Australian native plants for cottage style gardens

A classic cottage garden is beautiful but not always suited to Australia’s tough climate. Many of the plants we associate with that look — roses, lavender, foxgloves — come from cooler regions and need generous watering, richer soil and regular maintenance.

But it’s possible to create the same romantic, layered style using Australian native plants. 

The charm of cottage gardens, reimagined for Australian conditions

A native cottage garden captures the same charm and nostalgia as its European inspiration, yet feels more authentic to place — relaxed, sustainable and alive with local character. Here are some great, easy options you should find at your local nursery. These plants are adapted to local conditions, resilient through dry spells and more supportive of native bees, birds and butterflies.

Banksia marginata (Silver Banksia)

A graceful, fine-leaved Banksia that adds structure and texture without feeling heavy. Its soft, silvery foliage and golden flower spikes give light and warmth to the garden year-round. Works beautifully as a backdrop or focal point among smaller, flowing natives like Feather Grass and Mulla Mulla. Adaptable to most soils, drought-tolerant once established, and a valuable source of nectar for native birds and bees. 

Austrostipa elegantissima (Feather Grass)

Light, feathery plumes that move in the wind and have a lovely, soft texture. Perfect for borders or between flowering plants where you’d traditionally use European grasses. Easy to grow in full sun and free-draining soil. Drought-tolerant and ideal for attracting small insects and providing cover for lizards and ground-dwellers.

Ptilotus exaltatus (Mulla Mulla)

Delicate pink, feathery blooms add texture and a gentle colour accent. Works well mass-planted or among gravel paths for a dry-climate cottage look. Hardy once established and thrives in poor soils. A great nectar source for native bees and butterflies.

Craspedia globosa (Billy Button)

Bright, cheerful spheres of golden yellow that are a must for any native cottage garden. Their upright stems add structure and balance to softer plants like Everlasting Daisies and Feather Grass. Perfect for creating rhythm through borders or for cutting and drying. Hardy and drought-tolerant once established, thriving in full sun and well-drained soil. 

Rhodanthe chlorocephala (Pink Everlasting Daisy)

Paper-like pink blooms create drifts of colour through spring and summer, pairing beautifully with native grasses and low perennials. Ideal for mass planting or filling gaps between shrubs for a meadow effect. Easy to grow from seed, thrives in full sun and flourishes in sandy or well-drained soil. Loved by native bees and butterflies.

Brachyscome diversifolia (Tall Native Daisy)

A taller, softer native daisy with slender stems and delicate white blooms that sway gently in the breeze — perfect for recreating that loose, romantic cottage style. Works well planted in clusters or woven through grasses for natural movement. Easy to grow in moist, well-drained soil and tolerates part shade. 

Billardiera scandens (Appleberry)

Its bell-shaped yellow flowers are followed by small, edible purple fruit that give the plant its name. Perfect for weaving through trellises, shrubs or fences to create height and softness. Hardy and low maintenance once established, thriving in sun or part shade. Provides food for native birds and insects.

Scaevola aemula (Fan Flower)

Trailing habit and purple-blue flowers give it that tumbling, romantic look typical of cottage gardens. Excellent for pots, hanging baskets or the edge of raised beds. Thrives in full sun and tolerates coastal conditions. Nectar-rich for pollinators.

Eremophila ‘Wildberry’ (Emu Bush)

Its soft texture and elegant colour pair beautifully with Feather Grass, Daisies and Everlastings. Compact and drought-tolerant once established, it thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Low maintenance and long flowering, it’s a magnet for native bees, butterflies and small birds. A perfect shrub to bring year-round softness and colour to your planting palette.

Thryptomene saxicola (Rock Thryptomene)

Clouds of tiny pink flowers cover this plant in late winter and spring, bringing fine texture and gentle movement. Use as a low hedge or filler among perennials. Low-water, low-maintenance and excellent for pollinators.

Eragrostis brownii (Common Lovegrass)

Fine, airy grass that adds texture and movement to planting schemes. Perfect for softening paths or blending with flowering natives. Very drought-tolerant and helps stabilise soil, improving habitat for beneficial insects.

Correa ‘Dusky Bells’

Compact shrub with pink bell-shaped flowers that hang gracefully through autumn and winter. Works beautifully under trees or as a border filler. Hardy, low-water, and bird-attracting — an elegant native alternative to fuchsias or heathers.

Westringia fruticosa (Coastal Rosemary)

Its tiny white to pale-lilac flowers appear for much of the year, adding subtle colour and softness. Perfect for edging paths or creating low, natural hedges that contrast beautifully with the loose movement of Feather Grass or Everlastings. Exceptionally hardy — tolerates salt, wind and dry soils — and needs very little maintenance beyond an occasional trim. A long-lived native that provides year-round texture and shelter for pollinators and small birds.

Creating your native cottage garden

The charm of a cottage garden doesn’t have to belong only to cooler climates or European plants. With so many Australian natives offering softness, movement and colour — as well as structure and texture — it’s easy to recreate the look in a way that feels natural to our landscape.

By combining fine, ethereal species with more architectural forms, you can design a garden that’s both timeless and resilient. These plants thrive in our conditions, ask for little maintenance and provide food and shelter for wildlife.

View our range of native seed bombs that can help you get started.