Key Takeaways
- Wimbledon’s grounds feature thousands of flowers and greenery displays, all in its classic purple and green palette.
- For biodiversity support, the gardens include wildflowers, living walls and roofs, bird boxes, and active beehives.
- Recreate the look with roses, hanging baskets of petunias, trellises, and pollinator plants that blend beauty with sustainability.
Wimbledon is inspiring more than just sports fans this year (and it’s not because of a specialty cocktail). Designed by lead gardener Robin Murphy, the tournament’s grounds boast thousands of different flowers, plants, and English cottage garden-inspired attractions, all of which are overflowing with birds, bees, and butterflies. Gardeners are eyeing the beautiful displays that are curated each day—here are all the lush, winning elements and how you can ace the look yourself.
All the Flowers Growing at Wimbledon This Year
Purple and green make up Wimbledon’s official colors—budding with opportunity for gorgeous, fragrant blooms. Naturally, this means you can expect to take in a stunning array of white and purple hydrangeas, roses, and petunias on the grounds. Head gardener Martyn Falconer told the New York Times that there are over 14,000 petunias growing at Wimbledon this year, and they’re the only flower used in most of the hanging baskets, according to reporting byThe Independent.
The iconic living walls feature vertical arrangements with a variety of vibrant green and flowering plants, including an abundance of Boston ivy. As for Wimbledon’s roses, many of them are climbing varieties, bringing pops of color and sweet scents to the Rose Arbor on the grounds.
Buzzing with Biodiversity
Besides just looking lush, every single type of flower (and how it’s planted) is intended to support biodiversity. You’ll find living roofs across several buildings at Wimbledon, making the most of all the space on the grounds. Wildflowers and indoor plants are also thriving, going beyond a traditional selection of cultivated roses and hydrangeas. To further prioritize sustainability, the gardeners are considering switching entirely to peat-free compost within the next year.
Wimbledon even has its own beehives—very appropriate, considering the flowers on the ground are buzzing with pollinators—and bird boxes are installed across the grounds to encourage local wildlife to set up nests. If you attend this year, you can take home a taste of the tournament with honey made by the very same bees that live there.
Get the Look of Wimbledon’s Iconic Gardens
Many fans are more than ready to bring a touch of Wimbledon’s magic to their own backyards—and fortunately, you don’t need a tennis court.
1. Plant These Classic Blooms
Roses, hydrangeas, and petunias are all accessible florals that can survive in a range of USDA hardiness zones. If you’re growing hydrangeas, just remember to check your soil pH before planting. You should aim for somewhere between 6.5 and 7.5 for perfectly purple blooms, otherwise they’ll turn out blue or pink instead.
2. Stick to the Signature Color Palette
While Barbara Streisand’s Barbie-pink rose is undoubtedly gorgeous, you’ll want to look for white, lavender, and purple-toned rose varieties to channel the Wimbledon look. The tournament grounds’ rose walk, however, offers climbing varieties in red, pink, and white. Opt for trellises and arches to embody this fragrant, peaceful space.
3. Hang Baskets and Add Vines
Hanging baskets full of purple and white petunias are a must if you want to emulate Wimbledon’s classic gardens. While you may not be able to add a living wall to your space, you can certainly use trailing vine plants to add texture and dimension to whatever you hang. Try adding vines to porch or patio trellises to make the most of your outdoor area.
4. Create a Pollinator Haven
Don’t forget to add a diverse range of flowers and pollinator-attracting plants to your yard: Choose a few local wildflowers that fit your color scheme, inspired by Wimbledon’s wildflower gardens. Bee and butterfly bushes, bird houses and feeders, and shallow birdbaths will turn your garden into a haven both you and wildlife will enjoy.
