How to Create a French Country Garden
Can you create a French country garden where you live? In most parts of the United States, the answer is: yes. I live in the Pacific Northwest, & I’ve definitely drawn inspiration from French country style & symmetry. If you’ve ever been to the castle-filled Loire Valley, then you’ve seen some of the country’s most spectacular, formal gardens. And while they’re beautiful: it’s often the more informal French gardens that have the most charm…which is good news for us gardeners! Here, we’ll learn how to create a beautiful French country garden, no matter your budget…
This is a perfect example of a relaxed, French country outdoor dining area. The pea gravel & water fountain are two key elements of French style.
Author’s Note: Shop some of my FAVORITE French Country garden decor on my very own Wayfair storefront: called “My French Country Garden!”
Hallmarks of French Country Garden-Style
- The use of pea gravel, stones, stepping stones, cobble-stones, rustic stone walls ~ basically, any kind of stones you can think of. The more weathered & worn-in, the better.
- Informal or formal dining areas set amidst the garden, surrounded by flowers or green hedges, like boxwood.
- French gardens intersect with English cottage gardens in that they both make use of arbors: for drama, AND to add height to the garden. I purchased this beautiful, French-inspired black arbor from Amazon: I love the height it adds to my landscape. Use climbing roses or vines to climb up over it…
- French gardens love symmetry & shapes. Often, they’ll use boxwood hedges or rows of trees to create repetition & definition. I’ve done this in my own garden, using rows of Emerald Green Arborvitae to create a privacy hedge with a more formal look.
- Water features! You’ll be hard-pressed to find a French garden that doesn’t make use of at least one water feature, whether it’s a simple bird bath, a multi-tiered fountain.
- Words that capture French country style: refined, elegant, rustic, symmetrical, lightly distressed, charming, weathered, worn-in, muted & soft colors, effortless.
- Two of the most popular & “signature” French country flowers are hydrangeas & of course, French Lavender.
Outdoor Fountain
Style Book
Metal Arbor
Photos of French Country Gardens…
The main idea of this article is to gather some French-inspiration. And the best way to do that is to take a look at photos of beautiful French country gardens. Just remember: yours doesn’t need to be super formal. You can simply use elements of French country style in small ways, like adding a fountain or a simple bird bath as a focal point.
Adding pea gravel & natural stone is also a great way to add a French country touches to your garden….
There are many elements of French style here: old stone walls, French doors, quaint seating, & plant-filled containers.
This French garden uses very little color: but is still stunning.
A relaxed outdoor patio in the French country style. Shutters are a near-perfect Provence Blue. Photo: Veranda.
I recently came across this lovely garden in the pages of “Veranda”…
Neat boxwood mixed with blooming lavender creates a beautiful border…
I recently dog-eared this oh-so-French look in “Victoria” magazine: an idyllic outdoor setting.
Hydrangeas surround this lovely, rustic outdoor dining area.
The most famous French garden: Versailles. Note how it uses symmetry to create long lines. Photo: Paris Insiders Guide.
French style can also be very simple. Photo: The Spruce.
When I think of French gardens, I picture something like this: a beautiful stone building covered with vines, informal seating, & a cobblestone walkway. Photo: Cottage Garden.
My OWN French country garden! Which has taken 3+ years to create…
If I could create this scene in my garden ~ OH MY would I! Note the mismatched chairs & distressed table: French country does NOT = perfect!
There’s no quicker way to add French country feel to your yard than by adding a chandelier. Hang it from your covered patio, or if you have a She Shed, hang it in there!
It doesn’t even have to work: simply hanging it will give a rustic, French feel.
A charming entrance that’s a little French, a little cottage garden. Photo: The Cottage Journal.
An abundance of foxgloves surround this She Shed. Photo: French Country Cottage.
French style brings DRAMA to fountains! Create a path leading to it, & surround the fountain with stones or flowers.
Buy a beautiful, multi-tiered fountain ~ then surround it with pea gravel & larger rocks a circle to truly make a statement. Lead a pathway up to it, or line trees & shrubs along a path towards it…
Hidden “rooms” work in any garden. Photo: Holly Lepere Studios.
This garden has a slightly more formal feel with less flowers, & beautiful, large urns.
Adding some gorgeous, large urns is one of the least expensive ways to start creating that quintessential French feel in your backyard.
A heavenly scene. Photo: Veranda.
The “Shabby Chic” style is a cousin of French style~ with its subtle color palette & distressed furniture.
Chandelier
Outdoor String Lights
Hydrangeas
Other Beautiful French Gardens…
If you type “famous French gardens” into Google, two castles in the Loire Valley will pop up: Chateaux Villandry & Chenonceau. Though both are formal, you can take inspiration from each, incorporating elements into your own garden.
Chateau Villandry is one of France’s most famous gardens. You can mimic its pea gravel pathways, symmetry, & the use of shapes (mainly square here).
The gardens at Chenonceau were my FAVORITE, & more charming than Villandry’s.
Lavender is another famous French flower.
Learn when you can see the spectacular South of France lavender fields in the height of full bloom, here…
How to Create a French Country Garden
If you’re itching to add a water feature to your yard, check out this bird bath I found on Amazon; I have three & LOVE them. Or find a corner of your yard where you can add a cozy daybed….because taking a little nap is very French indeed.
xoxo Noelia
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Fantastic article. We purchased the fountain and turquoise bird bath recommended and both have added such a feeling of tranquility to our garden. Many Thanks!
Hi Eloise, so glad to hear that! I think the three-tiered fountain is also one of the best purchases I’ve made for my garden; the birds love it & the sound is so relaxing! (Plus it drowns out the voice of my neighbors!!) xoxo Noelia
Love this post! I have a French Country garden with many of the elements listed. However, with our short growing season and only planting Zone 3, some ‘substitute’ plants have to take the place of those often iconic French ones. Example: Russian sage and salvia are substitutes for lavender. This year, it already being early April and still about 3 feet of snow on the ground, I’ll be happy if I can find my garden/courtyard area soon! 😉
Hi CK! I totally agree with you ~ Russian Sage is SUCH a good substitute for lavender (which has a really short growing season in my zone), & it fools everyone into thinking it’s lavender! Zone 3 must be pretty tough with such a short growing season, & this winter in particular has been so long for everyone. What I love about the French garden style is that so many elements (i.e. pea gravel, fountains, evergreens, etc.) look good all year, which helps getting through the winter a bit. Good luck this year! xoxo
Hi Sondra, thanks for your comment! And I think that’s actually a huge concern for people: that French country style is “overly” feminine. All you need to do is add some darker elements (like darker wood tables, adirondacks, or black wrought-iron furniture, etc.) in order to “masculinize” the style a bit! It’s really pretty easy : ) Hope you convince him! Ha ~ Noelle