The Championships at Wimbledon begin June 29, marking the start of the world’s oldest tennis tournament—and the only one still played on grass. For two weeks, London’s All England Lawn Tennis Club hosts players, royalty, and thousands of spectators surrounded by green, white, and purple flowers.
While the matches draw global attention, the tournament’s horticulture has become a highlight of its own. More than 50,000 plants turn the 42-acre grounds into what head gardener Martyn Falconer describes as “tennis in an English garden.” The displays are designed to feel enduring rather than fashionable.
The man behind the blooms
Falconer did not plan to become a gardener. At 18, he took a job with a local company after college, following family members already in the trade. In 1999, he joined Wimbledon as a contractor. By 2014, the All England Club hired his team permanently, and he took over as head gardener.
“I learned the trade on the job,” he said. “It was very different at the start. We used a lot of annual plants, and the site had more hedges. Now, we focus on herbaceous perennials and living walls.”
Some of the trees he planted as saplings now stand 15 meters tall. “I remember putting that in the hole,” he said. “Now you wouldn’t be able to take it down.”
The move from seasonal plants to long-term perennials reflects a shift: Wimbledon is no longer just a two-week event. Over 100,000 visitors tour the grounds year-round, drawn by the courts, museum, and gardens.
A year of preparation for two weeks of glory
Falconer’s team of 12 full-time gardeners nearly doubles in size each April, adding 13 seasonal workers to prepare for the tournament.
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Once the tournament starts, the work continues. Gardeners arrive before dawn to water, prune, and replace damaged plants. Spectators often trample displays while trying to get a better view, requiring constant repairs.
This year, he is especially pleased with the balcony outside Centre Court, where champions pose with trophies, and the display at Gate 5, designed as a photo spot. “We put extra energy into those areas,” he said. “They’re where everyone gathers.”
The effort goes beyond appearance. Falconer aims to create a sense of calm amid the intensity of the matches. “We soften the estate to make it feel peaceful,” he said. “It’s not a concrete jungle.”
For those who want to bring Wimbledon’s look home, Falconer recommends a simple approach: purple, green, and white. Hydrangeas, salvias, and hanging baskets of petunias in those colors capture the tournament’s spirit. “A lovely hanging basket is quite Wimbledon,” he said.
The moment he looks forward to most arrives at 10 a.m. on opening day, when the public enters. “You can look around and see what you’ve achieved,” he said. “The estate transforms. People who work here come out every day and say, ‘Wow, there’s even more plants.’”
Then, with the first matches underway, the team relaxes. “We let everyone come in and enjoy it.”
Those interested in historic home renovations can find inspiration in projects like a Charlottesville couple’s effort to restore a classic property, much like how Wimbledon’s gardens blend tradition with modern care.
