Upon taking office, our first president, President George Washington, began drawing up plans for a President’s House and gardens. Washington lived at his Mt. Vernon residence and directed construction of the President’s House throughout his terms in office. The second president of the United States, John Adams, moved into the President’s House in 1800, near the end of his term in office. Wanting to grow their own vegetables, Adams and his wife added a flower and vegetable garden.
During WWII, in 1943, President Teddy Roosevelt and wife, Eleanor, planted a Victory Garden to encourage American families to grow their own food. The idea caught on, and over 40% of America’s vegetables were grown in Victory Gardens during the war.
The Rose Garden was first created in 1903 as a colonial-style garden by First Lady Edith Roosevelt. In 1912, President Woodrow Wilson and his wife Ellen, redesigned the Rose Garden with a grassy center and flowerbeds on the sides. In 1961, Jacqueline Kennedy enlarged the rectangular area of lawn in the center of the Rose Garden and narrowed the flowerbeds running along the sides of the garden that were bordered by hedges of low-growing boxwood. Flowering crab apple trees, magnolia trees, roses, annuals, and 3,000 tulips made a spectacular spring display. In fall, chrysanthemums added bright color to the area. Some of the roses growing in the garden were Queen Elizabeth, Pascal, Pat Nixon, King’s Ransom, and Nevada Rose.
In 1971, President Richard Nixon and his wife, Pat, expanded the West Wing, removing some of the Rose Garden. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan and wife, Nancy, restored the Rose Garden to its original beauty using Jacqueline Kennedy’s design.
Today, the Rose Garden is best known of the White House gardens because it is adjacent to the Oval Office and is often seen on television when the president holds press conferences or special ceremonies. Sixty-five years after Jacqueline Kennedy redesigned the Rose Garden, President Trump and his wife, Melania, have redesigned the Rose Garden. The center grassy area where reporters gather was removed and limestone pavers added to make walking easier and allow handicap accessibility. The magnolia trees in each corner of the garden were old and were removed, with new magnolias planted. Many of the rose bushes were old and were removed,
with new roses added. Surrounding the White House are many beautiful gardens offering visitors beautiful landscapes to enjoy, and the Rose Garden is a one of the favorite gardens for the public to visit.
By Karen Bowen, AFGC blog manager
In 1970, the Rose Garden designed by Jacqueline Kennedy in 1961 was filled with flowering bulbs and plants.
This 1913 photo shows the completed Rose Garden constructed by President Woodrow Wilson and his wife, Ellen.
The Rose Garden in 2025 after new trees and roses were planted.
President Donald Trump hosts a dinner in the newly renovated White House Rose Garden, Friday, September 5, 2025. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)
The Rose Garden shows off its newly paved central area added in 2026 that is used for special functions and press conferences.
