11 Green-Thumb Celebrities You Never Knew Were Avid Gardeners

How many celebrities really do their own gardening? After all, when you're making millions to star in a movie or put on a concert, it makes sense to hire experts to handle the chores around your home (and many of the best celebrity backyards likely do get professional TLC). But some celebrities are also experts when it comes to growing things. You might be surprised at how many well-known actors, singers, and athletes love to dig in the dirt themselves. Between filming, making appearances, and building brands, these celebs still find time to cultivate a plant-friendly environment with the perfect balance of water, nutrients, and sunlight to help plants of all types thrive.

Celebrity green thumbs are nothing new — Marilyn Monroe was an avid gardener in her day. The other stars on this list also spend their lives in the public eye, yet find time to strengthen their green thumbs. This includes several actors, like Jennifer Garner, who actually owns a farm, and Elizabeth Olsen, who took up the hobby during the pandemic. Some athletes who dominated their sports, like David Beckham and Aly Raisman, now dominate the weeds and nutritional deficiencies that can come with plant parenthood.

Who hasn't seen Jennifer Garner in "13 Going on 30" or followed her character in the "Alias" series? Even if you haven't watched much of her work, you likely recognize her face and know she was married to Ben Affleck. But there are likely things you don't know about the Golden Globe winner. She's a trained ballerina and played saxophone when she was in high school, for instance. Oh, and she owns a farm in Oklahoma that's been in her family since 1936. And she also tends to her backyard fruit garden at her California home.

While Garner owns the farm that her parents purchased, it's her brother and his wife who live there and tend to the farm. She still spends plenty of time strengthening her green thumb in her backyard, where she grows fruit and has an enclosed gardening area full of veggies. And she posts frequently about her gardening adventures, including an Instagram post of her singing to her carrots. Plus, she's one of the co-founders of the Once Upon a Farm brand of organic food for babies and kids. It's safe to say, Garner is one celeb who's passionate about growing healthy food, and she definitely knows a thing or two about tending to a garden.

You likely wouldn't expect the founder of a cosmetics company and one of the stars of "The Kardashians" to be fond of digging in the dirt. But Kylie Jenner is breaking stereotypes as a celebrity with a green thumb who tends to a garden with fruits, veggies, and flowers. The young entrepreneur finds time between starting companies, filming reality show episodes, and growing her social media following to nurture a backyard garden at her California home.

Like many people, Jenner discovered her passion for gardening during the pandemic. She shared her journey on social media back in 2020, calling gardening one of the things that she wouldn't do under normal circumstances. But she was very excited about her little garden and continued to post garden updates about her fruits and veggies on her Stories. One of Jenner's Instagram posts included images of greens, strawberries, spring onions, flowers, and more from the garden, which is next to her daughter's playhouse. She also showed off her harvest sitting on a kitchen counter.

For 20 years, David Beckham commanded the soccer field as one of the most storied players in the game. He co-owns soccer clubs, has brand deals, and started an editorial and commercial content company. Beyond his illustrious soccer and entrepreneurial career, Beckham is also well-known for being married to and having kids with Posh Spice. He has a highly recognizable face and gets plenty of press. Yet he still finds time to grow a fairly substantial garden, which he sometimes showcases on social media, specifically on his Instagram page.

In those videos, Beckham shows off neatly constructed raised beds with plenty of space between them, all tucked inside a classic white picket fence. Some of his videos show him growing and harvesting carrots, white radishes, and broad beans, among other veggies. You can spot different rustic-style trellises to support the vining veggies. He's also shared about his prolific potato and kale harvests. Beckham's social media highlights other features of his country life, including chickens, dogs, and beehives. In fact, he's passionate about beekeeping and even co-founded the BEEUP company, which produces fruit snacks made with honey.

Whenever there's a discussion about daytime talk shows, Oprah Winfrey is part of the conversation. After all, she's responsible for shaping what talk shows look like these days. She's been in movies, started her own magazine, is a producer, and co-founded Oxygen Media. Not only does Winfrey know how to dig deep and get thoughtful answers during her interviews, but she also enjoys digging in the soil. Her green thumb helps her enjoy success in the gardening arena, like she does in the media world.

Oprah Winfrey has a sprawling flower garden even casual enthusiasts will love, but she doesn't stop there. Her land in Maui was once farmland, and she, along with Bob Greene, is working to restore it to that purpose, with 16 acres of the land set aside to farm. The goal is to supply fresh, locally grown produce to the islanders. Winfrey shares that the project has reinforced that with gardening, just as in life, the results depend on how much effort you put into it. Winfrey does have help with her gardens. Her coveted rose garden was designed by Dan Bifano, but Winfrey was heavily involved in the design elements and even helped plant the roses.

Acting runs in the family for Elizabeth Olsen. She's the younger sister of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who played Michelle in "Full House." The younger Olsen played many roles in films, starting in childhood, and is well-known for her role as the Scarlet Witch in the Marvel Universe. And while gardening wasn't a part of her upbringing, it was always something she had planned to do someday. That time came during the pandemic.

Olsen is another celeb who took up gardening during COVID. She worked with a landscape design company to create her dream backyard, including enclosed raised beds as part of the layout. And when the pandemic caused a pause in her acting schedule, she already had seedlings waiting to be planted. She threw herself into gardening, although she did lose interest for a short time during a lull in the harvest. (If you find yourself feeling less motivated at some points in your gardening, stick with it as Olsen did.) She found a renewed interest when her tomatoes started to ripen and she continued growing produce, including the blueberries on the bushes she planted.

You can probably hear Roseanne Barr's voice in your head right now if you try, as the comedian has a distinct sound and style. She's known for her outspoken nature and her role as the matriarch of the Conner family on "Roseanne." What you might not know is that her path to fame started after having kids. She actually began doing stand-up comedy at a restaurant where she worked. And you also might not know that Barr used to own a macadamia nut farm in Hawaii and finds gardening to be a good way to lose weight. 

The star even had a brief reality show about her farm called "Roseanne's Nuts." Side note: Macadamias are one of the best nut trees to grow in your yard. So, if you want to grow your own harvest, take inspiration from Barr's former property. Her Hawaiian farm was also home to fruits, including finger limes, tangerines, apples, and avocados. While she now lives in Texas with her son's family, she continues gardening on their large Hill Country property. Barr also drives a tractor to mow the lawn and keeps the trims trimmed with her chainsaw.

From Jess Day in "New Girl" to Jovie in "Elf," Zooey Deschanel lights up the screen with her quirky, captivating personality. Her singing talent in "Elf" wasn't made up as part of the character. Deschanel is also a singer and songwriter. And she also has the title of entrepreneur, thanks to her role as co-founder of The Farm Project, which aims to make access to healthy, home-grown food easier.

It's easy to get caught up in the stunning details of Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott's home, but what's even more impressive is her involvement in gardening. Her girl-next-door look might make it a little more plausible that Deschanel gardens, but you might be surprised by the importance of growing food to the actor. But just because she grows her own veggies, that doesn't mean she's in love with gardening. In fact, she says that was the inspiration for her product, Lettuce Grow, a hydroponic growing system that makes it easy to garden, even if you're short on space. That just goes to show that you can be good at gardening and value its benefits, even if it's not your favorite way to spend time.

Known for his appearance in "Queer Eye," Jonathan Van Ness has a big personality with a penchant for positivity. He's also a podcaster, author, and hairstylist. Van Ness can be so bubbly and goofy that you might wonder if he could take gardening seriously. The answer is yes! He and his husband have lots of gardening areas and fun features like arches with vines growing on them.

Van Ness posts garden updates on social media, proudly showing off his many raised garden beds full of lush, green plants. Just a few of the plants he grows include tomatoes, grapes, blackberries, peppers, and eggplants. He protects his plants well, providing trellis support for vining plants, displaying shade sails over garden plots, and using netting around vulnerable plants. Just like Van Ness, you can choose some of the many plants that are perfect for a raised garden bed to start flexing your green thumb.

Imagine the pressure you must feel to become one of the most decorated gymnasts in the country. Aly Raisman doesn't have to imagine it. She lived it as a captain of the women's gymnastics team at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. Those appearances netted her six Olympic medals. Not only does Raisman know the stress of being an Olympic athlete, but she also deals with OCD. So, she uses gardening as a way to relax, practice self-care, and support her mental health.

The gymnast says that gardening makes her feel calm and present. And she doesn't just limit her gardening efforts to a few plants. Raisman likes to grow all sorts of plants, even if it's a food that's not her favorite. While gardening was already a passion before the pandemic, the gymnast spent a lot more time on the hobby during quarantine. Raisman often shares gardening updates on social media. To help yourself enjoy some of the same benefits, consider starting with one of many calming houseplants that will help you relax.

Modeling is a family affair for Bella Hadid. She, along with her sister, Gigi, followed in the footsteps of their former model mother, Yolanda. Hadid has graced the covers of many magazines, walked countless runways at fashion shows, and represented many luxury brands. With a job in the public eye, it's no surprise that Hadid found herself slowing down significantly when COVID hit. Her quarantine time was spent on her mom's Pennsylvania farm, where she found herself gardening alongside her mom and sister.

We're not talking about growing a few houseplants or a small raised bed of veggies. The Hadid family replanted 1,500 lavender plants during the pandemic. And while they were at it, they took time to have a little fun with some cute gardening poses that made it to Hadid's Instagram post. If you take inspiration from the Hadid family, there are plenty of brilliant ways you can use lavender from the garden around your house (but you don't need 1,500 plants!).

"If I Ever Lose My Faith in You," "Fields of Gold," and "Roxanne" ... those song titles (and many more) are so recognizable and catchy, thanks to the musical genius of Sting. He's also a composer and the father of six children. Sting and Trudie Styler, who have been married since 1992, own a Tuscan villa south of Florence that looks straight out of a movie. Shortly after renovating the home on the property, they took to the gardens to bring them back to life.

Styler's dad was a farmer, which was one reason why the couple was so eager to cultivate the land. They didn't do it all on their own and had help from experts and locals. But the process saw the rejuvenation of olive trees, vegetable gardens, and vineyards. Even though they have help, Sting and Styler also have a hand in harvesting the land. Their property in England also has a garden, along with livestock, which they used as a major source of food when their kids were growing up.