From the Australian Native Plants Society (Australia) website & reproduced in Calgaroo March edition.
Have you ever wondered how to go about creating a cottage garden with native plants?The idea of a cosy cottage garden, with herbaceous borders of annuals and perennials set against a backdrop of shrubs and (maybe) a small tree or two, has always been popular. Today, smaller gardens continue to make this style appealing.
In this story, we share which plants might work for creating a native cottage garden.
The outcome will be a more beautiful garden—one that is sustainable, more attractive to local fauna and insects, and less likely to allow weeds to escape into the bush.
What is a Cottage Garden?
Cottage gardens have existed for thousands of years. There was a resurgence in the late 1800s as a reaction to the highly formal gardens of the time. Some believe they originated in the 1300s when food shortages required people to become more self-sufficient. Small plots of land were dedicated to growing vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers.
Cottage gardens can nowadays be quite large, as evidenced by Monet’s garden in France, with its narrow meandering pathways and sprawling, highly colourful plants spilling over.
Features of Cottage Gardens
In creating a native cottage garden, there are a few key features to consider:
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Mass plantings of low-growing shrubs, capitalising on colour and texture
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Plants all tangled together and co-mingling
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Seasonal displays of colour – these gardens are a riot of colour for much of the year
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Practical design with a sense of ‘organised disarray’, as Diana Snape described it
Planting an Australian Native Cottage Garden
Australia has more native plants than any other country in the world. Many low-growing annual and perennial Australian plants and shrubs can be used in a massed display to create a cottage garden. There is an abundance of colours, and we are fortunate to have a wide variety of blues to choose from.
The Principles of Colour
You can use a colour wheel to choose harmonious colour combinations, or simply go for a riot of colour. The choice is yours and will reflect the character of your garden. Many books have been written about using colour in the garden, as colour plays an essential role in creating a particular mood.
When choosing flower colours, here are a few points to keep in mind:
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Warm colours – red, pink, orange and yellow. These evoke fun and energy. They appear to come forward and thus seem larger.
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Cool colours – blues, greens and some blue-violets. These create a sense of space and serenity. They tend to recede and appear smaller.
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Neutral colours – white, grey and black. Grey is an excellent linking colour. Be cautious with white and black, as they can sometimes appear as holes or gaps in a colour scheme. However, both can be effective at highlighting other colours.
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Limit the number of contrasting colours. They have strong visual impact and should be used sparingly to create focal points.
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Use more of the harmonious colours—those that lie next to each other on the colour wheel. These colours don’t clash and are pleasing when used together.
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