The European garden is a beautiful thing. Richly historied and full of plants that complement the intricate architecture, these outdoor spaces are a feast for the eyes. Audrey Hepburn's 70s garden is the perfect example.
An archival image of the actress's home in Switzerland from 1971 shows how her garden ideas transformed her house's facade, adding an air of mystery and romance. Audrey's residence is backed by a towering willow tree and sided with a collection of orange lilies. Hedging reaches skyward around the perimeter of the property, creating a secluded ambiance.
Most striking is the yellow-flowered vines growing across the back of the estate. They are the perfect complement to Audrey's blue shutters and white lawn furniture. The wildness of the climbing vines contrasts beautifully with the clean lines of Audrey's abode.
Beyond its beauty, Audrey's gardening is so brilliant because it is also designed for privacy. The vines create a shielding around the windows, while the willow tree and hedging sequester the home from outside eyes. We love a dual-purpose moment.
Shop the privacy planting edit
This beautiful, verdant ivy plant would be the perfect complement to a wild garden. It looks gorgeous climbing on an antique-style white house. There are enough seeds in the pack to ensure you create a beautiful display.
These Felco pruning shears have hardened blades for effortless trimming in your yard, making light work of tough rose pruning jobs. They're essential in every kind of garden. Furthermore, our in-house master gardener, Thom Rutter believes that they are some of the best pruners on the market. Ideal for pruning your ivy.
These beautiful purple and green flowers are a classic for romantic privacy planting. They would look beautiful on the front of any home.
If you hope to create a similar secluded and romantic garden surrounding your home, wisteria is one of the best plants. It grows as a vine, making it the perfect complement to the side of a home, as seen at Audrey's Swiss residence. It could also be used on a trellis for a similarly enchanting, European feel.
Master gardener Luke Newnes advises how to care for the beautiful plant. He states: 'Wisteria thrives in full sun and moist, well-drained soil, and it needs a strong support structure like a sturdy trellis or wires fixed to a wall. For the best blooms, plant it in a sunny, sheltered spot – ideally south or west-facing – and water regularly, especially during dry spells.'
He continues: 'If your wisteria isn’t flowering, it could be due to too much shade, incorrect pruning, or the type of plant—seed-grown wisteria can take up to 20 years to bloom, while grafted varieties usually flower within 3–5 years. Prune twice a year: cut back long shoots in late summer and tidy up in late winter.'
Even if you have a very small garden or even just an apartment ledge, you can tap into the beauty of Audrey's garden with wisteria planting. Luke explains: 'You can grow wisteria in a large pot if you train it as a standard tree, and it benefits from an annual feed in spring. Most wisteria varieties flower in late spring (May/June), creating a stunning display that’s well worth the wait.'
Storybook homes are easily brought to life with the right inspiration, and know-how. Audrey Hepburn's beautiful Swiss garden is an excellent place to start.
