Ever since I travelled to France many years ago, I have been obsessed with French culture, lifestyle, architecture, and gardens. Although I now live in Saskatchewan, Canada, my love for the landscape designs I encountered remains strong. Now, living in the Paris of the Prairies, I’m creating my own French-Inspired Garden. Here, I lay out some of the best plants for a French garden in Canada!
Understanding Plant Hardiness Zones
First, a quick note on planting zones. Understanding plant hardiness is essential for a long lasting, beautiful garden. Not all plants will thrive in all climates. Make sure that you read the information tags on your flowers when buying them to see what zones they can grow. If you’re unsure what Plant Hardiness Zone you live in, use the Government of Canada’s Plant Hardiness Interactive Map. Here are a few cities to give you quick idea:
- Amherst – Zone 5b
- Calgary – Zone 4a
- Charlottetown – Zone 6a
- Edmonton – Zone 4a
- Fredericton – Zone 5b
- Halifax – Zone 6b
- Hamilton – Zone 6b
- Kelowna – Zone 6a
- Medicine Hat – Zone 4b
- Moncton – Zone 5a
- Montreal – Zone 5b
- Nanaimo – Zone 8b
- Ottawa – Zone 5b
- Quebec City – Zone 5a
- Regina – Zone 3b
- Saskatoon – Zone 3b
- St. John’s – Zone 6a
- Toronto – Zone 6
- Vancouver (City) – Zone 9a
- Victoria – Zone 9a
- Whitehorse – Zone 2a
- Windsor – Zone 7a
- Winnipeg – Zone 3b
- Yellowknife – Zone 0b
A Flash of Colour & Scent of Provence
Lavender
If you want to create a French-Inspired Garden, start with Lavender. This iconic flowering perennial is popular in the Provence region of France and becomes a major tourist attraction when in bloom. Used in perfumes and soaps, its strong fragrance is known for its calming effects. In the garden, lavender is a great addition to terracotta pots and planters or used in place of evergreen topiary and cut to a dense mound. See The Spruce’s guide to Growing & Caring for Lavender for more details. Most types of Lavender thrive in Zones 5 – 9. So, if you live along the coast in British Columbia or in Southern Ontario or Nova Scotia, Lavender is likely to thrive.
The Cold Hardy Alternative
However, where I live in Zone 3, these beautiful flowers are only sold at garden centers seaosonally. They don’t survive the winters here, so if you’re looking for a French Garden plant for cold climates, I recommend adding hints of purple through a climbing clematis or seasonal bulbs like the Iris (see below).
Lilac
A cold-hardy showstopper, Lilacs have beautifully fragrant blossoms and are available in a variety of colours. Lilac trees and shrubs thrive in temperatures as low as -40˚C, making them ideal for Canadian gardens. Plant shrubs along borders for natural hedges or on its own as a focal point of the yard. For a Parisian feel, plant trees along a gravel path or at the corner of the house or a shed for a soft touch of greenery to built spaces. I have mine planted in the corner of the garden between my vegetable planters.
Zone 3 French-Style Landscaping Ideas
Boxwoods & Globe Cedars
An important element when creating a French Garden is to separate the spaces with distinct edging between flower beds and grass, gravel, and stone paths. This is achieved by adding stone bricks or a natural divider like a boxwood hedge. Boxwoods are perfect for small space, Provence-inspired landscaping. As hedging, they can be easily trimmed and manicured to desired shapes. Plant close together and trim into squared edges or plant further apart and shape into small round globes. Beware, though, boxwoods are susceptible to disease and winter burn and they’re not particularly cold hardy. See Southern Living How to Care for Boxwood for a complete guide on their requirements.
The Cold Hardy Alternative
The Calgary Boxwood has recently been developed to withstand cold Canadian winters, but I haven’t had any success in Saskatchewan with them yet. A cold hardy option is the Globe Cedar. Again, be cautious of winter burn. I recommend wrapping your hedges in burlap and covering the roots with a thick layer of mulch to ensure hardiness through the winter.
Roses
Roses add instant charm to any garden. For a French-inspired look, choose light pink or white varieties to create an airy, soft feel throughout the design. Climbing roses and small rose bushes are a lovely addition. Consider placing a climbing rose up a stone feature like a pillar or a trellis in front of an otherwise empty wall. If you are able, an arbour over a path or a gate with a climbing rose can create a secret garden feel. Roses can thrive in moderate climates, but for those of us who live in colder zones, there are cold-hardy varieties to choose from as well.
How to Get a French-Inspired Look in Your Backyard
Irises
Lastly, Irises are a must-have for achieving a French cottage garden aesthetic. This perennial flower is iconized by the French fleur-de-lis which was historically styled as a lily or an iris. Layer these flowers throughout bordering beds and within focal points. Their varying height can create the sense of cascading hills or rolling waves of colour. To maintain that French Garden charm, opt for softer tones like white and light purple bearded irises.
TL;DR: Top 5 French Garden Plants for Canadian Zones
- Lavender – Add fragrance and elegance; overwinter indoors
- Lilac – Cold-hardy, beautifully scented
- Boxwood or Globe Cedar – Structure and edging
- Climbing Roses or Clematis – Romantic vertical flowers (see my post about Building a French Garden in Zone 3)
- Irises – Cottage charm and French symbolism
Creating a French Garden in Canada can be a challenge, but it can also be very rewarding. These five plants can help you get started to build your dream garden inspired by Provence. If you’re looking for more inspiration, see my From Paris to the Prairies: How to Build a French Garden in Zone 3.
