France’s floral emblem is the fleur-de-lis — a stylized flower, usually associated with the iris, that has symbolized French royalty and identity for over a thousand years.

• National flower: Fleur-de-lis (stylized iris)
• Scientific name: Iris pseudacorus
• Status: Historic national emblem
• Symbolism: royalty, purity, and French heritage

About France’s national flower

Though often called a lily, the fleur-de-lis is widely believed to be based on the yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus) that grew along French rivers. It became the emblem of the French monarchy and appears throughout French heraldry, architecture, and history.

Symbolism and tradition

France does not have a legally official national flower, but the fleur-de-lis endures as its most recognizable floral symbol, while flowers such as the lily and the rose also feature in French culture.

National flower of France FAQs

What is the national flower of France?

The national flower of France is the fleur-de-lis (stylized iris) (Iris pseudacorus). France has no single official national flower, but the fleur-de-lis — a stylized flower usually linked to the iris — is its historic emblem.

What does the fleur-de-lis (stylized iris) symbolize in France?

The fleur-de-lis long symbolized French royalty, purity, and divine right, appearing on the arms of French kings for centuries and remaining a strong emblem of French heritage.

Is the fleur-de-lis a lily or an iris?

Despite its name, which means ‘flower of the lily,’ the fleur-de-lis is widely thought to be based on the wild yellow iris, stylized over centuries into a heraldic emblem.

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