When Martha Stewart sees this popular color in her garden, she 'takes it out' – these are the vibrant flowers she loves instead
Not every hue is welcome in the guru's garden – here's what she avoids and what you can expect to see around her most iconic properties


The release of Martha – Stewart's eponymous Netflix documentary – is welcome news to those (including us) who love catching glimpses of the businesswoman's empire. Arguably, at the heart of it all is her love for gardening – a practice to which Stewart is synonymous – so naturally, it came up in conversation throughout the documentary in question.
Alongside footage from Stewart's iconic Bedford home, the media mogul shared a list of everything she dislikes in life, from 'inefficiency' and 'aprons' (yes) to 'not paying attention to details.' Following her distaste for 'house dresses' were two colors, purple and red – the latter of which she avoids in her garden.
'I used to dislike the color purple a lot. But I don’t dislike it so much [now]. And red. I don’t plant very many red things in my garden. If something pops up red, it’s usually taken out – so red is another thing I’m not very fond of,' Stewart says in the documentary.
A post shared by Martha Stewart (@marthastewart48)
A photo posted by on
In the footage, Stewart explains that she inherited her drive to create the 'perfect' garden from her dad, who, like her, was a 'perfectionist.'
'If you want to be happy for the rest of your life, make a garden… I am a perfectionist, and it runs in the family. It started with my father. Dad made each of us learn how to garden – he could grow anything. I was the ideal daughter, I wanted to learn, he had a lot to teach, and I listened,' Stewart says.
She later takes viewers behind the scenes of one of her vast homes, showcasing the many trees that surround her property. 'I have planted every tree you see — several thousand,' she adds. 'A garden is a very beautiful place for me because I like to get things done. I never look the other way. I look at a problem, look at it, and try to solve it.'
A post shared by Martha Stewart (@marthastewart48)
A photo posted by on
Red is unlikely to make the cut in Stewart's garden, but what can we expect to see instead? In a blog, Ryan McCallister (who has been the head gardener at Stewart’s 150-acre Bedford estate since 2011) shares the summer flowers he and Stewart look forward to every year, starting with a timeless favorite: roses.
Sign up to the Homes & Gardens newsletter
Design expertise in your inbox – from inspiring decorating ideas and beautiful celebrity homes to practical gardening advice and shopping round-ups.
'At the farm, roses are incorporated into the flower garden where they line the perimeter of the whole garden. We also have two long rows of roses flanking two parallel rows of lilacs, which start to bloom right as the lilacs fade,' he says. Next, we can expect to see Cosmos. 'We like to plant them from seed, as they prefer to be directly sown in the garden once it is warm. They need to be replanted every year, but they very often self-seed where they are happy,' McCallister says.
Recreating Stewart's garden colors is one thing, but replicating her success is another. Our content director, Lucy Searle, tried and tested Martha Stewart's pruners in her garden with beautiful results (but of course, since they carry her name, after all).
Our director has written about gardens for 30 years, and these pruners are among her favorites. From a quality point of view, she says they're ‘designed for a lifetime,' thanks to their tough carbon steel and rust resistance. With these pruners, old-world style craftsmanship meets precision yard and gardening equipment – it's the best $12 a garden lover can spend.
Robust with deep green, disease-resistant foliage, this beautiful rounded bush will impress all season long. It has orange buds opening to cupped flowers that are perfectly apricot and what is described as a tea-like scent. Plus, they're easy to handle with few thorns on stems.
Much like the pruner, this mini weeder carries Stewart's name, so we can expect quality. It's perfect for those smaller weeding projects that require dexterity, and it's at the lowest price we've seen, so there's no better time to invest.

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.
-
An unexpected layout has totally transformed this family kitchen – it's now filled with warmth, texture, and multifunctional zones
From chaotic to cohesive – this kitchen is a masterclass in choosing the right layout
By Molly Malsom
-
Early spring is the ideal time to prune sweetgums – arboriculture experts reveal pruning tips for safe and stunning trees
Starting to prune early in a tree’s life is highly recommended
By Drew Swainston
-
Martha Stewart's nostalgic gray-green kitchen cabinet color is having a revival – and I predict it will be a huge trend in 2026
A timeless choice for the future – there is a lot to love about a serene gray green
By Jennifer Ebert
-
Martha Stewart's quiet luxury rose garden is the most magnificent I've ever seen – it's the jewel of her Bedford farm (but she doesn't gatekeep her planting tips)
Cantitoe Corners is a rose-lover's paradise – but you don't need acres of manicured grounds to enjoy this bloom, as Martha herself shares
By Megan Slack
-
Martha Stewart's 'ideal kitchen' is a hub of smart storage and strategic decorations – it's surprisingly easy to recreate in the smallest of spaces
Martha's TV set kitchen features a butler sink with hidden storage, boundless drawers, and decorative shelves for easy access
By Hannah Ziegler
-
Martha Stewart used this vintage-style pan to make cute bunny cakes for Easter – it's a real heirloom piece (and only $40 now)
It's not Easter without bunny-themed baked goods, and Martha set a precedent with a novel cake pan – it's American-made and has exceptional durability
By Megan Slack
-
Martha Stewart's intelligent cabinets 'take every inch into consideration' – their 'visually light' style will solve your small kitchen storage problems
'Every kitchen can be beautiful and functional, no matter what the size': 9 years since sharing her clever storage, Martha's cabinets are just as beautiful
By Megan Slack
-
Martha Stewart's smart laundry room shelving makes exceptional use of every inch of wall space – it will turn your smallest area into an ultra-functional space
'You can greatly expand the usability of your space by just installing some of these great shelving units': You can follow her technique for under $34
By Megan Slack
-
Martha Stewart's pale pistachio entryway is not just for Easter, it's for life – designers swear by this unique take on my favorite color for year-round calm
The trend for pistachio green shows no signs of waning
By Jennifer Ebert
-
Martha Stewart's houses – inside her most iconic properties, from Cantitoe Corners to Turkey Hill
The lifestyle guru built her legacy around her homes, some of which are the most recognized homes in modern American history – we explore her portfolio
By Megan Slack