Christina Aguilera uses vibrant hibiscus, Zellige tiles, and soft neutrals to create the perfect Tuscan yard – experts say her look is shaping trends

The singer curated a Mediterranean-inspired garden which, experts say, is replicable on a smaller scale – and success begins with this fashionable flora

Christina Aguilera
(Image credit: Cindy Ord via Getty Images for MasterClass)

As our thoughts turn to fall and how best to prepare our yards for the cooler months ahead, a Mediterranean-inspired aesthetic may have felt like the last thing on our agenda. However, Christina Aguilera has reminded us that some aesthetics are truly evergreen, and this includes her beautiful Tuscan-style courtyard.

The singer's Mediterranean garden, located in Beverly Hills, is a celebration of southern European sophistication – from its soft neutral-painted façade to the Zellige tiled-covered water feature, climbing ivy, Juliet's balcony, and, most strikingly, hibiscus.

This vibrant flora offers the perfect Tuscan-style aesthetic, but its recorded history dates back to ancient Egypt. It has since evolved to be highly regarded in different cultures and countries across the world, including Italy, where it is widespread for mainly ornamental purposes. In Italy and beyond, hibiscus is known for its vibrancy, meaning it is often synonymous with summer. However, as Aguilera reminds us, this flower can survive long into the cooler months.

It's worth noting that it is better to plant hibiscus in the spring (so the plants can enjoy an entire growing season in warmer conditions). However, planting in the fall can be successful (especially in hotter states), so we can still tap into Aguilera's space without waiting until the new year.

Plus, getting the look doesn't involve hibiscus exclusively. Craig Wilson, the co-founder, director, and in-house gardening expert at Gardeners Dream, explains that the Mediterranean aesthetic is one of 2024's most prominent garden trends, not least because it's refreshingly simple to experiment with the look at any point of the calendar.

'There is nothing quite like your very own at-home retreat. Since the beginning of December 2023, ‘rustic garden ideas’ have seen a 163% increase in searches on Pinterest. Marrying this with our internal sales data, we expect to see many homeowners looking to the Mediterranean for garden inspiration,' he says. Alongside hibiscus, he suggests we can achieve the pefect space with the next inevitable choice: citrus trees.

Mediterranean garden with lemon groves

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Garrett)

'Internal sales data shows a 400% increase in Lemon tree sales, alongside a 120% increase for Orange trees, both of which work beautifully to create a rustic Mediterranean feel. Various grape plants have also seen an increase of 200%,' he explains.

'Pairing any of these citrus trees or grape vines with terracotta hues and concrete textures will help make your garden feel like a European getaway, and it doesn’t have to be expensive, either. Use terracotta pots and planters set at varying levels and old broken concrete slabs to create charming walkways.'

We can also get the look with our favorite Mediterranean-style picks below. We particularly love the terracotta planter, designed as the perfect container for a lemon tree.


Megan Slack
Head of Celebrity Style News

Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens, where she leads the celebrity/ news team. She has a history in interior design, travel, and news journalism, having lived and worked in New York, Paris, and, currently, London. Megan has bylines in Livingetc, The Telegraph, and IRK Magazine, and has interviewed the likes of Drew Barrymore, Ayesha Curry, Michelle Keegan, and Tan France, among others. She lives in a London apartment with her antique typewriter and an eclectic espresso cup collection, and dreams of a Kelly Wearstler-designed home.