Regencycore in the Garden: Embrace the Bridgerton Style!

The characteristics of the Regencycore garden

The Regencycore garden stands out with its romantic and elegant aesthetic, inspired by English gardens from the Regency era (1811-1820). It combines aristocratic refinement with a love of the outdoors, enhanced by a floral and poetic staging. Popularised by series like Bridgerton, this style harmoniously blends floral opulence, pastoral softness and elegant staging, in the spirit of slow gardening. Inspired by iconic landscape gardens of the period, such as Stourhead or Painshill Park, as well as the creations of Capability Brown, considered “England’s greatest gardener”, Regencycore revisits classical codes to offer an aesthetic and structured vision of the garden. Its ambition is to transform nature into a refined and immersive promenade.

The Regencycore style, popularised by the series “Bridgerton”, is characterised by a romantic and aristocratic aesthetic, inspired by the Regency era

Although it shares with the English garden a romantic approach, Regencycore stands out with a more orchestrated staging. It relies on an abundance of opulent flowers – old roses, peonies, foxgloves – and carefully chosen decorative elements: wrought-iron trellises, wisteria-shaded arbours, fountains and gravel paths framed by lush flowerbeds. A dedicated tea area, adorned with delicate furniture, invites you to enjoy the garden as a true living space.

Where the English garden tends to imitate a natural landscape with free forms and a deliberately wild composition, Regencycore shapes a meticulously arranged setting.

By drawing on these historical references, Regencycore recreates a garden halfway between the picturesque English landscape and the refined, romantic aesthetic of the Regency era.

The Regencycore garden incorporates romantic-style decorative elements, such as wrought-iron garden furniture, a garden lounge, wisteria-covered arbours, sculptures and fountains, a pavilion…

The colour palette of the Regency-style garden

You’ll need to draw from pastel shades! The Regencycore garden’s plant palette plays with delicate, harmonious tones. The Regencycore garden stands out with a plant palette composed of soft colours, instantly evoking romance and elegance.

• Old-fashioned roses, peonies, and dahlias offer pastel hues ranging from powdery pink to creamy white, while foxgloves and delphiniums add touches of blue, lilac, and mauve.
• Lavender enhances the fragrant, airy note, accompanied by clematis and wisteria that gracefully adorn structures.
• In borders, baby’s breath and columbines bring a slightly wild touch, harmoniously contrasting with the precise forms of clipped yews and boxwoods, true structural pillars of the Regencycore garden.
• Perennial plants with glaucous foliage or silvery tones also feature in this repertoire.

To thrive fully, most of these plants prefer rich, well-drained, slightly acidic or neutral soil, with regular compost additions to support their abundant flowering. A sunny to partially shaded exposure is ideal, allowing delicate blooms to reveal their full splendour without suffering from excessive heat. Watering should be moderate but consistent, especially during dry spells, while avoiding waterlogging that could weaken the roots.

This palette revolves around delicate, refined tones, blending softness and depth. Here are the key shades that illustrate it:

• Creamy white and ivory: refined luminosity enhancing the delicacy of romantic blooms.
• Powdery pink and blush: quintessential softness of the Regencycore style.
• Dusty rose and mauve: elegant nostalgia, characteristic of traditional English gardens.
• Sky blue and indigo: infuse a sense of freshness and serenity, contrasting with warmer tones.
• Tender green and silvery: provide subtle balance through light foliage and delicate borders.
• Deep purple and burgundy: enrich the ensemble with sophisticated depth, highlighting the garden’s theatrical, structured character.

In a Regencycore garden (here, at the Chelsea Flower Show 2024), pastel tones dominate: primarily creamy white and pink, but also mauve, sky blue, silvery…

Which plants for a Regencycore garden?

Arches of old roses and cascading wisterias, towering foxgloves and opulent peonies sketch a neo-vintage landscape, blending aristocratic refinement with rustic charm. Here’s a selection of Regencycore’s star plants to compose this “so British” aesthetic:

• Climbing plants: Chinese Wisteria, Rosa ‘James Galway’, Rosa ‘The Pilgrim’, Clematis ‘Diamantina’.
• Opulent and elegant flowers: Peony ‘Mother’s Choice’, Dahlia ‘Torsade’, ‘King Arthur’ and ‘Dutch Delight’, Delphinium ‘Fancy Belladonna’ and ‘Völkerfrieden’, Iris germanica ‘Arctic Age’, Phlox paniculata ‘Cleopatra’, Lavender.
• Ethereal and delicate flowers: Cosmos ‘Double Click Bicolor Pink’, Gypsophila paniculata ‘Festival Pink Lady’, Centaurea ‘Pulchra Major’, Columbines.
• Spectacular flowers: Digitalis purpurea, Digitalis purpurea ‘Alba’, Crambe cordifolia.
• Structured and contrasting foliage: Salix argentea, Artemisia ‘Silver Queen’, Boxwood, Yew.

→ Lupins, masterworts, Oriental poppies, or even asters can easily blend into the scene: discover the full Regencycore plant selection in our nursery!

Rosa ‘The Pilgrim’, Clematis ‘Diamantina’, Peony ‘Mother’s Choice’, Cosmos ‘Double Click Bicolor Pink’, Gypsophila paniculata ‘Festival Pink Lady’, and Centaurea ‘Pulchra Major’ (photo: Peganum)

Perfecting the Regency-style garden decor

The atmosphere should evoke both the elegance of an aristocratic garden and the softness of an idealised English countryside. Here are some essential elements to enrich the setting and enhance this romantic ambience.

Romantic Furniture and Structures

A Regencycore garden is organised around elements of wrought iron, stone, or weathered wood, which add charm and structure. An arbour adorned with climbing roses or wisteria creates an enchanting focal point. A delicately crafted iron bench nestled beneath a flowering arch invites contemplation. A pergola, pavilion, or gazebo evokes the outdoor salons of yesteryear, perfect for a reading break or tea in the shade.

Water Features and Period Ornaments

A moss-covered stone fountain, a pond adorned with water lilies, or a small sinuate stream bring a touch of freshness and refinement. Classical statues, Medici vases overflowing with flowers, contribute to the elegance of the space. Weathered mirrors or a sundial add an authentic and poetic touch. Old zinc planters, terracotta pots, or an antique wheelbarrow filled with cut flowers enhance the vintage and rustic character of the garden.

A fountain in the Regencycore garden “The Bridgerton Garden” at the Chelsea Flower Show 2024

Neat Paths and Borders

Light gravel paths meander between lush flowerbeds, guiding the stroll from one space to another. Boxwood or lavender borders structure the flowerbeds while preserving a certain lightness. Carefully sculpted hedges of Yew or Hornbeam recall the gardens of the English nobility.