It’s been called America’s most famous garden, and currently, it’s sparking drama. President Trump has announced plans to give the White House Rose Garden a Mar-a-Lago-style makeover. This month, he revealed his vision to pave over the grass in the iconic garden and replace it with a hard surface reminiscent of his Palm Beach estate’s patio.
The proposed renovation would be the most dramatic change to this historic space since its Kennedy-era redesign—yes, even more dramatic than the 2020 transformation. While the roses will reportedly stay, designers are already drafting options for new surfaces, including limestone and even interchangeable hardwood flooring for dancing events. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung defended the plans, stating that «the White House has not been given any tender, loving care in many decades.”
This latest announcement comes as part of Trump’s broader vision for modifying the executive mansion, including plans to install an elaborate chandelier in the Oval Office and potentially build a $100 million ballroom similar to the one at Mar-a-Lago. The proposal has already sparked debate among historians and preservationists, with some viewing it as a significant break from the garden’s traditional role as a symbol of presidential dignity and continuity.
But to understand the weight of this proposed transformation, we need to step back and trace the evolution of America’s most famous garden, a space that has witnessed over a century of presidential history.
The Early 1900s (Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson)
The original Rose Garden, designed by George E. Burnap, in 1914.
In 1902, First Lady Edith Roosevelt decided to transform what was a rather unglamorous stable area into something far more refined—a colonial-style garden (and we love her for it). This initial garden was part of a larger renovation that involved removing conservatories from the West Terrace and featured charming paisley-shaped flower beds filled with countryside flowers like daisies and wild pansy. And while it may seem “simple,” it was quite revolutionary for its time.
The “Rose Garden” moniker we know today actually came courtesy of Ellen Wilson, President Woodrow Wilson’s wife, in 1913. Working with landscape architect George Burnap, Mrs. Wilson established the first proper rose garden, cementing roses as an unofficial White House symbol—so much so that Scottish stonemasons had already carved roses into the building’s columns during its 18th-century reconstruction.
The 1930s (Franklin Delano Roosevelt)
A tent in the Rose Garden.
The 1930s brought a dash of Central Park elegance to the Rose Garden when Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. (son of Frederick Law Olmsted Sr., the mastermind behind Central park) stepped in during Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s administration. Olmsted Jr. made his mark by introducing cast iron furniture, giving visitors a proper place to pause and admire the presidential plantings. He also cleverly arranged plants and pathways to create unobstructed views across the garden—what designers call «sight lines»—making the modest space feel larger by drawing the eye through long, clear corridors of greenery. His seasonal planting rotations ensured the garden remained vibrant year-round.
The 1960s (John F. Kennedy)
The Rose Garden alongside the South Portico of the White House in 1967.
The Rose Garden truly bloomed into its modern form under the Kennedys in 1962. After touring Europe’s grand gardens, President John F. Kennedy returned with a vision: create an American garden that could rival those across the Atlantic while serving as a functional space for presidential business. He was inspired by the Gardens of Versailles, but he wanted something distinctly American—a green theater that would embody the gardening traditions of Washington and Jefferson. He asked Rachel “Bunny” Mellon, a now-legendary garden designer.
Mellon, though an accomplished garden designer for wealthy patrons and even French couturier Hubert de Givenchy, was initially uncertain about the task. “I questioned my ability to design a garden of such importance,” she wrote for the White House Historical Association. “Paying little attention to that doubt, [JFK] bubbled with enthusiasm, with fascinating details of how he wanted a garden to appeal to the most discriminating taste, yet a garden that would hold a thousand people for a ceremony. What gardener could resist?”
President John F. Kennedy returning to the White House office from the Rose Garden.
Finally, her inspiration struck while observing magnolia trees at New York’s Frick Collection. She collaborated with Perry Wheeler, D.C.’s elite landscape architect, and together they created a central lawn large enough for 1,000 people (50-by-100-feet), framed by four magnolia trees (inspired by Andrew Jackson’s original), and bordered by flowering plants that could be changed seasonally. The design included Katherine crabapple trees, roses, and boxwoods, creating a “green theater” that was both functional and beautiful.
The garden became so loved that foreign leaders would actually request meetings there instead of in the Oval Office. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy would often walk the garden paths while contemplating decisions that would affect the entire world. This space became known as the “outdoor Oval Office” among White House staff.
The 1970s (Richard Nixon)
Edward Finch Cox and First Daughter Tricia Nixon-Cox are photographed here walking through rows of flowers following their wedding in the White House Rose Garden.
The Rose Garden reached a new level of cultural significance during the Nixon administration—particularly with the wedding of First Daughter Tricia Nixon to Edward Cox on June 12, 1971. This historic celebration marked the first and only outdoor wedding of a First Daughter at the White House. The garden was transformed into an enchanted setting with a custom-made ironwork gazebo adorned with hundreds of white roses—President Nixon’s favorite flower—and stephanotis intertwined with lush green garlands. The White House metal shop crafted the gazebo specifically for the occasion, which later found a permanent home at the Nixon Presidential Library in California.
The wedding preparations were meticulous, with renowned Philadelphia horticulturist J. Liddon Pennock working alongside White House staff to enhance the garden’s natural architecture. Approximately 400 guests witnessed the ceremony, which featured traditional white chairs arranged to create a center aisle decorated with ribbons and flower clusters.
The garden’s role in Tricia Nixon’s wedding was so significant that it inspired a wave of outdoor wedding trends across America. The event was watched by an estimated 70 million television viewers, and florists nationwide reported a surge in requests for “White House-style” wedding arrangements in the months that followed.
The 1990s and 2000s (Bill Clinton and Barack Obama)
President Barack Obama throws a ball for Bo, the family dog, in the Rose Garden of the White House in 2010.
The 1990s and 2000s saw the Rose Garden continue its role as a stage for historic moments. Under President Clinton’s administration, the garden witnessed the momentous signing of the peace treaty between Israel and Jordan in 1994. The Obama years brought both formal ceremonies and casual moments to the garden—he used the space for everything from official announcements to informal meetings including the famous “beer summit” addressing social justice issues. In more personal moments, Obama was often seen throwing a ball for the First Dog, Bo, among the roses.
The 2020 Transformation (Donald Trump)
A view of the renovated Rose Garden at the White House in August of 2020.
Each president has left a subtle mark on the garden: George H.W. Bush added runner-friendly grass varieties to the perimeter since he liked to jog past it, Clinton added more dramatic, photogenic blooms for press conferences, George W. Bush requested fragrant varieties near the entrance to greet visitors, and the Obama administration introduced pollinator-friendly plants to support local bee populations.
But the garden underwent its most significant renovation since the Kennedy era in 2020 under First Lady Melania Trump’s direction. The renovations were conducted by Perry Guillot, Inc. and Oehme, van Sweden & Associates, and included practical updates like improved drainage systems and electrical infrastructure. It also included controversial changes: the addition of a three foot-wide limestone path, replacing its signature crab apple trees with white rose shrubs, and the addition of boxwoods and pastel flowers.
As America’s most famous garden potentially faces this next dramatic transformation, only time will tell if Trump’s vision of limestone and hardwood will bloom or wilt in the court of public opinion.
Julia Cancilla is the engagement editor (and resident witch) at ELLE Decor, where she manages the brand’s social media presence and covers trends, lifestyle, and culture in the design world. Julia built her background at Inked magazine, where she grew their social media audiences by two million, conducted interviews with A-list celebrities, and penned feature articles focusing on pop culture, art and lifestyle. Over her five years of digital media experience, Julia has written about numerous topics, from fashion to astrology.
