Amal and George Clooney’s Garden Teaches Privacy Planting

https://www.homesandgardens.com/celebrity-homes/amal-george-clooney-privacy-planting

Publish Date: 2026-06-27 07:00:00

The best privacy planting strikes a balance between manicured and wild – and all the better if it can be in an utterly gorgeous natural setting. For a guidebook on the design, look no further than Amal and George Clooney’s Italian home, Villa Oleandra, where their verdant planting perfectly achieves the equilibrium between high-impact, low-maintenance, and protective gardening.

George purchased the 18th-century estate on the shores of Lake Como in 2002 in the village of Laglio, where he and Amal first met. Over the years, they have updated the classic old-world architecture with an air of modern luxury – all while maintaining its character – and the same can be said of their take on Italian gardening. Their water’s edge planting reflects the surrounding rich Mediterranean-style landscape, incorporating a mix of manicured boxwoods, wild wisteria, and mature trees for ultimate privacy. It feels at once classic and new.

Luckily, the Clooneys’ approach to planting for privacy is easier to recreate than you might think, no matter where in the world you live. To get you started, Homes & Gardens has curated a selection of the best pruners (like the Dual Action Fiskar Shears from Amazon) and plants that reflect George and Amal’s outdoor style. Alongside images of their Lake Como property, you’ll also get explanations from master gardeners on how to achieve a balanced, privacy-ensuring Mediterranean scheme in any yard.

Recreate The Clooney’s Privacy Planting at Home

Our editors’ picks feature all the seeds and tools you’ll need to create a rich botanical garden rivalling the Lake Como property.

Classic Climber

These beautiful purple and green flowers are a classic for romantic privacy planting. They would look beautiful tracing up the front of a home for an instant storybook finish.

Red Flowers