Introduction
Located on Long Island, New York, Old Westbury Gardens is one of America’s most beautiful historic estates. Built in 1906, this grand property combines classical architecture with refined English and French-inspired garden design. Its terraces, alleys, pools, and floral compositions are more than scenery—they’re living lessons in garden structure, balance, and elegance.
In this article, explore how you can use the layout, plantings, and formal symmetry of Old Westbury Gardens to bring timeless sophistication into your own landscape.
What Makes Old Westbury Gardens So Special?
Old Westbury Gardens is a 200-acre estate that features:
- A Charles II-style mansion
- Formal gardens with clipped hedges, boxwoods, and floral borders
- Reflecting pools, statues, and pergolas
- Axial paths and geometric symmetry
- Seasonal color rotations and topiary
🎯 Design Insight: Everything is intentional. These gardens follow classic design rules—lines, structure, repetition, and form.
1. Design with Symmetry and Structure
One of the defining features of Old Westbury Gardens is its formal layout, where hedges, paths, and trees mirror each other to create a sense of order and refinement.
How to apply this at home:
- Create a central path or axis in your garden
- Use clipped boxwood or low hedges to outline beds
- Match elements on each side: two urns, benches, or trees
- Keep your layout clean and geometric
✅ Pro Tip: Symmetry doesn’t have to be rigid—balanced curves or repeated shapes work too.
2. Use Classic Plant Palettes
The gardens at Old Westbury rely on a mix of perennials, roses, bulbs, and seasonal blooms, paired with evergreen structure.
Plants inspired by the estate:
- Boxwood, yew, and holly for hedging
- Lavender, allium, salvia, and delphinium for color
- Climbing roses and wisteria on pergolas
- Tulips and daffodils for spring symmetry
🌸 Emotional Touch: These plants create a romantic, timeless atmosphere.
3. Incorporate Water for Reflection and Calm
Old Westbury Gardens features reflecting pools and fountains placed along sightlines and between floral borders.
Bring this element to your space:
- Add a rectangular or circular reflecting pool
- Use a modern pond or still water bowl with dark lining
- Frame water with clipped hedges or stone borders
- Place a sculpture or ornamental plant at its center
🌙 Bonus: Light reflections create a magical atmosphere at dusk.
4. Frame Views and Garden Rooms
The estate is built around a concept of sequences—you move from one enclosed space to another: lawn, rose garden, pergola, woodland.
Tips to do the same:
- Use tall hedges or trellises to divide areas
- Add archways or gate-like openings
- Create themed zones: a white garden, a herb bed, a formal rose walk
- Ensure that each “room” has a central focus (statue, bench, pot, fountain)
🪻 Emotional Impact: This technique creates a journey through your garden.
5. Mix Formality with Nature
Though the gardens are structured, Old Westbury still celebrates natural beauty—through wildflower borders, tree alleys, and open lawns.
Design balance:
- Combine tight lines (box hedges) with loose plantings (perennials)
- Use grass paths between formal elements
- Let climbers and vines soften architecture
- Add birds, bees, and butterflies with native planting nearby
🎯 Key Takeaway: The magic lies in contrast—discipline vs. wildness.
Conclusion: Let Old Westbury Gardens Shape Your Garden Vision
Old Westbury Gardens is not just a historic landmark—it’s a design blueprint for elegant, classical, and emotionally engaging gardens. By adopting its core principles—symmetry, structure, seasonal beauty, and refined contrast—you can bring that same timeless charm into your own outdoor space, whether it’s a formal courtyard, suburban yard, or modern rooftop.
For more information about the estate and upcoming events, visit the official Old Westbury Gardens website.
