108 lovely French flower names that will make your vocab bloom

Do you need some flower power in your life? Flowers are not only a delight for the eyes but also for the brain, as they oxygenate the air.

With such a super power — and because they brighten our days — we thought they merited a dedicated article. If you want to compliment somebody’s garden in a French speaking country, describe a lavender field in Provence or buy flowers for your French moitié, we have exactly what you need.

Keep reading for a colorful, fragrant explosion of flowers in French!

Download our FREE guide to flowering plants and their French names. Get planting!

A French bulldog sniffing flowers in French.

Flowers in French

Les fleurs sont le langage de l’amour. And if that’s not clear enough, you can also have a look at these ways to say I love you in French. But first things first. In French, “flower” is “fleur”. “Flowers”, “fleurs”. The pronunciation is a bit tricky though. Check out this video to practice.

National flower of France and Paris

France’s national flower is world famous, but the translation is not always correct. Confusingly enough, the royal embleme “fleur-de-lys” is not a lily, but a sweet iris.

France national flower fleur-de-lys.

English French (Singular) IPA
Sweet Iris Fleur-de-lys flœɾ-dəlis

Other flowers of France

The list below includes some of the most beloved French wildflowers. Hmmm, it feels like le printemps, don’t you think?

Borage in French.

English French (Singular) IPA
Borage Bourrache buraʃə
Chicory Chicorée ʃikɔɾeə
Poppy Coquelicot kɔkəliko
Daisy Pâquerette pɑkəɾɛtə
Cowslip Coucou kuku
Thistle Chardon ʃaɾdõ
Cornflower Bleuet blɛœ
Damask nigella Nigelle de Damas niʒɛlə də dama
Honeysuckle Chèvrefeuille ʃɛvɾəfœjə
Mallow Mauve movə
Dandelion Pissenlit pisɑ̃li
Buttercup Bouton-d’or butõ-dɔɾ
Violet Violette vjɔlɛtə
Primrose Primevère pɾiməvɛɾə
Fumitory Fumeterre fymətɛrə
Cosmos Cosmos kɔsmo
Chamomile Camomille kamɔmijə
Crocus Crocus kɾɔky
Lily of the valley Muguet myge
Colchicum Colchique kɔlʃikə
Tulip Tulipe tylipə
Daffodil Jonquille ʒõkijə
Wild garlic Ail des ours ajdez‿ uɾ
Lady's slipper Sabot de Vénus sabo də veny

Download our FREE guide to flowering plants and their French names

Remember all the names of your favorite flowering plants in French with our printable poster. We've included planting tips on light, position, watering, and soil type.

Free guide to flowering plants and their French names.

More names of flowers in French

Too many names of flowers in French? Stop and smell the roses, because we have more. From sunflowers in French to marigolds in French, here is a sunny bouquet for you.

Woman smelling marigolds and flowers in French.

English French (Singular) IPA
Rose Rose ɾozə
Sunflower Tournesol tuɾnəsɔl
Peony Pivoine pivwanə
Acacia Acacia akasja
Acanthus Acanthus akɑ̃ty
Amaranth Amarante amaɾɑ̃tə
Angelica Angélique ɑ̃ʒelikə
Bellflower Campanule kɑ̃panylə
Bindweed Liseron lizəɾõ
Blackthorn Prunellier pɾynɛlje
Burdock Bardane baɾdanə
Christmas aconite Aconit de Noël akɔni də noɛl
Cinquefoil Quintefeuille kɛ̃təfœjə
Clianthus Clianthus kljɑ̃ty
Clove pink Giroflée rose ʒiɾɔfleə ɾozə
Columbine Ancolie ɑ̃kɔljə
Coltsfoot Tussilage tysilaʒə
Crowfoot Trompette des champs tɾõpɛtəde ʃɑ̃
Dahlia Dahlia dalja
Dodder Cuscute kyskytə
Dragon-plant Dragonnier dɾagɔnje
Fieldrush Jonc des champs ʒõkde ʃɑ̃
Marigold Souci susi
Foxglove Digitale pourpre diʒitalə puɾpɾə
Geranium Géranium ʒeɾanjɔm
Goosefoot Chénopode blanc ʃenɔpɔdə blɑ̃k
Hedysarum Hedysarum ɛdizaɾœ̃
Heath Bruyère bɾɥjɛɾə
Hibiscus Hibiscus ibisky
Holly Houx uks
Hornbeam Charmeur ʃaɾmœɾ
Hortensia Hortensia ɔɾtɑ̃sja
Hyacinth Jacinthe ʒasɛ̃tə
Iris Iris iɾi
Ivy Lierre ljɛrə
Jessamine Jasmin ʒasmɛ̃
Kalmia Kalmia kalmja
Larch Mélèze melɛzə
Laurel Laurier lɔɾje
Laurestine Laurestine lɔɾɛstinə
Lavender Lavande lavɑ̃də
Lichen Lichen liʃɛ̃
Lilac Lilas lila
Lily Lys lis
Mandrake Mandragore mɑ̃dɾagɔɾə
Marigold Souci susi
Marshmallow Guimauve gimovə
Marvel of Peru Merveille du Pérou mɛɾvɛjə dy peɾu
Meadowsweet Reine des prés ɾəinəde pɾe
Mezereon Mezereon məzəɾɛõ
Mistletoe Gui gi
Motherwort Agripaume agɾipomə
Myrtle Myrte miɾtə
Narcissus Narcisse naɾsisə
Nettle Ortie ɔɾtjə
Nightshade Millepertuis mijəpɛɾtɥi
Orange blossom Fleur d’oranger flœɾ dɔɾɑ̃ʒe
Orchid Orchidée ɔɾʃideə
Pansy Pensée pɑ̃seə
Passion flower Passiflore pasiflɔɾə
Periwinkle Pervenche pɛɾvɑ̃ʃə
Pink Musk Rose musquée ɾozə myskeə
Queen of the Meadow Reine des prés ɾəinəde pɾe
Reed Roseau ɾozo
Restharrow Phragmite des prés pɾagmitəde pɾe
Rosebay Épilobe epilɔbə
Round-leaved sundew Drosophile à feuilles rondes dɾozɔpil a fœjə ɾõdə
Silverweed Renouée des oiseaux ɾənweədez‿ wazo
Snowdrop Perce-neige pɛɾsə-nɛʒə
Succory Succise sykizə
Tuberose Tubéreuse tybeɾøzə
Water lily Nénuphar nenypaɾ
Woad Guède gɛdə
Wood Anemone Anémone des bois anemɔnədebwɑ
Wood sorrel Oseille des bois ozɛjədebwɑ
Wormwood Absinthe apsɛ̃tə
Xerophyllum Xerophyllum gzəɾɔpilœ̃
Xeranthemum Xeranthemum gzəɾɑ̃təmœ̃
Xyris Xyris gziɾi
Yew If if
Yellow Waxbells Jacinthe des bois ʒasɛ̃tədebwɑ
Zephyranthes Zéphyranthes zepiɾɑ̃tə

More handy floral words to add to your French vocabulary bouquet

If you love flowers, these will come in handy. A wonderful addition to learning fruits and vegetables in French!

Preparing a bouquet of flowers at a florist in France.

English French (Singular) IPA
Petals Pétales petalə
Plant Plante plɑ̃tə
Stem Tige tiʒə
Roots Racines ɾasinə
Leaves Feuilles fœjə
Pollen Pollen pɔlɛ̃
Seeds Graines gɾɛnə
Bouquet Bouquet buke
Florist Fleuriste flœɾistə
Bud Bourgeon buɾʒɛõ
Blossom Fleurs/En fleur flœɾ/ɑ̃flœɾ

Where/how to go flower shopping at a market or supermarket

Best flower shops in Paris

Are you looking to impress? According to this magazine, these are the best fleuristes in Paris. And, every year, the best artisan fleuriste de France is elected.

Typically, you can also buy flowers at most street marchés. Large supermarkets also sell flowers, but the quality is not always great.

How to order from a vendor?

  • To buy a flower bouquet, you can say: “Bonjour, je voudrais ce bouquet, s’il vous plaît."
  • If you haven’t made up your mind yet and need advice, you can say: “Bonjour, je souhaiterais offrir des fleurs à une amie.”

Important etiquette to keep in mind when shopping for flowers

Many people still apply flower etiquette. For example, pick your color wisely depending on the message you want to convey.

To give a bunch of 11 red roses in French is a symbol of passionate love.

  • Red flowers, especially roses, are typically associated with passionate love.
  • Yellow is a great color for a friend.
  • White means purity, innocence, and is common for weddings. (And if you want to brush up on your colors in French, here’s where to look.)
  • Avoid chrysanthemums — except for a funeral or to decorate a tomb — and red carnations, which are a sign of ill will.
  • Finally, always pick an odd number of flowers. 11 roses, for example. C’est le bouquet ! (French expression meaning “That takes the cake”).

Who doesn’t like flowers? In a meadow or in your garden, they are a key player in pollination, and therefore essential for our planet. They’re also a welcomed gift in any situation.

So, if you visit some friends or are invited to dinner in France, a bouquet de fleurs is always a good idea. We hope the vocabulary above will help you to make a good impression. Even better, combine your bouquet with a friendly Bonjour in French!

We say goodbye with a superb, joyful French ode to flowers and freedom:

Le pouvoir des fleurs, from Laurent Voulzy.

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