Flowers

Foxgloves are popular in cottage garden planting schemes, loved for their spires of bell-shaped, bee-friendly tubular pink flowers with a spotted centre. Most foxgloves are biennial, meaning they put on root and foliage growth in year one, and then flower and set seed in year two, before dying. However some varieties of foxglove are perennial. Bear in mind that all parts of foxgloves are poisonous, and can kill an adult human if any part of the plant is ingested. You may want to avoid gro

Astrantias, commonly known as masterworts or Hattie’s pincishion, are cottage garden stalwarts with beautiful pincushion flowers in a range of different colours. Suitable for partial shade and moist soils, astrantias are slug- and snail-proof too, making them a valuable asset in any border. Flowering from June to August, they provide a long season of colour for us, and pollen and nectar for insects. How to grow astrantias Grow astrantias in moist soil in partial shade. Cut back after flow

Hollyhocks, Alcea, have long been associated with cottage gardens. Perfect for the back of a border, they grow up to 2m in height. Each stem bears masses of open, bee-friendly flowers measuring up to 10cm in diameter, from July to September. Hollyhocks are biennial or short-lived perennials. In the first year they put on root and foliage growth and in the second they flower, set seed and then die. Double hollyhocks are stunning but they don’t have the appeal that single varieties have to

Pieris japonica is an attractive evergreen shrub, grown for its handsome foliage and display of early spring flowers. The young leaves are often bronze or red, maturing to dark green. They contrast beautifully with the small, white jewel-like flowers, which are very attractive to bees. Pieris is perfect for growing in a shrub border or woodland area, but it does require acid soil. Find out more about growing pieris, below. Where to grow pieris Pieris requires acid soil which is mo