“Peace and serenity are what it brings, the garden even makes the birds sing. Walking through the garden in bloom can help take away any gloom.” – Catherine Pulsifer
Classic country cottage-style gardens overflowing with vibrant flower beds full of colour, form and movement never go out of style.
As more gardeners recognise the value of planting to attract beneficial wildlife, cottage gardens are enjoying renewed popularity.
Creating a romantic-style garden in tough conditions like frost and harsh summers is possible.
Here are some easy-care perennial plants that suit the style and thrive in summer gardens.
Exotic Plantings
Aquilegia – affectionately called “granny’s bonnets,” thrive best in spots that are partly shaded and shielded from intense afternoon sunlight.
Buddleia – cherished by butterflies, bees and flower wasps; plant it in full sun or partial shade to enjoy its delightful fragrance. Buddleia Lo & Behold™ Micro Chip varieties are among my favourites, reaching about one metre by one metre – ideal for small gardens or mid-bed planting.
Daylilies (Hemerocallis) – feature attractive, long, strap-like leaves and lily-like trumpet flowers. While they thrive in full sun, in our climate they generally prefer some afternoon shade.
Penstemons – known for their stunning, bell-shaped blossoms in an array of colours, they will transform your garden into a paradise for honeyeaters.
Salvias – with so many colours, sizes, leaf and bloom shapes, the array is enthralling. Salvia microphylla varieties are among my top choices for their floriferous nature, compact size and hardiness. Visit your nearby nursery now, as this is the best time to find a wide selection of sages.
Statice (Limonium) – whose name comes from the Greek word “leimon” meaning meadow, is beloved by florists for its ability to last a long time after being cut. It is best to provide full sunlight and shield the plant from frost.
Native Plantings
Billy buttons (Pycnosorus) – gorgeous, long stemmed golden globe flowers and silver foliage are delightful features of this wonderful native plant. Billy buttons, valued by florists and known for their resilience, are an excellent choice for Adelaide Hills gardens and complement many different garden styles.
Diggers speedwell (Veronica) – features striking silver foliage reminiscent of young eucalyptus leaves, paired with attractive lilac-blue blooms. This excellent shrub reaches about one metre by one metre, thrives in full sun to partial shade and makes a wonderful addition to the middle or back of any garden bed. It’s certainly worth considering for your garden.
Spurflowers (Plectranthus) – are highly attractive to native bees, especially the blue banded bee. Plectranthus varieties thrive in sheltered spots with dappled light, similar to the preferred environment of most fuchsias.
Paper daisies (Rhodanthe) – are great for sunny borders, make excellent cut flowers and attract bees and hoverflies. Paper daisies appreciate regular water in particularly when potted and in hot dry spells.
Swan river daisies (Brachyscome) – these attractive, compact shrubs feature daisy-like blooms in shades of pink, white and violet. Swan river daisies are capable of producing flowers throughout the year, with peak blooming typically occurring in the summer months.
– Sally-Anne Fowles
