11 Popular French Flowers to Beautify Your Garden
Bonjour! France is famous for many things, such as having the iconic Eiffel tower, being the source of the most fragrant perfumes globally, and housing Paris, the city of love. On top of that, France is also known as the origin of beautiful indigenous flowers.
You will love the traditional French flowers not only for the beautiful aura they create in your home but also because of their sweet aroma.
Let’s take a look at a number of flowers that are native to France you can try growing in your garden.
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11 Gorgeous Native French Flowers You Should Try Growing
#1. Lavender
With an intoxicating rosemary-like smell, thinly delicate leaves, and royal purple flowers, the French lavender has made itself a darling to many home improvement enthusiasts.
It grows to about 36 inches, blooming during the summer.
The lavender plant should be grown in slightly acidic, well-drained soils. It should receive full sunlight for its proper growth, and as such, you need to place it next to a window if you are growing it indoors.
You do not need to worry about regular watering since lavender is a drought-resistant crop. Too much soil moisture could result in leaf spots as well as root rots.
Related: Is Lavender an Herb, a Shrub or a Flower?
#2. Iris
The iris is one of the most famous French flowers as well as the French national flower.
The history of the iris as a symbol of pureness, freedom, and solemnity dates back to ancient times when the royal families used it as their emblem.
Iris is a drought-tolerant flower that attracts butterflies and birds when it blooms.
Late July is the best time to plant or divide irises. The act of dividing irises is a cultural practice that helps to keep them healthy.
According to K-STATE Research, you should plant your iris very shallow in the soil by covering only the bottom half of the root and leaving the top half exposed.
Water your plant thoroughly and patiently wait for a great iris blossom, which will likely come a year later.
It is necessary to divide your Irises after every three to five years. You should do this after flowering to reduce the chance of bacterial soft rot.
#3. Lily
Most species of lily will work out best in full sun locations with well-drained soil.
For those with heavier soils, it’s best to plant your flowers on a raised bed to improve the drainage.
You can also use popular soil mixes such as peat moss and perlite to improve the soil profile.
Lilies are one-time bloomers (they bloom once each year); interplanting with other plants helps keep the garden blooming for a longer time.
Lilies grow from onion-like bulbs. You should plant the bulbs 4 to 6 inches deep to protect them from harsh winter weather.
The best time for planting or dividing lilies is during the spring or early fall seasons. There is a wide range of lily flower species, each having its own set of colors.
#4. Gerbera Daisy
Gerbera Daisies are members of the sunflower family. There are more than 30 species in the world. They come in a wide range of colors such as pink, red, yellow, orange, and bicolor types.
Gerbera Daisies require well-drained soil since excessive moisture could lead to root rot.
But what if hard clayey is all you have? Well, you could plant your flowers in raised beds, and no root rot is going to happen. Adding organic material to the soil before planting your flowers will also do the trick.
You need to move your flowers to a place with enough sunshine in the morning and later move them to a shade in the afternoon.
You should plant your Gerbera Daisy in the spring, spacing them 12 to 18 inches.
Avoid overhead watering to prevent the spread of diseases. It is also better to water in the morning than in the evening.
#5. Christmas Poinsettia
Gifting poinsettia plants during holidays is an age-old tradition that many people have practiced.
Christmas Poinsettias make incredible home decor with their red bracts and beautiful flowers.
Poinsettias do best when grown in moist, well-drained fertile soils.
You will need to protect your poinsettias from frost. They should also be kept away from artificial light as this can delay flowering or lead to a non-flowering plant.
Prune your plants by removing faded red bracts. More sunlight leads to a healthier plant. Pinching your plant several times during summer helps create a bushy flower.
Poinsettias need a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight in a day.
Once the colorful bracts drop off, reduce your watering and application of fertilizers to give your plant a rest.
#6. French Rose
Roses are the most popular flowers worldwide. Every Valentine, lovers have to gift each other with this fragrant and beautiful flower as a symbol of their unending love.
Other than gifting it, the French rose is also used in perfume making.
Planting roses in containers can be done at any time of the year though it requires special care.
Late winter is the best time to plant your rose flowers.
Rose plants require good drainage, and the soil should be kept moist at all times but never saturated.
Watering should be done slowly to prevent runoff but, at the same time, keen enough to allow soil penetration.
Plant your roses at a site that receives 6 hours of sunshine.
If you are growing a rose in a container and decide to transplant it to your yard, make sure that you plant it at the same depth it was growing in the container.
Remove faded rose flowers from the plant after every blooming cycle. Constant removal of the suckers helps to keep your roses healthy and gorgeous.
#7. Daffodils
The bright yellow daffodil is a signature flower that does well in Gourdon, France. It is a sign that spring has arrived. The plant, though, can also do well in other warmer areas.
When planting your daffodils, select the best and biggest bulbs to produce the best of flowers.
Daffodils do well in fertile and well-drained soils. You should provide it with just enough water as too much could lead to root rot.
And you do not want that on your daffodil, do you?
#8. Cacti
Popular in the Cours Saleya market in Nice, the cacti is a drought-resistant crop that needs little water and lots of sunlight to grow.
It is a nice aesthetic decor to add to your house, especially when planted in a nice container filled with sandy soil.
#9. Climbing Wisteria
Famous for its long vine, the climbing wisteria would do well when planted on your patio or gazebo so that its vine can climb all the way, decorating the entire area.
The plant blooms in full sunlight producing brilliant blue and purple flowers. It requires fertile and well-drained soil for sustainable growth.
#10. Jasmine
Grasse, a French town, is full of these perfect white and fragrant flowers called jasmine. Beautiful name, right? Well, the good news is that you can plant jasmine flowers in your home.
The flower does well in fertile and well-drained soils. It also requires enough sunlight.
Since it has a weak trunk, you will need to support the plant with a cage or trellis.
#11. Red Poppy
Small, fragile, but brightly colored, the red poppy is now common worldwide as a wildflower. The plant requires fertile soils. You will also need to water it constantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National Flower of France?
The national flower of France is Iris and Lily
What is the Most Popular Flower in France?
The most popular flower in France is Iris, which is also the French National flower, and second to that is Lily
What is the Floral Emblem of France?
The floral emblem of France is the stylized version of Irish, which is also the national flower of France. Iris signifies light, life, and perfection and has been used to represent royalty in France since the 13th century.
Conclusion
Whether you’re planning to visit France soon or have visited once and were fascinated by the beautiful flowers there, it’s good to know that you can grow some of those flowers in your backyard. And the good thing is that most of them don’t require special maintenance routines.
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