Hydrangea varieties 

Are another firm favourite with varieties producing large clusters of purple, pink, blue or white flowers in early summer.

Flowers: June-September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade (depending on variety)

Digitalis

Commonly-known as foxgloves have been a cottage garden favourite for years with bell-shaped flowers available in an array of colours from pink to cream they are happy in a partial shade garden and are a favourite source of pollen for bees.

 Flowers: June-July

Position: Full sun – partial shade

Lavender

Will add fragrance and colour to your cottage garden and will draw in the pollinators. A great addition to a path, or border. Place in a sunny, well-drained position for best results.

 Flowers: July – September

Position: Full sun

Lupins 

No cottage garden is complete without a Lupin, a popular choice for a traditional cottage garden with tapering spires available in shades of pink, purple, yellow, red and even mixed adding height to the back of a cottage garden border.

 Flowers: June-July

Position: Full sun – partial shade

Escallonia varieties such as ‘Apple Blossom’, ‘Iveyi’ and ‘Pink Elle‘.

Flowers: June-July and usually again in September

 Position: Full sun

Ceanothus varieties

Flowers: May – June (depending on variety, varieties such as ‘Puget Blue’ start flowering in April, and others flower for longer than June)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 3m (depending on variety)

Dahlia varieites

Flowers: June – September (depends on the variety)

 Position: Full sun -partial shade

Viburnum varieties such as ‘tinus’ and ‘bod Dawn’