Australian native plants for cottage style gardens
A classic cottage garden is beautiful and an extremely popular design choice, but not always suited to Australia's tough climate. Many of the plants we associate with that look — roses, lavender, delphiniums and foxgloves — come from cooler regions and need generous watering, richer soil and regular maintenance.
But it is possible to create the same romantic, layered style using Australian native plants.
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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. Native Australian plants offer the added benefits of being more sustainable and alive with local character.
Here are some great 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.
Brown boronia (Boronia megastigma)
A compact native shrub with fine green foliage and nodding brown to yellow bell-shaped flowers in spring. Works well as a feature shrub or woven into mixed plantings where scent and seasonal interest are valued.
Brown boronia suits cool to mild temperate climates and prefers a sheltered position with well-drained soil and consistent moisture. It is less drought-tolerant than many natives, but well suited to cottage-style gardens where watering is already part of the routine.
Plant with a sharp hand trowel, water in well and mulch to keep roots cool without covering the crown.
Wax flower (Philotheca myoporoides)
A compact to medium native shrub with fine green foliage and clusters of white to pale pink star-shaped flowers in winter and spring. Useful as a low hedge, backdrop planting or filler among grasses and perennials where gentle structure is needed without dense bulk.
Wax flower suits temperate to warm temperate climates, growing happily in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil. It is drought-tolerant once established and provides an important nectar source for native insects and birds.
To plant successfully, use a sharp hand trowel or gardening knife to create a hole about twice as wide as the pot so roots move outwards easily.
Silver banksia (Banksia marginata)
A graceful, fine-leaved banksia that adds light structure and texture and performs well in temperate, coastal or cool to warm inland climates. Its soft, silvery foliage and golden flower spikes give light and warmth to the garden year-round.
Silver banksia 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. See our guide to growing banksias for more on species selection by climate zone.
Choose a position with full sun and excellent drainage, then dig a hole level with the root ball using a sharp spade. Water in well and avoid enriching the soil as its proteoid roots are adapted to lean conditions.
Rock isotome (Isotoma axillaris)
Masses of soft, five-petalled blue star flowers create an almost old-fashioned look through spring and summer in temperate to warm temperate climates. It forms a low, spreading groundcover that fills gaps at the front of borders or spills over edges.
Rock isotome is easy to grow in full sun to part shade with well-drained soil. It is drought-tolerant once established and handles heat far better than many traditional cottage groundcovers. It attracts pollinators and adds long-lasting colour.
To plant successfully, choose a position with at least six hours of sun. Use a sturdy hand trowel and water in well. Remove spent flowers with garden scissors to encourage continued blooming. Note that the sap of this plant is a skin and eye irritant — wear gloves when pruning or handling cut stems.
Feather grass (Austrostipa elegantissima)
Light, feathery plumes that move in the wind and have a lovely, soft texture. Perfect for borders or between flowering plants where you would traditionally use European grasses. See our guide to native grasses for texture and movement for companion options.
Feather grass is easy to grow in full sun and free-draining soil in temperate to warm inland climates. It is drought-tolerant and ideal for attracting small insects and providing cover for lizards and ground-dwellers.
Dig a hole no deeper than the root ball, water in well and avoid heavy fertiliser. Cut back lightly in late winter with hand pruners to refresh its fine foliage and encourage new growth.
Australian bluebell (Wahlenbergia stricta)
Delicate, star-shaped blue flowers held on fine, wiry stems create a light, airy effect that performs well in temperate to cool inland climates. Perfect for weaving through borders, meadows or between flowering plants where you might traditionally use soft European perennials.
Australian bluebell is easy to grow in full sun to part shade with well-drained soil. Drought-tolerant once established and ideal for attracting native pollinators while adding subtle structure and seasonal colour.
Water consistently through its first season and cut back lightly after flowering to encourage repeat blooms and prevent it becoming straggly.
Mulla mulla (Ptilotus exaltatus)
Delicate pink, feathery blooms add texture and a gentle colour accent that grows in arid, semi-arid and warm inland climates. Works well mass-planted or among gravel paths for a dry-climate cottage look. They weave easily between grasses and shrubs while continuing to flower through dry heat when softer annuals fade.
Mulla mulla is hardy once established and thrives in poor soils. It is a great nectar source for native bees and butterflies.
When planting, ensure it is positioned with very sharp drainage and avoid enriching the soil. Allow the soil to dry between waterings, as it is adapted to heat, low humidity and episodic rainfall.
Billy buttons (Craspedia variabilis)
Bright, cheerful spheres of golden yellow that are a must for any native cottage or wildflower garden. Their upright stems add structure and balance to softer plants like everlasting daisies and feather grass. Billy buttons are also perfect for cutting and drying and are visited by native bees through their flowering season.
They are hardy and drought-tolerant once established in temperate to cool inland climates, thriving in full sun and well-drained soil.
Dig a wide hole and water in well. Their deep taproot and lean-soil origins allow them to handle dry periods, while a light trim after flowering helps maintain a compact, repeat-blooming clump.
Native jasmine (Pandorea jasminoides)
A vigorous evergreen climber with glossy green leaves and large, trumpet-shaped white to pale pink flowers through spring and summer. Well suited to pergolas, fences and walls, where it provides screening and vertical interest without the water demands of traditional climbers.
Native jasmine grows best in full sun to part shade with well-drained soil in temperate to subtropical climates. It is tolerant of heat once established.
Provide a sturdy trellis or support from the start, then prune lightly with sharp secateurs after flowering to keep it dense and encourage repeat blooms.
Pink everlasting daisy (Rhodanthe chlorocephala)
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. See our guide to growing Australian native daisies by colour for companion planting ideas.
Everlasting daisies are easy to grow from seed, thrive in full sun and flourish in sandy or well-drained soil. Loved by native bees and butterflies.
Once planted, water in lightly and avoid rich compost, as it flowers best in lean conditions and will often self-seed freely if spent blooms are left in place.
Tall native daisy (Brachyscome diversifolia)
A taller, softer native daisy with slender stems and delicate white blooms that sway gently in the breeze. Tall native daisies are perfect for recreating that loose, romantic cottage style in temperate to warm temperate climates. They work well planted in clusters or woven through grasses for natural movement and are easy to grow in moist, well-drained soil with some tolerance for part shade.
Avoid heavy fertiliser when planting, then trim back lightly after flowering to keep it compact and encourage repeat blooms.
Blue dampiera (Dampiera diversifolia)
Low-growing and spreading, with soft grey foliage and vivid blue flowers that echo traditional cottage blues. Ideal at the front of borders or weaving between grasses. Blue dampiera performs best in full sun and free-draining soil and is very drought-tolerant once established. It works particularly well in dry garden positions.
Water in well during its first season and avoid heavy fertiliser. Its spreading habit shades its own roots and it flowers best in lean soil. Trim lightly after a flush to encourage repeat blooms.
Appleberry (Billardiera scandens)
Its bell-shaped yellow flowers are followed by small fruit that give the plant its name. Perfect for weaving through trellises, shrubs or fences to create height and softness. Appleberry is hardy and low-maintenance once established, thriving in sun or part shade and providing food for native birds and insects.
Provide light support if climbing is desired, then prune lightly after fruiting to maintain shape. Its flexible stems and woodland origins allow it to tolerate dry spells once established.
Fan flower (Scaevola aemula)
Trailing habit and unique fan-shaped flowers give it a tumbling, romantic look. It comes in a range of pastel colours including soft lavender, true blue, lilac, pink and white, making it perfect for softer palettes. Fan flower is excellent for pots, hanging baskets or the edge of raised beds and is one of the best choices for coastal cottage gardens. It is nectar-rich for pollinators and makes a beautiful border groundcover.
Trim lightly after a flush to encourage dense growth and continued flowering.
Emu bush (Eremophila 'Wildberry')
Its soft texture and elegant colour pair beautifully with feather grass, daisies and everlastings. Compact and very drought-tolerant once established, it thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Emu bush is low-maintenance and long-flowering and is a magnet for native bees, butterflies and small birds.
Emu bush requires very sharp drainage. Avoid enriching the soil and allow the soil to dry between waterings. Its narrow leaves and drought-adapted root system are built for heat.
Climate change in our gardens
Longer, hotter summers, more frequent water restrictions and the gradual warming of regions that once offered reliable cool-climate conditions are pushing many classic cottage garden plants to their limits. Gardeners across southern Australia are reporting that plants which performed reliably a decade ago now struggle to get through summer without significant intervention.
Purple coral pea (Hardenbergia violacea)
A vigorous native climber with leathery green leaves and cascading sprays of purple pea flowers in late winter and early spring. Well suited to fences, trellises and pergolas, or allowed to scramble through shrubs for seasonal colour and height. Purple coral pea grows best in full sun to part shade with well-drained soil, is drought-tolerant once established and is one of the most important winter-flowering plants for native bees.
Provide a trellis or support if climbing. Its tough leaves and nitrogen-fixing roots allow it to thrive in lean soil once established.
Rock thryptomene (Thryptomene saxicola)
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. Rock thryptomene has low water requirements, is generally low-maintenance and excellent for pollinators.
Avoid enriching the soil, water in well during establishment and prune lightly after flowering. Its fine foliage and woody framework are adapted to rocky, low-nutrient soils and dry conditions.
Common lovegrass (Eragrostis brownii)
Fine, airy grass that adds texture and movement to planting schemes. Perfect for softening paths or blending with flowering natives. Common lovegrass is very drought-tolerant and helps stabilise soil, improving habitat for beneficial insects. See our guide to native grasses for texture and movement for companion planting ideas.
Harry Rose from South West Rocks, Australia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Water in well during its first season and avoid heavy fertiliser, then cut back lightly in late winter if needed to refresh growth.
Correa 'Dusky Bells' (probable hybrid of Correa reflexa and Correa pulchella)
A compact shrub with dusky pink bell-shaped flowers that hang gracefully from autumn through to spring. Works beautifully under trees or as a border filler and is an elegant native alternative to fuchsias or heathers. Hardy, bird-attracting and drought-tolerant once established. See our maintenance guide by climate zone for seasonal care notes on correas.
Water in well through its first summer and mulch lightly to moderate soil temperature, then prune gently after flowering to maintain a compact shape.
Coastal rosemary (Westringia fruticosa)
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. Coastal rosemary is one of the most useful screening plants for coastal cottage gardens and is also featured in our guide to tough coastal natives.
Coastal rosemary is exceptionally hardy in temperate to subtropical climates with full sun. It 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.
Water in well through its first growing season and avoid heavy fertiliser, then trim lightly with sharp secateurs to maintain density.
Creating your native cottage garden
The charm of a cottage garden does not 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 is 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 is both timeless and resilient. These plants thrive in our conditions, ask for little maintenance and provide food and shelter for wildlife.
Our range of native seed bombs can help you get started.
keep reading
A Guide to Australian Native Gardening
How to plan, plant and care for a thriving native garden, whatever your experience level.
Read the guide →
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