Gardening in France - statistics & facts
The gardens of Versailles, designed by André Le Nôtre, are among the emblems of France throughout the world. This green paradise was the work of one of the most ambitious kings in history, Louis XIV, who initiated its creation when he was young. It is from this love for artificial woods that the art of French gardening was born.
Today, the French still show a real interest in flowers and gardens. More and more inhabitants of France, of which over a third consider the garden as a privileged place of rest and relaxation, take to this hobby, whether it is on a terrace, a balcony, or on windowsills. Many also consider their garden as a place to grow their own food: in 2019, half of French people considered a garden in which fruits and vegetables grew to be an ideal type.
This trend is also reflected in the way people are changing their gardening methods. Since the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, the French are paying more attention to the geographical origin of the plants they buy, mostly out of a desire to support French producers, merchants and companies. Many consumers also prefer to purchase products with the label "Fleurs de France". A large majority of French people would also be willing to use more environmentally friendly gardening products, as well as to reduce the use of pesticides in order to keep pollinating insects alive. Most garden owners have already implemented sustainable maintenance solutions, and tend to take their green waste to waste collection centers or to use it as compost.
However, French people don't usually spend a lot of money on taking care of their plants and flowers: while they buy an average of 32 plants per year, their annual budget does not exceed 113 euros, which is not a very large sum for garden care. Yet, this does not prevent the gardening industry from growing. Garden centers reached a turnover of more than seven billion euros in 2019. The number of garden centers has remained above 1,200 in recent years.
This trend is also reflected in the way people are changing their gardening methods. Since the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, the French are paying more attention to the geographical origin of the plants they buy, mostly out of a desire to support French producers, merchants and companies. Many consumers also prefer to purchase products with the label "Fleurs de France". A large majority of French people would also be willing to use more environmentally friendly gardening products, as well as to reduce the use of pesticides in order to keep pollinating insects alive. Most garden owners have already implemented sustainable maintenance solutions, and tend to take their green waste to waste collection centers or to use it as compost.
However, French people don't usually spend a lot of money on taking care of their plants and flowers: while they buy an average of 32 plants per year, their annual budget does not exceed 113 euros, which is not a very large sum for garden care. Yet, this does not prevent the gardening industry from growing. Garden centers reached a turnover of more than seven billion euros in 2019. The number of garden centers has remained above 1,200 in recent years.
