A stunning ivy-covered home instantly suggests classic luxury. The timeless plant gives it a stylish, wild, yet manicured feel, contrasting beautifully with the neutrally painted home. Viola Davis and Julius Tennon's home perfectly embodies that exterior charm, and according to experts, there's more to it than meets the eye.
A first look at the home's garden ideas reveals how greenery blends seamlessly with the exterior of the acting couple's Spanish Revival home. Low bushes line the path up to the door, and an olive tree sits behind the far left wall. Most notable is the gorgeous English ivy that snakes its way across the entire front of the house. The effect is beautiful, elegant, and striking.
“The exterior of Viola Davis' home demonstrates the importance of gardening vertically,” says Tom Rutter, master gardener and content editor at Homes & Gardens. He continues, “Cultivating the finest evergreen climbing plants, such as English ivy, softens exterior walls, fences and structures, acting as living vertical gardens.” Davis and Tennon's planting technique doesn't create a strict distinction between home and garden, but rather blends the two together to create an inviting look.
Tom Rutter
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Master Gardener and H&G Content Editor
Thomas is a content editor in the garden team at Homes and Gardens. He has been working as a gardener and garden writer for several years. While completing his horticultural training at the Garden Museum in London, he gained experience in many of the UK's world-famous gardens, including Sissinghurst, Lowther Castle and Iford Manor. He then worked at two privately owned estates in Tuscany, Italy.
This planting tip isn't just aesthetically pleasing, it also has great benefits for the actors' garden. Tom says: “If you want to attract birds, bees and butterflies to your garden, climbing plants like poison ivy are a great choice. These plants make excellent pollinator plants and provide shelter and food for local wildlife.” This adds to the overall beauty of the garden.
Plus, Davis' vertical planting techniques are a great way to make the most of a small garden. Tom says, “Adding greenery to a wall or home is aesthetically appealing, but it's also a clever way to make the most of growing space in a small garden. Using climbing or vines to decorate a wall can dramatically increase the amount of plants you can grow in that space.”
If you're interested in planting this type of plant in your home, here are a few things to consider. Tom advises: “Ivy may have a bad reputation, but with a little care and maintenance it can be kept in check. When thinking about how to prune ivy, this can be done at any time of the year – remove the long, arching stems which can grow surprisingly quickly. I tend to prune ivy in late winter before the birds have built dense, safe nesting areas.”
This gorgeous classic ivy is perfect for recreating the feel of Viola Davis' home, and its deep green color and climbing habit make it ideal for vertical gardening.
Bridging the gap between garden and home with innovative outdoor planting techniques is an elegant way to soften and warm a home — just look at the homes of Viola Davis and Julius Tennon if you need proof.
