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Plants of France

FR · 46.23°, 2.21°

We catalogue 179 plants documented in France — 50 native and 129 introduced. Of these, 178 are edible and 89 have medicinal uses.

I

Native species

29

Species naturally occurring in France — best adapted to local climate and soil.

Large-Flower Evening Primrose
Large-Flower Evening Primrose
Oenothera glazioviana
ediblemedicinal
Lentil
Lentil
Lens culinaris
Fabaceaeedible
Low-Running Blackberry
Low-Running Blackberry
Rubus villosus
ediblemedicinal
Maiden Sorrel
Maiden Sorrel
Rumex arifolius
ediblemedicinal
Nepal Cinquefoil
Nepal Cinquefoil
Potentilla nepalensis
Roseaceaeediblemedicinal
Ostrich Fern
Ostrich Fern
Matteuccia struthiopteris
edible
Parsley Piert
Parsley Piert
Aphanes arvensis
Lamiaceaeedible
Pea
Pea
Pisum sativum
edible
Perennial Flax
Perennial Flax
Linum perenne
ediblemedicinal
Pink
Pink
Dianthus plumarius
ediblemedicinal
Polygonum sibiricum
Polygonum sibiricum
Polygonum sibiricum
ediblemedicinal
Quercus hispanica
Quercus hispanica
Quercus hispanica
ediblemedicinal
Red Goosefoot
Red Goosefoot
Chenopodium rubrum
edible
Redcurrant
Redcurrant
Ribes sativum
Rosaceaeedible
River Beauty
River Beauty
Epilobium latifolium
edible
Rosa obtusifolia
Rosa obtusifolia
Rosa obtusifolia
ediblemedicinal
Rubus nessensis
Rubus nessensis
Rubus nessensis
ediblemedicinal
Salsola soda
Salsola soda
Salsola soda
Chenopodiaceaeedible
Sandpaper Oak
Sandpaper Oak
Quercus pungens
Fagaceaeediblemedicinal
Sanzashi
Sanzashi
Crataegus cuneata
ediblemedicinal
Scorzonera
Scorzonera
Scorzonera hispanica
edible
Scorzonera austriaca
Scorzonera austriaca
Scorzonera austriaca
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Sorbus mougeotii
Sorbus mougeotii
Sorbus mougeotii
edible
Spike Trisetum
Spike Trisetum
Trisetum spicatum
Poaceaeedible
Swamp lawyer
Swamp lawyer
Rubus australis
ediblemedicinal
Tussock Grass
Tussock Grass
Deschampsia caespitosa
edible
Urtica angustifolia
Urtica angustifolia
Urtica angustifolia
ediblemedicinal
Valeriana sambucifolia
Valeriana sambucifolia
Valeriana sambucifolia
ediblemedicinal
Whitebeam
Whitebeam
Sorbus aria
edible
II

Edible for food + foraging

29

Plants with edible parts documented in France. Always identify positively before harvest.

Large-Flower Evening Primrose
Large-Flower Evening Primrose
Oenothera glazioviana
ediblemedicinal
Lentil
Lentil
Lens culinaris
Fabaceaeedible
Low-Running Blackberry
Low-Running Blackberry
Rubus villosus
ediblemedicinal
Maiden Sorrel
Maiden Sorrel
Rumex arifolius
ediblemedicinal
Nepal Cinquefoil
Nepal Cinquefoil
Potentilla nepalensis
Roseaceaeediblemedicinal
Ostrich Fern
Ostrich Fern
Matteuccia struthiopteris
edible
Parsley Piert
Parsley Piert
Aphanes arvensis
Lamiaceaeedible
Pea
Pea
Pisum sativum
edible
Perennial Flax
Perennial Flax
Linum perenne
ediblemedicinal
Pink
Pink
Dianthus plumarius
ediblemedicinal
Polygonum sibiricum
Polygonum sibiricum
Polygonum sibiricum
ediblemedicinal
Quercus hispanica
Quercus hispanica
Quercus hispanica
ediblemedicinal
Red Goosefoot
Red Goosefoot
Chenopodium rubrum
edible
Redcurrant
Redcurrant
Ribes sativum
Rosaceaeedible
River Beauty
River Beauty
Epilobium latifolium
edible
Rosa obtusifolia
Rosa obtusifolia
Rosa obtusifolia
ediblemedicinal
Rubus nessensis
Rubus nessensis
Rubus nessensis
ediblemedicinal
Salsola soda
Salsola soda
Salsola soda
Chenopodiaceaeedible
Sandpaper Oak
Sandpaper Oak
Quercus pungens
Fagaceaeediblemedicinal
Sanzashi
Sanzashi
Crataegus cuneata
ediblemedicinal
Scorzonera
Scorzonera
Scorzonera hispanica
edible
Scorzonera austriaca
Scorzonera austriaca
Scorzonera austriaca
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Sorbus mougeotii
Sorbus mougeotii
Sorbus mougeotii
edible
Spike Trisetum
Spike Trisetum
Trisetum spicatum
Poaceaeedible
Swamp lawyer
Swamp lawyer
Rubus australis
ediblemedicinal
Tussock Grass
Tussock Grass
Deschampsia caespitosa
edible
Urtica angustifolia
Urtica angustifolia
Urtica angustifolia
ediblemedicinal
Valeriana sambucifolia
Valeriana sambucifolia
Valeriana sambucifolia
ediblemedicinal
Whitebeam
Whitebeam
Sorbus aria
edible
III

Medicinal traditional + clinical

16

Species with documented medicinal applications. See individual plant profiles for evidence + safety.

Large-Flower Evening Primrose
Large-Flower Evening Primrose
Oenothera glazioviana
ediblemedicinal
Low-Running Blackberry
Low-Running Blackberry
Rubus villosus
ediblemedicinal
Maiden Sorrel
Maiden Sorrel
Rumex arifolius
ediblemedicinal
Nepal Cinquefoil
Nepal Cinquefoil
Potentilla nepalensis
Roseaceaeediblemedicinal
Perennial Flax
Perennial Flax
Linum perenne
ediblemedicinal
Pink
Pink
Dianthus plumarius
ediblemedicinal
Polygonum sibiricum
Polygonum sibiricum
Polygonum sibiricum
ediblemedicinal
Quercus hispanica
Quercus hispanica
Quercus hispanica
ediblemedicinal
Rosa obtusifolia
Rosa obtusifolia
Rosa obtusifolia
ediblemedicinal
Rubus nessensis
Rubus nessensis
Rubus nessensis
ediblemedicinal
Sandpaper Oak
Sandpaper Oak
Quercus pungens
Fagaceaeediblemedicinal
Sanzashi
Sanzashi
Crataegus cuneata
ediblemedicinal
Scorzonera austriaca
Scorzonera austriaca
Scorzonera austriaca
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Swamp lawyer
Swamp lawyer
Rubus australis
ediblemedicinal
Urtica angustifolia
Urtica angustifolia
Urtica angustifolia
ediblemedicinal
Valeriana sambucifolia
Valeriana sambucifolia
Valeriana sambucifolia
ediblemedicinal
V

Could grow here climate-matched · zone selection

24+

Plants that are not yet recorded with a France distribution but match the local hardiness zones. Useful for foragers expanding the catalog and gardeners planning what to plant.

Abyssinian Cabbage
Abyssinian Cabbage
Brassica carinata
Brassicaceaeediblemedicinal
Acer argutum
Acer argutum
Sapindaceaeediblemedicinal
Acer distylum
Acer distylum
Sapindaceaeediblemedicinal
Aconitum heterophyllum
Aconitum heterophyllum
Aconitum heterophyllum
ediblemedicinal
Aconitum multifidum
Aconitum multifidum
Aconitum multifidum
Ranunculaceaeediblemedicinal
Aconitum violaceum
Aconitum violaceum
Aconitum violaceum
ediblemedicinal
Adam's Needle
Adam's Needle
Yucca smalliana
ediblemedicinal
Adenophora denticulata
Adenophora denticulata
Adenophora denticulata
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Adenophora lamarkii
Adenophora lamarkii
Adenophora lamarkii
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Adenophora liliifolia
Adenophora liliifolia
Adenophora liliifolia
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Adenophora remotiflora
Adenophora remotiflora
Adenophora remotiflora
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Adria Bellflower
Adria Bellflower
Campanula portenschlagiana
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Adriatic Bellflower
Adriatic Bellflower
Campanula fenestrellata
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Adriatic Bellflower
Adriatic Bellflower
Campanula garganica
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Aerial Yam
Aerial Yam
Dioscorea bulbifera
ediblemedicinal
Alchemilla alpina
Alchemilla alpina
Alchemilla alpina
ediblemedicinal
Alecost
Alecost
Tanacetum balsamita
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Aleppo Oak
Aleppo Oak
Quercus infectoria
ediblemedicinal
Aleurites cordata
Aleurites cordata
Aleurites cordata
ediblemedicinal
Aleutian ragwort
Aleutian ragwort
Senecio cannabifolius
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Alfalfa
Alfalfa
Medicago sativa
ediblemedicinal
Aligator Juniper
Aligator Juniper
Juniperus deppeana
Pinaceaeediblemedicinal
Alleghany Blackberry
Alleghany Blackberry
Rubus allegheniensis
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
Allegheny Barberry
Allegheny Barberry
Berberis canadensis
ediblemedicinal
V

Frequently asked

How many plants are documented in France?

179 speciess — 50 native and 129 introduced. Of these, 178 are edible and 89 have medicinal uses.

What edible plants grow wild in France?

Common edible species include Amaranthus campestris, Amaranthus graecizans, Amaranthus polygamus, Amaranthus polystachyus, Amaranthus tenuifolius. See the Edible section above for the full list.

What medicinal plants grow in France?

89 medicinal plants catalogued for France, including Amaranthus graecizans, Azarole, Blackberry, Bulbous Buttercup, Catmint.

How is "native" vs "introduced" determined?

Status comes from TDWG botanical regions via Trefle. Native = naturally occurring there; introduced = brought in by humans, sometimes invasive. Both can be useful, but native species are typically the best fit for local conditions.

VI

Other europe

Andorra
AD
Albania
AL
Austria
AT
Bosnia and Herzegovina
BA
Belgium
BE
Bulgaria
BG
Belarus
BY
Switzerland
CH
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