I have been obsessed with Goldie Hawn since I first saw The First Wives Club, and my love for her has never once ebbed. So when her latest TikTok landed on my feed, showing the actor dancing through her home, it was always going to get my attention. (That You Don’t Own Me sequence lives rent-free in my head, after all).
However, it wasn’t Goldie’s joyful dancing that made me stop scrolling this time; it was the chic patio behind her.
Now, there’s no denying that the pale stone terrace and crisp white balustrade played a big part in this. The lush green palms planted in tall black containers, though? Well, they made for a remarkably simple combination… and they got me thinking about what I now refer to as Goldie Hawn’s One-Plant Rule.
Goldie Hawn’s One-Plant Rule
The clue is in the name when it comes to Goldie Hawn’s One-Plant Rule: there is no complicated planting scheme, no kaleidoscope of flowers competing for attention. Instead, the actor has essentially repeated one plant across her patio – and the result is surprisingly sophisticated.
In fact, it might just be one of the simplest ways to make a patio feel more considered, cohesive and, yes, expensive.
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There is something inherently elegant about repetition in garden design. Designers do it all the time, actually (how many times have you heard someone telling you to plant in drifts of three?), because using the same plant throughout a space creates a sense of rhythm and cohesion.
Goldie Hawn’s palms are particularly effective because they introduce a lovely pop of emerald green and some much-needed height, all without making the terrace feel crowded.
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It is a trick that works particularly well around hard landscaping, where greenery is being used to soften walls, paving, terraces or outdoor dining areas. And the beauty of this idea is that you don’t need to recreate Goldie Hawn’s patio (or have access to Goldie’s bank account) to use the same design principle.
In fact, I think the one-plant rule is particularly useful if you’re working with a smaller budget. Rather than buying one of everything that catches your eye at the garden center, choose a single plant that you love and buy several of the same variety. Three matching containers can create a much stronger visual impact than a collection of unrelated pots.
You can also vary the scale. If your budget doesn’t stretch to larger, more mature plants, start with smaller specimens and allow them to establish over time. Or try something like lavender, salvia or rosemary, even! Any one plant that thrives on neglect should do the trick nicely; just make sure you’re choosing something that suits your personal taste and your conditions, then repeat it consistently.
Positioning them in simple containers will help create the same sense of structure, and they can establish themselves over time if you make sure you give the plants room to grow.
And remember, Goldie’s black planters work because they provide a consistent frame for the greenery. Still, black isn’t essential; charcoal, dark brown or terracotta can all work – but keeping the pot color restrained is the easiest way to let the plant become the star of the show.
Goldie Hawn’s One-Plant Rule is a particularly effective approach for patios because you don’t need to fill every available space; a handful of well-positioned containers and plants is all it takes to make it feel as if a designer nipped in to plot it all out for you. Which, hey, is never a bad thing, right?
