons, bluebells, and ferns in your border, paired with herbs like mint and chives for great companion planting. This combo adds beauty and functionality to your garden space.
23) Pinks and Whites
This garden border bursts with vibrant pinks and whites, creating a cheerful and inviting atmosphere. Layering different heights and textures adds depth, making it feel lush and alive; try mixing hardy geraniums and foxgloves for a similar effect.
For a beautiful border, include Phlox paniculata, Alchemilla mollis, and Digitalis purpurea, pairing them with low-growing lavender for fragrance and color contrast.
24) Poppies and Lupins
This charming garden path winds through a vibrant display of classic cottage perennials, anchored by fiery red poppies, creamy yellow lupins, and soft purple spires of lupines in the distance. The border is framed by neat lawn and a mix of evergreens and flowering shrubs, adding year-round structure and seasonal bursts of color.
To recreate this effect, plant oriental poppies for their bold early-summer blooms, and group lupins for height and architectural interest. Add peonies for lush color and old-fashioned appeal, and edge the path with low-growing plants like thrift or creeping phlox to soften the stone. A curved layout and layered planting help draw the eye through the garden and make it feel spacious and welcoming.
25) Stone Wall Backed Border
This design brings a charming mix of pink flowers against a sturdy stone wall, creating a cozy and inviting vibe. Layering different heights and textures adds depth, making it easy to achieve a similar look by mixing perennials with annuals for continuous blooms.
Include plants like pink valerian and foxgloves for height, along with white alyssum for ground cover. Pair them with lavender for fragrance and to attract pollinators.
26) Chaos Borders
This garden border bursts with vibrant colors and varied textures, creating a cozy and inviting feel. To replicate this look, mix tall flowers with shorter ones and use plants that bloom at different times for continuous interest.
Include tulips, alliums, and daylilies for height and color, paired with ground cover like creeping thyme for a lush effect. Companion planting with marigolds can help deter pests while adding more color.
27) Pink Roses
This garden has a lovely mix of pink roses and delicate flowers, creating a soft and inviting border. To achieve this look, use a blend of textures and colors, and consider planting in layers for depth.
Include pink roses, dianthus, and lavender for fragrance. Pair with companion plants like yarrow and salvia for added texture and color contrast.
28) Tulips and Snapdragons
This garden border bursts with vibrant colors and textures, featuring bold tulips and cheerful snapdragons that create a lively atmosphere. For a similar look, plant in layers, mixing heights and colors to keep your space dynamic and inviting.
Include orange tulips, pink snapdragons, and blue grape hyacinths. Pair with pansies for added charm and a pop of color.
29) Colorful Perennials
This garden border bursts with color, mixing vibrant blues, soft greens, and fiery oranges for a lively yet inviting feel. To replicate this look, layer plants with varying heights and textures, and use companion planting to enhance growth and visual appeal.
Include flowers like Campanula (bellflower), Geum (avens), and Pulmonaria (lungwort) for color, and plant them alongside ferns and hostas for lush greenery.
30) Foxgloves and Daisies
This garden border is a delightful mix of colors and textures, with tall foxgloves standing proudly among cheerful daisies. For a similar vibe, use a combination of vibrant blooms and soft foliage to create depth and interest.
Include foxgloves, daisies, and salvia for height and color. Pair them with low-growing plants like creeping thyme for a lush, layered effect.
30) Vibrant Mix
This garden border bursts with vibrant colors and lush textures, creating a cozy, inviting atmosphere. To achieve a similar look, mix perennials with varying heights and let the plants intermingle naturally.
Include geraniums, astilbes, and ferns for a rich tapestry of colors and textures. Pair them with companion plants like foxgloves and daylilies for added visual interest.
31) Phlox and Wildflowers
This garden border bursts with vibrant pink phlox and delicate wildflowers, creating a lively and inviting atmosphere. Pairing taller plants at the back with shorter ones in front adds depth and a playful mix of colors and textures.
For a similar look, include phlox, bee balm, and daisies, complemented by lavender for fragrance and to attract pollinators. Grouping these plants together will enhance their beauty and growth.
32) Edible Border
This garden border bursts with life, showcasing a mix of herbs and colorful flowers that create a relaxed, inviting vibe. To achieve this look, layer tall plants like foxgloves with shorter herbs, ensuring a blend of textures and colors throughout the season.
Include foxgloves, salvia, and lavender for height and fragrance, paired with low-growing herbs like thyme and oregano for ground cover. Companion planting with marigolds can also help deter pests and enhance growth.
33) Lupins and Herbaceous Plants
The vibrant mix of lupins and herbs creates a charming, cozy feel, perfect for a relaxed garden space. Use varying heights and colors to add depth, and consider companion planting with lavender for scent and pest control.
To achieve this look, include lupins, thyme, and lavender. Pairing lupins with thyme will enhance both texture and fragrance in your border.
34) Echinacea and Lavender
The cottage garden border features soft pink Echinacea and fragrant lavender, creating a charming, inviting space. Mixing perennials with colorful blooms adds texture and attracts pollinators, making your garden lively and beautiful.
To achieve this look, include Echinacea, lavender, and some low-growing creeping thyme. Pair them with tall sunflowers for height and a splash of color.
35) Peonies and Lupines
This garden border bursts with soft pink peonies and vibrant lupines, creating a charming and inviting atmosphere. To replicate this look, mix tall and short plants, ensuring good drainage and plenty of sunlight.
Include peonies, lupines, and add some foxgloves for height. Pair them with low-growing herbs like thyme to enhance texture and fragrance.
36) Classic Perennial Cottage Border
This garden border bursts with vibrant colors and textures, combining cheerful blooms and lush foliage for a cozy, inviting feel. To create a similar look, mix perennials with varying heights and group them for a natural, flowing style.
Include daylilies, foxgloves, and phlox for color, and pair them with low-growing plants like creeping thyme and boxwood for structure. Companion planting with lavender can attract pollinators and enhance the overall beauty.
37) Lavender and Orange Roses
This garden border mixes vibrant orange roses with calming lavender, creating a delightful color contrast that draws the eye. Incorporate plants with varying heights and textures for a lush, layered look and consider companion planting with herbs like rosemary for added fragrance.
Include orange roses, lavender, and some hardy geraniums. Pair with herbs like rosemary and thyme to enhance the sensory experience.
38) Vivid and Packed Border
This garden border bursts with color and life, using a mix of vibrant flowers to create a welcoming and cheerful atmosphere. To achieve this look, layer plants for depth and choose a variety of textures and heights for visual interest.
For a similar effect, include Black-eyed Susans, Coreopsis, and Petunias. Pair them with companion plants like Lavender and Marigolds to attract pollinators and enhance growth.
39) Thistle Spires
This cottage garden border features a beautiful mix of colors and textures that create a lively, inviting atmosphere. For a similar look, use a variety of heights and plant in clusters for a natural feel.
Include globe thistle, sweet pea, and cosmos for vibrant color. Pair with companion plants like lavender and daisies to enhance texture and attract pollinators.
40) Dianthus and Delphinium
This garden border bursts with vibrant colors and textures, combining cheerful blooms like pinks, blues, and purples for a lively, inviting feel. To replicate this look, mix annuals and perennials, layering plants for depth and using companion planting to enhance growth and beauty.
Include flowers like dianthus, delphinium, and sweet william, paired with low-growing plants like alyssum for ground cover and better visual appeal.
41) Black-Eye Susan and Snapdragon
This garden border bursts with color and texture, blending cheerful yellows, vibrant pinks, and deep purples for a lively, welcoming feel. To create a similar look, mix perennials and annuals for continuous blooms and add layers for depth.
Include Black-eyed Susans, Salvia, and Snapdragons for color, along with companion plants like Lavender and Catmint to enhance fragrance and attract pollinators.
42) Poppy and Daisy
This garden border bursts with vibrant reds and whites, creating a cheerful and inviting atmosphere. To achieve a similar look, mix poppies and daisies with lush greenery for texture and a casual feel.
Include red poppies, white daisies, and add some blue borage for contrast. Pair them with companion plants like marigolds to attract beneficial insects.
43) Fritillaria Woodland Border
This design showcases the charm of a cottage garden with its soft, flowing plants and earthy tones, creating a cozy, welcoming vibe. To replicate this look, mix various heights and textures while adding a terracotta planter for rustic appeal.
Include Fritillaria, white flowering ground covers like creeping phlox, and a few ferns for texture. Pair them with companion plants like hellebores and hostas for a lush, layered effect.
44) Cottage Border With Height
This garden features a lovely mix of vibrant colors and textures, with alliums standing tall among lush greenery and delicate blooms. To replicate this look, try layering plants of varying heights and choose a palette of purples, whites, and soft pinks for a charming feel.
Include alliums, delphiniums, and foxgloves for height, paired with lower-growing daisies and geraniums for ground coverage. Companion planting with lavender can enhance fragrance and attract pollinators.
45) Pink Flowering Border
The charming mix of pink flowers and lush greenery creates a vibrant yet calming atmosphere, perfect for a cozy garden retreat. To achieve this look, blend tall pink flowers with low-growing foliage for texture and depth.
Include Persicaria amplexicaulis for height and color, paired with Aquilegia for contrast. Companion planting with ferns adds softness and fills in gaps beautifully.
46) Relaxed Meadow-Style Border
This lush garden blends the charm of a cottage border with the freedom of a wildflower meadow. Overflowing with daisies, geraniums, yarrow, roses, and other perennials, it creates a naturalistic tapestry that invites wildlife and feels joyfully unmanicured. The soft winding path and painted arbour add structure without taming the wild beauty.
To achieve this style, combine daisy-like blooms such as leucanthemum and coreopsis with airy fillers like geranium and yarrow. Let plants self-seed where possible to promote a relaxed, evolving design. Include focal points like a rustic bench or painted structure to ground the planting and create spaces for quiet enjoyment among the flowers.
47) Rustic Tree Stump Planter
An old weathered tree stump finds new life as a natural planter, overflowing with vibrant purple daisy-like flowers. Surrounded by bold green foliage and sunlit garden textures, this clever upcycled feature adds rustic charm and a touch of whimsy to the space.
To recreate this idea, hollow out a large stump or log and fill it with well-draining soil and drought-tolerant plants like osteospermum or succulents. Position it in a sunny spot and pair with surrounding grasses or sword-shaped foliage, such as crocosmia or iris, to contrast the structure with soft movement and seasonal color.
48) Formal Cottage Garden
This beautifully maintained knot garden features crisp evergreen hedging laid out in symmetrical patterns, guiding the eye toward a classic stone sundial at its center. Bursts of seasonal color fill the planting pockets, with dusty miller, coleus, and foxgloves adding texture and contrast. The thatched cottage and lush lawn in the background lend a storybook charm.
To design a similar space, shape dwarf boxwood or rosemary into low hedges to create defined geometric beds. Fill the sections with a mix of annuals and perennials for seasonal interest, including silvery foliage plants for structure and bright bloomers like salvia or snapdragons. A central focal point—like a sundial or birdbath—adds timeless elegance to the layout.
49) Flame Tulips and Greenery
A striking ribbon of fiery tulips in red, orange, and yellow lights up the edge of this shaded garden bed, weaving through lush green foliage like a flame dancing in the breeze. The surrounding textures—from soft ferns to bold euphorbia—enhance the impact of the bold blooms.
To recreate this look, plant parrot or flame-variety tulips in dense clusters for maximum effect. Let them naturalize along the edge of a semi-shaded bed, pairing with foliage-rich perennials like lady’s mantle, ferns, and euphorbia to create contrast and support. Allow surrounding greenery to frame and soften the vivid colors, creating a bold yet harmonious spring display.
FAQs
Look for a mix of perennials, annuals, herbs, and small shrubs like roses, lavender, foxgloves, and delphiniums. Plants with different blooming times help keep the border colorful all season long. It’s also a good idea to choose low-maintenance plants that thrive in your local climate.
Start by placing taller plants in the back, medium-height ones in the middle, and shorter ones at the front. Mix in plants with different textures and colors for interest, and stagger bloom times to keep things lively. Don’t worry too much about symmetry—cottage gardens are meant to feel natural and a little wild.
Absolutely! Mixing in herbs like thyme, oregano, or chives works great and adds fragrance and function. Some small vegetables, like lettuce or bush beans, can also be tucked in for a charming edible element. Just make sure they get enough sun and space to thrive.