Garden plants for France
306 plants that appear on garden plant lists for France: vegetables, herbs, fruit, flowers, shrubs and trees that gardeners there commonly grow, native or introduced. Each links to a growing guide with spacing, sun, water, hardiness, toxicity and sources.
France spans more than one climate. Being on this list does not mean a plant suits your own site: check its hardiness and water needs against your local conditions, and avoid plants listed as invasive in your area.
Plan a garden with these plants →
Vegetables (46)
- Alexanders (horse parsley) Smyrnium olusatrum
- Arugula (rocket) Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa
- Asparagus Asparagus officinalis
- Bell pepper Capsicum annuum
- Broad bean (fava) Vicia faba
- Broccoli Brassica oleracea var. italica
- Brussels sprout Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera
- Buckwheat Fagopyrum esculentum
- Bush bean Phaseolus vulgaris
- Cabbage Brassica oleracea var. capitata
- Carrot Daucus carota subsp. sativus
- Cauliflower Brassica oleracea var. botrytis
- Celeriac Apium graveolens var. rapaceum
- Celery Apium graveolens
- Cherry tomato Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme
- Chili pepper Capsicum annuum (hot types)
- Common ice plant (crystalline ice plant) Mesembryanthemum crystallinum · invasive in some regions
- Corn salad (lamb's lettuce) Valerianella locusta
- Cucumber Cucumis sativus
- Eggplant (aubergine) Solanum melongena
- Endive Cichorium endivia
- Florence fennel Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum
- Garden cress Lepidium sativum
- Garden pea Pisum sativum
- Garlic Allium sativum
- Globe artichoke Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus
- Good King Henry Blitum bonus-henricus
- Jerusalem artichoke Helianthus tuberosus · invasive in some regions
- Leek Allium ampeloprasum (Porrum group)
- Lettuce Lactuca sativa
- Marsh samphire (glasswort) Salicornia europaea
- Muskmelon (cantaloupe) Cucumis melo
- Onion Allium cepa
- Potato Solanum tuberosum
- Pumpkin Cucurbita maxima / C. pepo
- Radicchio (chicory) Cichorium intybus var. foliosum
- Radish Raphanus sativus
- Shallot Allium cepa var. aggregatum
- Skirret Sium sisarum
- Spinach Spinacia oleracea
- Sweet corn Zea mays var. saccharata
- Swiss chard Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris (Cicla)
- Tomato Solanum lycopersicum
- Turnip Brassica rapa subsp. rapa
- Watercress Nasturtium officinale
- Zucchini (courgette) Cucurbita pepo
Herbs (44)
- Alfalfa (lucerne) Medicago sativa
- Basil Ocimum basilicum
- Bay laurel Laurus nobilis
- Black mustard Brassica nigra · invasive in some regions
- Borage Borago officinalis
- Chervil Anthriscus cerefolium
- Chives Allium schoenoprasum
- Clary sage Salvia sclarea · invasive in some regions
- Common rue Ruta graveolens
- Common sage Salvia officinalis
- Coriander (cilantro) Coriandrum sativum
- Costmary (alecost, bible leaf) Tanacetum balsamita
- Curry plant Helichrysum italicum
- Dyer’s madder Rubia tinctorum
- Elecampane Inula helenium
- Fennel Foeniculum vulgare · invasive in some regions
- French sorrel (buckler-leaf sorrel) Rumex scutatus
- French tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
- German chamomile Matricaria chamomilla
- Hyssop Hyssopus officinalis
- Lemon balm Melissa officinalis
- Lemon verbena Aloysia citrodora
- Marjoram Origanum majorana
- Marsh mallow Althaea officinalis
- Mint Mentha spicata
- Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris · invasive in some regions
- Oregano Origanum vulgare
- Parsley Petroselinum crispum
- Pennyroyal Mentha pulegium · invasive in some regions
- Rock samphire (sea fennel) Crithmum maritimum
- Rosemary Salvia rosmarinus
- Salad burnet Poterium sanguisorba
- Sorrel Rumex acetosa
- Spike lavender (broad-leaved lavender) Lavandula latifolia
- St John’s wort (common) Hypericum perforatum · invasive in some regions
- Summer savory Satureja hortensis
- Sweet cicely Myrrhis odorata
- Thyme Thymus vulgaris
- Vervain (common verbena) Verbena officinalis
- White horehound Marrubium vulgare · invasive in some regions
- White (yellow) mustard Sinapis alba
- Winter savory Satureja montana
- Woad Isatis tinctoria · invasive in some regions
- Wormwood Artemisia absinthium · invasive in some regions
Fruit (16)
- Almond Prunus dulcis
- Apricot Prunus armeniaca
- Bergamot orange Citrus bergamia
- Black mulberry Morus nigra
- Common fig Ficus carica
- Dwarf apple tree Malus domestica
- European plum Prunus domestica
- Grapevine Vitis vinifera
- Kiwifruit Actinidia deliciosa
- Medlar Mespilus germanica
- Peach Prunus persica
- Pear Pyrus communis
- Quince Cydonia oblonga
- Strawberry Fragaria x ananassa
- Sweet cherry Prunus avium
- Woodland strawberry (alpine strawberry) Fragaria vesca
Flowers (88)
- Agrimony (church steeples) Agrimonia eupatoria
- Algerian iris (winter iris) Iris unguicularis
- Alpine avens Geum montanum
- Alpine snowbell Soldanella alpina
- Armand’s clematis (evergreen clematis) Clematis armandii
- Arnica (mountain tobacco) Arnica montana
- Auricula Primula auricula
- Bearded iris Iris germanica
- Bear’s breeches Acanthus mollis
- Betony (bishop’s wort) Betonica officinalis
- Canterbury bells Campanula medium
- Carnation Dianthus caryophyllus
- Cheddar pink Dianthus gratianopolitanus
- Common knapweed Centaurea nigra · invasive in some regions
- Cornflower Centaurea cyanus
- Cowslip Primula veris
- Creeping baby’s breath Gypsophila repens
- Cup-and-saucer vine (cathedral bells) Cobaea scandens
- Daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus
- Dalmatian bellflower (wall bellflower) Campanula portenschlagiana
- Deadly nightshade (belladonna) Atropa belladonna
- Dog’s-tooth violet Erythronium dens-canis
- Dwarf grassy bells (edraianthus) Edraianthus pumilio
- Dyer’s chamomile (golden marguerite) Cota tinctoria
- Early crocus (Tommasini’s crocus) Crocus tommasinianus
- Eastern cyclamen (spring cyclamen) Cyclamen coum
- English lavender Lavandula angustifolia
- European white water lily Nymphaea alba
- Field poppy Papaver rhoeas
- Field scabious Knautia arvensis
- Flaming Katy (florist’s kalanchoe) Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
- Flax (linseed) Linum usitatissimum
- Florist’s cyclamen Cyclamen persicum
- Foxglove Digitalis purpurea
- French lavender Lavandula stoechas · invasive in some regions
- French marigold Tagetes patula
- Garden rose Rosa x hybrida
- Geranium (Pelargonium) Pelargonium x hortorum
- Great yellow gentian Gentiana lutea
- Hardy water lily (Marliac hybrids) Nymphaea × marliacea
- Heliotrope Heliotropium arborescens
- Hellebore (Lenten rose) Helleborus x hybridus
- Hollyhock Alcea rosea
- Honesty Lunaria annua
- Hoop-petticoat daffodil Narcissus bulbocodium
- King of the Alps (alpine forget-me-not) Eritrichium nanum
- Lady Banks’ rose (Banksian rose) Rosa banksiae
- Larkspur Consolida ajacis
- Lavandin Lavandula x intermedia
- Lily of the valley Convallaria majalis
- Love-in-a-mist Nigella damascena
- Madonna lily Lilium candidum
- Margined primrose Primula marginata
- Martagon lily (Turk’s cap lily) Lilium martagon
- Nasturtium Tropaeolum majus
- Olympian mullein Verbascum olympicum
- Orpheus flower (Rhodope haberlea) Haberlea rhodopensis
- Pasque flower Pulsatilla vulgaris
- Peace lily Spathiphyllum wallisii
- Peony Paeonia lactiflora
- Perennial candytuft Iberis sempervirens
- Perennial flax (blue flax) Linum perenne
- Persian buttercup Ranunculus asiaticus
- Petunia Petunia x hybrida
- Poppy anemone (kalanit) Anemone coronaria
- Pot marigold Calendula officinalis
- Primrose Primula vulgaris
- Pyrenean violet (resurrection plant) Ramonda myconi
- Red valerian Centranthus ruber
- Regal lily Lilium regale
- Rock soapwort Saponaria ocymoides
- Snake’s head fritillary Fritillaria meleagris
- Soapwort (bouncing bet) Saponaria officinalis · invasive in some regions
- Spring gentian Gentiana verna
- Spring pasque flower (lady of the snows) Pulsatilla vernalis
- Spring snowflake Leucojum vernum
- St Bruno’s lily (paradise lily) Paradisea liliastrum
- Stemless gentian Gentiana acaulis
- Stock (gillyflower) Matthiola incana
- Sunflower Helianthus annuus
- Sweet violet Viola odorata
- Turkish sage (Russell’s phlomis) Phlomis russeliana
- Wallflower Erysimum cheiri
- Weld (dyer’s rocket) Reseda luteola
- White rock cress (Caucasian arabis) Arabis caucasica
- Willow gentian Gentiana asclepiadea
- Winter aconite Eranthis hyemalis
- Yellow asphodel (King’s spear, Jacob’s rod) Asphodeline lutea
Shrubs (50)
- Alpenrose (rusty-leaved alpenrose) Rhododendron ferrugineum
- Anemone clematis Clematis montana
- Beaked yucca Yucca rostrata
- Bigleaf hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla
- Blue blossom (California lilac) Ceanothus thyrsiflorus
- Boxwood Buxus sempervirens
- Cherry laurel Prunus laurocerasus · invasive in some regions
- Chilean potato vine Solanum crispum
- Chinese plumbago (Willmott’s blue leadwort) Ceratostigma willmottianum
- Chinese witch hazel Hamamelis mollis
- Common hazel Corylus avellana
- Common jasmine Jasminum officinale
- Common lilac Syringa vulgaris
- Common myrtle Myrtus communis
- Common rock rose (sun rose) Helianthemum nummularium
- Cotton lavender Santolina chamaecyparissus
- Damask rose Rosa × damascena
- Elder (elderberry) Sambucus nigra
- Fatsia (Japanese aralia, yatsude) Fatsia japonica
- Firethorn (pyracantha) Pyracantha coccinea · invasive in some regions
- Fountain butterfly bush (alternate-leaved buddleja) Buddleja alternifolia
- Garland flower (rose daphne) Daphne cneorum
- Gorse (furze) Ulex europaeus · invasive in some regions
- Green santolina (holy flax) Santolina rosmarinifolia
- Grey-leaved cistus Cistus albidus
- Italian buckthorn (alaternus) Rhamnus alaternus · invasive in some regions
- Japanese mock orange (pittosporum) Pittosporum tobira
- Japanese skimmia (miyama-shikimi) Skimmia japonica
- Japanese spindle (masaki) Euonymus japonicus
- Japanese wisteria (fuji) Wisteria floribunda · invasive in some regions
- Jerusalem sage Phlomis fruticosa
- Kōhūhū Pittosporum tenuifolium
- Laurustinus Viburnum tinus
- Lithodora (purple gromwell) Glandora diffusa
- Mediterranean spurge Euphorbia characias
- Montpellier rock rose (narrow-leaved cistus) Cistus monspeliensis
- Mountain hydrangea (yama-ajisai) Hydrangea serrata
- Portugal laurel Prunus lusitanica
- Red escallonia Escallonia rubra
- Sage-leaved rock rose Cistus salviifolius
- Shrubby germander (tree germander) Teucrium fruticans
- Shrubby scorpion vetch (coronilla) Coronilla valentina
- Silverbush (shrubby bindweed) Convolvulus cneorum
- Slender deutzia (himeutsugi) Deutzia gracilis
- Southernwood (lad’s love) Artemisia abrotanum
- Spanish dagger (mound lily yucca) Yucca gloriosa
- Spotted laurel (Japanese aucuba) Aucuba japonica
- Star magnolia (shidekobushi) Magnolia stellata
- Wall germander Teucrium chamaedrys
- Winter jasmine Jasminum nudiflorum
Trees (40)
- American sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua
- Atlas cedar Cedrus atlantica
- Canary Islands dragon tree Dracaena draco
- Cedar of Lebanon Cedrus libani
- Chilean wine palm Jubaea chilensis
- Cider gum (eucalyptus) Eucalyptus gunnii
- Common hawthorn Crataegus monogyna · invasive in some regions
- Cootamundra wattle Acacia baileyana · invasive in some regions
- Cork oak Quercus suber
- Cornelian cherry Cornus mas
- Deodar cedar Cedrus deodara
- Empress tree (foxglove tree) Paulownia tomentosa · invasive in some regions
- English oak Quercus robur
- English walnut Juglans regia
- English yew Taxus baccata
- European beech Fagus sylvatica
- European fan palm Chamaerops humilis
- European hornbeam Carpinus betulus
- European nettle tree Celtis australis
- European silver fir Abies alba
- Field maple Acer campestre
- Full-moon maple (hauchiwa-kaede) Acer japonicum
- Giant sequoia (Wellingtonia) Sequoiadendron giganteum
- Golden chain tree (laburnum) Laburnum × watereri
- Holm oak Quercus ilex
- Horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum
- Indian bean tree (southern catalpa) Catalpa bignonioides
- Judas tree Cercis siliquastrum
- London plane Platanus x hispanica
- Mount Etna broom Genista etnensis
- Northern red oak Quercus rubra
- Olive Olea europaea
- Prickly juniper (cade) Juniperus oxycedrus
- Sessile oak Quercus petraea
- Silver wattle (mimosa) Acacia dealbata · invasive in some regions
- Strawberry tree Arbutus unedo
- Sweet chestnut Castanea sativa
- Swiss stone pine (arolla pine) Pinus cembra
- Weeping willow Salix babylonica
- Windmill palm (Chusan palm) Trachycarpus fortunei
Grasses (3)
- Barley Hordeum vulgare
- Giant feather grass (golden oats) Celtica gigantea
- Wheat (bread wheat) Triticum aestivum
Groundcovers (19)
- Aubrieta Aubrieta deltoidea
- Biting stonecrop (goldmoss) Sedum acre
- Blue-eyed Mary (creeping navelwort) Omphalodes verna
- Cobweb houseleek Sempervivum arachnoideum
- Common houseleek Sempervivum tectorum
- Common ivy Hedera helix · invasive in some regions
- Encrusted saxifrage Saxifraga paniculata
- Fairy foxglove Erinus alpinus
- Fairy's thimble Campanula cochleariifolia
- Heart-leaved globe daisy Globularia cordifolia
- Hottentot fig (sour fig, ice plant) Carpobrotus edulis · invasive in some regions
- Ivy-leaved toadflax (Kenilworth ivy) Cymbalaria muralis
- Male fern Dryopteris filix-mas
- Mountain everlasting (pussytoes) Antennaria dioica
- Prostrate speedwell Veronica prostrata
- Red clover Trifolium pratense
- Roman chamomile (lawn chamomile) Chamaemelum nobile
- Thrift (sea pink) Armeria maritima
- Yellow whitlow grass Draba aizoides
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.