French Flowers for Gardens

French Lavender

• French lavender is part of the lavender plant species, which was originally grown in the mountains of the Mediterranean and eventually made its way throughout Australia and southern Europe. The French lavender plant is characterized by its shoots, which feature a green color and appear like spears. At the tip of each rod, six-to-10 blue-violet flowers bloom, which is the part of the plant most commonly used for fragrances and medicinal purposes.

Lily Flower

• The lily is the national flower of France, where it is called the Fleur-de-Lis. Lily flowers are perennial flowers, and they mainly grow in USDA Plant Hardiness zones 4 through 8; those living in zone 9 or 10 may still grow lily flowers, but the flowers must be cold stored during the winter months as lilies require a cool dormant period to produce healthy flowers. The lily flower is categorized in three blooming types: spring bloomers, flowering time from mid spring to summer; midseason bloomers, flowering from the beginning of summer to the middle of summer; and late season bloomers, which will flower from the end of summer till the first frost of fall.

Rosemary

• The rosemary bush, Rosmarinus officnalis, is a traditional flowering plant within France, as it could be easily trimmed to create the essential French garden. Rosemary is characterized by needle-like shrubbery highlighted by blue flowers. This fragrant plant produces gray-green needles, which should be pruned after the flowers have ceased blooming. The trimmings of this flowering plant can be used as an herb in cooking. Rosemary requires a minimum of six hours of sunlight per day and thrives in humid climates. If you live in an area where temperatures dip below 30 degrees Fahrenheit, the plant must be transferred indoors during the winter months.