Hearst Castle Gardens

The Renaissance Revival style often includes lush gardens, and Hearst Castle is no exception. As we know from our exploration of garden history, structures and garden form a unified whole in the Renaissance style.

Structures and gardens complement each other in a unified design

Julia Morgan and William Randolph Hearst designed the gardens to be in bloom year round, using native and Mediterranean climate plants. Roses, Rhododendron, and Hydrangeas thrive on the sunny hilltop, as does the Bougainvillea that grows on the guest houses. You can find the fragrant “Peace climber” rose growing on several structures and trees.

Roses and hydrangeas flourish in full sun

Playful marble statue - maiden feeding an ear of corn to a lamb

Morgan and Hearst incorporated native Coastal Live Oaks (Quercus agrifolia) into the garden design – sometimes changing plans to work around an existing tree, other times moving an entire tree and its root structure to a new location.

Stately Coastal Live Oak that provides shade and habitat

Other trees found in the garden include Cryptomeria (a deciduous Redwood), Yews, Cypress, Stone Pine, Deodar Cedar, various palms, and fruit trees.

A variety of trees, flowers, and hedges

Japanese boxwood is used as a low hedge, and as a parterre to boarder planting areas.



Boxwood parterres

Terraces provide places to gather, and to enjoy the spectacular “borrowed” view of the hills, coast, and Pacific Ocean.

Formal terrace with a fabulous view

Wide rustic terrace surrounded with pines and palms

 The Esplanade is a wide walking path around the hilltop. It is lushly planted with flowers, and provides afternoon shade.

Orange trees line the Esplanade