WHETHER you live in a country cottage or a modern home, the informal cottage garden theme remains a very popular choice with our customers.

So this month we’re highlighting some favourite plants that grow well in our area, attract garden wildlife and will help you create a natural country garden look from spring to autumn.

Herbaceous perennials are the mainstay of cottage gardens, with their relatively soft herbaceous stems which die back in autumn. This means that there is no growth above ground and the roots can ‘hibernate’ underground, keeping the plant safe from the winter weather.

Being perennials, these plants will come back year after year, emerging from the ground once again in springtime when the temperature begins to improve. These amazing plants grow bigger and better every year and, after a few years, they can even be divided to create additional plants.

For spring, aquilegia, lupins and peonies will brighten up your garden with their flowers from April or May depending on how long winter has been with us.

There are many species of aquilegia – sometimes known as columbine or granny’s bonnet – ranging from small Alpine varieties to some that grow to about 60cm (2ft) tall. Many varieties will self seed, making them perfect for wild or informal gardens.

The classic lupin is easily recognised with its bold spikes of flowers and some varieties can reach up to 90cm (3ft) tall. They love well-drained soil and a warm, sunny spot. Ideal for pollinating insects, we do find that they’re particularly well-loved by slugs and snails too!

For explosive colour, it’s hard to beat the peony which normally bursts into flower from around mid-June in Scotland. Simpler blooms make it easier for pollinating insects, although even the showiest flowers generally open up to allow access to the nectar. Support and a sheltered position is recommended to avoid damage from our East Lothian winds.

Once we’re into summer, the seemingly endless selection can appear daunting, but we’ve chosen three well-known, easy-to-grow summer-flowering plants that offer lots of choice in variety, grow to different heights and have a long flowering period.

Amongst low-growing herbaceous perennials, geranium varieties are very popular because of their copious flowers and hardiness.

Geranium ‘ballerina’ is worth a particular mention, growing to only about 15cm (6in) and producing masses of pale pink, delicately purple-veined flowers from spring onwards. This clump-forming plant is hardy, likes good light and moist but well drained soil. It’s ideal for the edge of a border or even in rock gardens.

A medium-height plant that’s definitely worth considering for your cottage garden is the geum. Although there are over 300 varieties to choose from, geum ‘totally tangerine’ is particularly noteworthy for its hardiness and long flowering season, producing copious delicate orange flowers from spring until autumn. It sits nicely between tall and low-growing plants and will ultimately spread to over 60cm (2ft) wide.

A slightly taller plant that’s highly attractive to pollinators is Salvia, and one of our favourites is Salvia nemorosa ‘Ostfriesland’ (sometimes called East Friesland), which produces wonderful long spikes of deep violet-blue flowers in summer. Insects find such colours easier to see, which is perhaps why it’s also a great favourite with pollinators. Salvia enjoys a sunny, slightly sheltered position, and is very hardy in our area.

In autumn, one of our most popular herbaceous plants is the Japanese anemone, which produces flowers from July/August into September and even October. We’re particularly fond of Anemone huphensis ‘Pocahontas’ which is a compact variety with slightly woody stems and delicate pink flowers. It is very hardy and its strong stems enable it to withstand our East Lothian autumn winds!

Another autumnal stunner is rudbeckia, sometimes called the coneflower because of the cone-shaped centre of its starry flower. Rudbeckia ‘goldsturm’ brings a welcome splash of colour to the late summer garden with its striking yellow flowers and black-brown centres blooming from August onwards. It is hardy, can tolerate light shade and, growing to only 60cm (2ft) tall, it is compact enough to withstand early autumn weather.

Finally, we should mention the aptly named sedum ‘autumn joy’. This perennial plant produces flat-topped flowerheads of greenish-white buds that open into pale pink, star-shaped flowers, maturing to a deeper pink over time. The flowerheads will dry on the stems and can be left to provide an interesting dimension to the garden in winter. Cut them back in February or March to allow them to re-grow and, like your other herbaceous perennials, they’ll produce even bigger and better results the following season.

You can’t go wrong with herbaceous plants – it’s simply a case of planting them and seeing how they grow.

Once you’ve seen them in the garden for a season, you may find you’d prefer them in a different location. Don’t worry – herbaceous plants can be transplanted very easily during their dormant months and relocated to that perfect position to grow bigger and better for you next season.

There are many thousands of herbaceous perennial varieties, each with their own style and characteristics, and it’s enormous fun getting to know how the plants we choose grow in our own gardens. As always, our plant team are delighted to chat about plants and gardens and let you learn from their experience. You can also find more information at www.merryhatton.co.uk