Join me as I discover 8 beautiful flowers painted and planted by Monet in his garden at Giverny, to inspire our own art and gardens.
Introduction: Monet’s Garden as a Living Masterpiece
Claude Monet, the father of Impressionism, wasn’t just a painter of gardens—he was a devoted gardener himself. When he moved to Giverny in 1883, he transformed a modest plot into a vibrant, ever-evolving canvas of color and light.
Monet’s approach to gardening was as intentional as his painting. He carefully selected each flower planted at Giverny for its color, form, and with the intention to have continuous blooms from season to season to inspire his paintings. Let’s take a closer look at his flower selection paired with paintings, to learn from the master himself.
Flowers Monet Planted & Painted
1. Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus)
- Planted: To cascade along the central path of the Clos Normand.
- Painted: In both garden scenes and still lifes.
- Notable Work: Nasturtiums in a Blue Vase (1880), Private Collection.
2. Sunflowers (Helianthus)
- Planted: In rows to capture their towering presence.
- Painted: In vibrant still lifes.
- Notable Work: Bouquet of Sunflowers (1888), The Met, New York.
3. Irises (Iris germanica)
- Planted: In the Clos Normand, adding vertical accents to the flowerbeds.
- Painted: Frequently, capturing their vibrant hues and forms.
- Notable Work: Lilac Irises (1914-1917), Private Collection.
3. Peonies (Paeonia)
- Planted: Along pathways and borders, admired for their lush blooms.
- Painted: In various still lifes and garden scenes.
- Notable Work: Vase of Peonies (1887), Private Collection.
4. Poppies (Papaver rhoeas)
- Planted: To create vibrant splashes of red in the garden.
- Painted: In fields and garden settings.
- Notable Work: Poppies (1873), Musée d’Orsay, Paris.
7. Roses (Rosa)
- Planted: Climbing over rose arches and trellises throughout the garden.
- Painted: In various garden compositions.
- Notable Work: The Rose Bushes in the Garden at Montgeron
(1876), Museum Barberini in Potsdam, Germany.
8. Gladiolus (Gladiolus hortulanus)
- Planted: For their tall spikes, beautiful form, and vibrant colors.
- Painted: In early garden scenes and still lifes.
- Notable Work: The Garden Gladioli (1876), Detroit Institute of Arts.
8. Water Lilies (Nymphaea)
- Planted: In the water garden Monet created by diverting a branch of the Epte River.
- Painted: Over 250 times, especially in his later years.
- Notable Work: Water Lilies (1919), The Met, New York.
How To Design Your Own Flower Bed for Painting
Choose a Color Story: Select 2–3 main hues that speak to you emotionally or aesthetically. Use these as your anchor for plant choices.
Think in Layers: Arrange plants in tiers—low growers in front, mid-height in the center, tall or arching shapes in back—to create visual depth in your composition.
Consider Light and Shadow: Observe where the sun falls during different times of day. Design with lighting in mind to capture dramatic contrasts or glowing highlights in your painting.
Play with Texture and Shape: Mix delicate petals, bold leaves, and architectural stems. Think like a painter—what forms will keep the eye moving?
Let a Mood Lead You: Are you painting tranquility, joy, nostalgia? Let that feeling guide the bed’s atmosphere, from flower type to density of planting.
I hope you enjoyed learning about the flowers Monet painted and planted in his garden at Giverny and that they inspire your own art and gardens. As Monet famously said, “I must have flowers, always, and always. Color is my daylong obsession, joy, and torment.” As a fellow artist gardener, I agree entirely!
You might also find these other garden painters inspiring: