How to design a French provincial garden – choose charming colors and elegant plants to recreate a Monet masterpiece in your own backyard

Perfume, color, and joie de vivre are synonymous with France, and all these words could sum up the delights of a French provincial garden. The French are famous for their love of gardens; the immaculately landscaped grounds of the Palace of Versailles are a national treasure and one of its most beloved tourist attractions.

There is also great charm in the informality of a French country garden, where fragrant flowers and herbs tumble over gravel paths, vines wind round pergolas. The air is filled with a heady scent and the sound of water bubbling from a small fountain or bird bath – the perfect accompaniment to a glass of wine made from grapes grown in a nearby vineyard.

But you don’t need to move to another continent to capture this aesthetic. Our experts reveal how to recreate it when designing your own backyard ideas.

What makes a French provincial garden?

To create a French country-inspired garden, there are certain design elements to always include; namely lush greenery, wrought iron accents, and rustic, charming garden furniture.

It's a good idea to take advantage of groundcover plants as well as climbing plants to really incorporate a lot of lush planting throughout the space from top to bottom.

Delight in informality

Capturing the beauty of a jardin in an American yard needn’t cost a king’s ransom, says Loren Taylor, owner of Outdoor Fountain Pros.

‘You don't need formal layouts or expensive materials to create a provincial garden. It is about weaving together a story with carefully chosen elements that resonate with France's timeless charm.’

And while the grounds at Versailles are famed for their meticulously manicured greenery, he suggests French country gardens need a more relaxed approach, which also makes them easier to tend.

‘Let things grow naturally without trying to control every plant perfectly. Gravel paths or old stone pathways help create the informal feel you find in French rural gardens.

‘Making your yard feel like it's in the French countryside isn't hard. It's really about picking materials that work well and native plants that grow where you live,’ he adds. ‘Let your garden mature naturally, becoming comfortable and inviting over time without needing constant attention or upkeep.’

You can create a rustic route with a charmingly worn looking pathway made from Countryside Allegheny concrete patio stones from Lowe's.

Loren Taylor

Loren has spent 17 years transforming outdoor spaces. He combines a knowledge of plant species, soil conditions, and sustainable gardening practices with a passion for creating harmonious outdoor designs.

Pick painterly colors

When creating a palette for the garden, choose gentle shades that look like they could have been plucked from a Monet masterpiece.

‘The repetition of plants in cool tones or monochromatic palette in an imperfectly perfect, effortless style is a key element of a French provincial garden,’ says Laura Janney of The Inspired Garden. ‘Use simple shrubs and plant flowers in layers or in drifts for a soft, natural vibe.’

‘Soft blues, pale whites, and subtle pinks can create a calming atmosphere instead of making things feel too busy or intense,’ adds Loren.

‘Don’t stress about keeping everything perfectly tidy either; gardens actually look best when they're a bit relaxed and natural. Just trim things occasionally and remove any flowers that have finished blooming.

‘Small stone fountains or bird baths invite wildlife – simple water features make gardens feel alive and peaceful.’

Enjoy the restful sound of running water with a garden water fountain that will also attract wildlife, like this cascading stone fountain, available from Walmart.

Laura Janney

Award-winning landscape designer Laura sees gardens as ‘sanctuaries that feed the soul and awaken the senses’. The Inspired Garden is a full service garden and container business where she shares her knowledge via an online course.

Planting choices for a French-inspired garden

France, which is roughly the size of Texas, has a diverse climate. The east has warm summers and cold winters with snow on the mountains; the west is oceanic with moderate temperatures and mild winters; and the south is a magnet for tourists who are drawn to its long hot summers and mild, dry winters.

Cultivating plants that flourish in these conditions can help you create your provincial paradise in an American yard.

‘Lavender instantly makes a yard feel like the French countryside; it grows easily, doesn't require much care, and smells wonderful,’ says Loren. Found in abundance in Provence, it will thrive in US hardiness zones 5-9.

‘In colder climates, stick with sturdy plants like lilacs or coneflowers because they're tough enough to handle harsh winters,' he adds.

‘If you live somewhere warm, sunflowers or clematis are easy choices because they thrive in heat and add plenty of color.’

Given the close association that France has with fine cuisine made from fresh, locally or home-grown ingredients, it is only right that many of the flavorsome ingredients can be plucked straight from a herb bed.

‘Herbs like thyme or rosemary (which grow well in zones 6-9) near a seating area not only look good but are practical too,’ Loren says. 'I've seen people enjoy picking fresh herbs right from their own garden when they're cooking.’

Bring the color and scent of France to your yard with Provence lavender from Nature Hills Nursery.

If you want more naturalistic planting inspiration to achieve rural French charm in your yard, our guide to a lived in vs manicured garden identifies the key ideas when it comes to letting our yards take on a wilder look. Our feature on chaos gardening also offers food for thought.