Wimbledon's cherished floral displays, a long-standing tradition of the Championships, are facing a significant transformation due to increasingly extreme heatwaves. Horticultural experts and tournament officials are considering a shift away from thirsty plants like hydrangeas, which have graced the grounds for over a century, towards more drought-resistant species.
This adjustment comes in the wake of England recording its hottest June on record, with average temperatures reaching 17.1C. The UK also experienced its second warmest June, marked by intense heat and tropical nights. These climatic shifts have prompted Wimbledon's horticultural team to plan for a future where extreme summer temperatures become the norm, rather than isolated events.
While the All England Club has stated there are no immediate plans to eliminate hydrangeas entirely, officials acknowledge that these favored blooms, along with petunias, can no longer sustain their prominence due to their high water requirements. Instead, visitors may see an increase in hardier plants such as lavender, integrated into Wimbledon's traditional purple, green, and white color scheme.
More than 5,000 hydrangeas are currently planted across the grounds, contributing to the tournament's iconic visual identity. Their presence dates back to the 1920s, making them one of the event's most enduring traditions. However, despite sophisticated irrigation systems, the significant water needs of these plants have placed their long-term future under review.
Neil Stubley, Wimbledon's Head of Courts and Horticulture, explained that gardeners are increasingly incorporating plants that can better withstand hotter and drier conditions. "So, what you'll see around the grounds, there'll be more sort of lavenders and those sort of things that are just more drought tolerant and they just don't need as much [water]," Stubley said.
The transition will be gradual. The plan is to relocate existing hydrangeas to cooler, shadier areas where water management can be more precisely controlled, while introducing more resilient plant varieties in sunnier sections of the 42-acre site. "Historically, we've always had hydrangeas, which are very thirsty plants, so again, as part of tradition, we don't want to get rid of them completely, so we just sort of target and make sure that the areas that we put the more thirstier plants are in the more shadier places, so it means that we can control the moisture and how much we irrigate," Stubley elaborated.
These horticultural changes are part of a broader sustainability initiative at the All England Club. Organizers are also transitioning to peat-free compost for hanging baskets and developing a climate-resilient planting project for Henman Hill, intended to showcase species that can thrive in warmer climates without compromising the classic English garden aesthetic. However, plants like rosemary and olive trees have been deemed unsuitable, as officials aim to maintain Wimbledon's distinct character.
Maintaining the pristine condition of the grounds presents ongoing challenges, particularly during prolonged hot spells. Beyond the flowers, grounds staff are responsible for the 18 grass courts, a task requiring careful irrigation to ensure playability and player safety. "We're constantly managing the weather, I've probably got about 25 weather apps that I look at probably every seven minutes, so we're constantly looking at that and just looking at the variables," Stubley noted.
Managing moisture levels is a delicate balance, requiring enough water early in the tournament to prevent the grass from dying, while avoiding courts that are too soft. "If you go too dry at the start of the championships, then all the grass will die, and you end up with a bigger problem at the end of the championship," Stubley stated.
Modern playing styles, with an increasing number of players sliding into shots, add further strain to the courts. "If they slide more, it's a big problem for grass," Stubley said, explaining that the friction can damage the grass blades. The area behind the baseline experiences the most wear from these defensive slides.
The challenges faced by Wimbledon are indicative of wider concerns regarding climate change impacts across the UK. Professor Stephen Belcher, the Met Office's Chief Scientist, commented on the record-breaking June temperatures, stating, "Events like this bring home the implications of climate change, with very high temperatures and humidity bringing significant health implications from heat stress, as well as impacts to a range of sectors such as transport, energy and water supply."