Plants & Nations: France
Reaching from mountains to lowlands and from the cooler north to the warmer Mediterranean coast, France is truly a haven for various plants.
Old French village houses and cobblestone street are decorated with flowers. /VCG Photo
Flowers play an important role in French life. Balconies are decorated with colorful hanging flowers while village houses are surrounded by flourishing plants. The heart of the perfume industry is Grasse, a small town northwest of Nice, which is famous for the production of many natural fragrances including jasmine, lavender, and rose.
Jasmine picking in Grasse, France. /VCG Photo
The region of Gourdon in France is especially known for its flowers. Iris, rosemary, and other types of flowers thrive in the area.
Here we look at some lovely species of flowers that seem to shout, “Bonjour, la France!”
Roses cover a house in the village of Chedigny, Indre-et-Loire, France. /VCG Photo
Lily
Lily. /VCG Photo
In historical context, the flower is associated with the French monarchy. It's still a symbol of France, which appears on French stamps.
Lilies have showy and large petals. Like most bulbs, lilies like well-drained soil and sunlight. The stems of lilies can grow to 6 feet and the flowers come in many colors including white, pink, orange and yellow.
Lavender
Scenic view of the lavender field against the sky. /VCG Photo
Fields of purple stretching in the blazing sun, people are longing for Provence's purple gold. Who doesn't like lavender, the purple flower with a fresh scent?
Lavender. /VCG Photo
The flowering season of lavender in Provence spans from June to August depending on the weather. The plant belongs to the mint family and is cultivated worldwide. It's commonly used in cooking, fragrances, cosmetics and medicine.
Iris
Close-up of purple Iris flower. /VCG Photo
Iris is one of the most popular flowers planted in French gardens. They have long and erect stems with sword-shaped leaves. They can be found from Europe to Asia and across North America. Iris flowers have many colors, generally purple, yellow, blue or white.
Rose
Roses growing in Chateau de Villandry Gardens, France. /VCG Photo
Just like in other places, the rose is also very popular in France. They grow in abundance in many parts of the country. A pink rose cultivar found in France is named 'La France' which is considered the first hybrid tea rose.
About 'Plants & Nations'
"Plants & Nations" is a series of articles and pictures about common plants in the world. It serves as a guide to beautiful plants from different countries.
(Cover images via VCG)
(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com.)