The Biennial Cottage Garden Flower Box
8 hand-picked seed varieties
In the rush for instant gratification with annuals, it's easy to overlook the plants that truly define the cottage garden: biennials. These are the flowers that fill the "June Gap" — the lull between the last tulips of spring and the first roses of summer — with scent and height exactly when the garden needs it most.
Sown in the warmth of June or July, biennials establish strong roots and leafy rosettes before winter, then explode into majestic bloom early the following year. From the dramatic near-black spires of Hollyhock 'Nigra' to the evening perfume of Sweet Rocket, this box contains eight essential ingredients for a timeless cottage garden display.
Understanding Biennials
Year 1 (June–July sowing): The plant focuses entirely on building a strong root system and rosette of leaves — no flowers this year. Year 2 (spring–summer): It re-emerges from winter, sends up tall flower spikes, blooms spectacularly, sets seed, and completes its cycle.
Most plants in this box are prolific self-seeders — establish them once and they return year after year for free.
The Summer Sowing Method
Sow in June or July in a nursery bed or pots outdoors — no special equipment needed. Keep watered through the summer heat. In September or October, move young plants to their final flowering positions, such as into the beds where tulips are planted, and let them settle in before winter. Full instructions are printed on every packet.
Arrives in signature eco-friendly packaging — a thoughtful gift for the gardener who likes to plan ahead.
- 8 full-size seed packets, each with detailed growing notes
- Seasonal varieties chosen to complement each other
- Eco-friendly compostable packaging throughout
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📦 What’s in the collection
📬 Delivery & packaging
What’s inside your collection
8 seed packetsEvery variety below is included in this collection. Click any packet to read the full growing guide and see more photos.
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Canterbury Bells Crown Single Mixed
Tall, upright spires of classic large bell-shaped flowers in deep purple-blue, pink, white and lilac — the traditional cottage biennial grown in Britain for 500 years.
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Honesty Mixed
Spring purple-and-white flowers transform into silvery translucent "moonlight" seed pods — the magical two-act cottage biennial and the most prized everlasting dried stem.
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Wallflower Ivory White
Dense spikes of creamy-white Wallflower blooms with sweet honey-and-primrose fragrance — the elegant cool-toned cottage biennial for white spring gardens and dark corners.
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Sweet William Indian Carpet Mixed
A dwarf carpet of bicolour Sweet William flowers in red, pink, rose and maroon with contrasting eyes — compact 15-25cm fragrant cottage biennial for fronts of borders, rockeries and containers.
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Hesperis White (Sweet Rocket)
Tall luminous white Sweet Rocket spikes that release violet-and-clove fragrance at dusk — the moon-garden hero filling the gap between spring and summer.
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Hollyhock Nigra
The legendary heritage Hollyhock with near-black maroon-purple single flowers and small yellow eyes — rising 2m against walls. Continuously cultivated since the 1600s.
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Foxglove Primrose Yellow
Tall majestic spikes of soft creamy-lemon Foxglove bells with chocolate speckling — the sophisticated pale Foxglove that lights up dark corners. RHS Pollinators.
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Forget-me-not Victoria Mixed
Carpet-forming Forget-me-nots in clear blue, gentle pink and pure white together — the pastel 'Victoria Mixed' for spring containers, window boxes and tulip underplanting.
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