Flowers of France 2026

France is famous for its flowers because of its rich royal history, its booming perfume industry in Grasse in Southern France, and its deep cultural love for nature. It’s like the French perfected the love of flowers, as they did with wine, and for centuries at that.

Flowers are a major part of French art, fashion, and daily life, and it’s noticeable, or at least it is for me. Everywhere my eyes landed around Nîmes, Monoblet, Uzes, and little towns in Provence, they were met with beautiful displays of flowers. Flowers are everywhere! They are hanging in baskets, in fields, in the streets, in vases, in fashion fabrics, and more. I couldn’t get enough.

The famous French fleur-de-lis (flower of the lily) is based on the iris flower and was the symbol of French kings. It was/is typically given on May Day (May 1st) as a symbol of good luck.

Those who have traveled with me know I love to take photos of flowers. They can be wildflowers while hiking a 14’er in Colorado, in cool stateside destinations (even a backyard), in foreign countries, walking through my neighborhood, and everything in between — I’m camera-ready (or lately, iPhone-ready).

Although the iris is the French national flower, I zoned in on some beautiful roses when I visited the small town of Tarascon, France, on their Saturday market day. One-half of the market was all flowers for purchase, and those colorful roses stood out more than anything else that day and practically spoke to me, even begging me to take their photos. Tall and strong with big heads of color, how could I not? So, I obliged.

Maybe that’s why flowers speak a universal “love” language. They don’t care what country they’re blooming in or what language we speak. They simply show up, brighten a corner of the world, even a bloom in a crack of a driveway, and quietly remind us to pause, smile, and notice. I think that’s one of the loveliest ways to manufacture a little sunshine wherever we happen to be. And that’s a souvenir that fits in every suitcase.

When we can slow down, look a little closer, and let a single bloom brighten your day. I hope these flowers from France do exactly that for you.

Here are some of my favorites: ☀️🌹🌸

bSoleille!

Terri