The general word is plante. It is used to talk about a plant in the garden, in a pot or in nature. One can also say végétal in a more scientific register. To name a group, one speaks of the plantes on the balcony, the plantes in the garden or the plantes sauvages. When the context changes, the word changes too: in a store, one often talks about a plante verte or a plante d’intérieur. For other words of nature, one can also consult Animaux and Paysages.

A plant has roots in the soil. The stem carries the plant and connects the roots to other parts. The leaves capture light and often give the plant its most visible aspect. The flower appears when the plant develops. The fruit often contains seeds, and a seed can give a new plant. In a garden, one also says that a plant « has nice leaves » or « has many roots ».

tigegraineracinesfeuillefruitfleur

---

Le fruit est la partie qui protège les graines après la floraisonLes racines sont la partie qui absorbe l eau et qui aide la plante à tenir dans la terreLa fleur est la partie colorée qui peut devenir un fruitUne graine est la petite partie qui peut donner une nouvelle planteUne feuille est la partie verte qui aide la plante à fabriquer sa nourritureLa tige est la partie qui porte la plante et relie les feuilles aux racines

Essential parts of a plant

Word	Definition
racines	The racines are the part that absorbs the water and helps the plant to stay in the soil.
tige	The tige is the part that carries the plant and connects the leaves to the roots.
feuille	A feuille is the green part that helps the plant make its food.
fleur	The fleur is the colorful part that can become a fruit.
fruit	The fruit is the part that protects the seeds after flowering.
graine	A graine is the small part that can give a new plant.

Scramble

In a living room or an office, one often encounters the ficus, the cactus, the fougère and the orchidée. The ficus is a large green plant with thick leaves. The cactus stores water and tolerates drought well. The fougère often likes a humid and shaded place. The orchidée is appreciated for its elegant flowers. For these plants, a lot is said about lumière and arrosage: a plant may need a lot of light, little water or regular watering.

lumièrefougèrearrosageficusorchidéecactus

---

La lumière est la clarté dont une plante a besoin pour bien vivreLe cactus est une plante qui aime peu d eauLe ficus est une plante d intérieur souvent grande et feuillueL arrosage est la quantité d eau donnée à une planteUne orchidée est une plante fleurie souvent délicate et raffinéeLa fougère est une plante aux feuilles fines et élégantes

Popular and useful houseplants

Word	Definition
ficus	The ficus is a houseplant often large and leafy.
cactus	The cactus is a plant that loves little water.
fougère	The fougère is a plant with fine, elegant leaves.
orchidée	An orchidée is a floral plant often delicate and refined.
arrosage	The arrosage is the amount of water given to a plant.
lumière	The lumière is the light a plant needs to live well.

Scramble

The rose is a very well-known flower, often associated with fragrance and bouquets. The tulipe blooms in spring with clear and simple colors. The marguerite has a yellow center surrounded by white petals. We talk about a bouquet of flowers when we gather them to give. A flower can be parfumée or sans parfum. Colors are often used to describe them: a red rose, a yellow tulip, a white marguerite.

bouquetparfummargueritetulipecouleurrose

---

La marguerite est une fleur blanche et jaune très couranteLa couleur est la teinte visible d une fleur ou de ses pétalesLe parfum est la bonne odeur que donne une fleurLa rose est une fleur souvent associée au parfum et aux cadeauxLa tulipe est une fleur de printemps avec une forme simple et netteUn bouquet est un groupe de fleurs réunies ensemble

Frequent flowers of the garden and bouquet

Word	Definition
rose	The rose is a flower often associated with fragrance and gifts.
tulipe	The tulipe is a spring flower with a simple, clear shape.
marguerite	The marguerite is a very common white and yellow flower.
bouquet	A bouquet is a group of flowers gathered together.
parfum	The parfum is the pleasant smell that a flower gives off.
couleur	The couleur is the visible hue of a flower or its petals.

Scramble

A arbre is a large plant with a tronc and branches. The chêne and the pin are very common trees. The oak has a solid trunk and broad leaves, while the pine keeps needles all year. An arbuste is smaller than a tree and can form a haie. It is said that a tree has many branches, that a shrub grows near a wall or that a hedge protects a garden.

pinhaietroncbranchechênearbuste

---

Une haie est une rangée de plantes qui fait une limite verteUne branche est une partie qui part du tronc et porte feuilles ou fruitsLe pin est un arbre souvent droit avec des aiguillesUn arbuste est une plante ligneuse plus petite qu un arbreLe tronc est la partie principale et verticale d un arbreLe chêne est un grand arbre solide aux feuilles lobées

Trees and shrubs in the garden

Word	Definition
chêne	The chêne is a large solid tree with lobed leaves.
pin	The pin is a tree often straight with needles.
arbuste	A arbuste is a woody plant smaller than a tree.
haie	A haie is a row of plants that makes a green boundary.
tronc	The tronc is the main vertical part of a tree.
branche	A branche is a part that comes from the trunk and bears leaves or fruits.

Scramble

The potager is the space of the garden where one grows plants to eat. The tomate grows on a plant that likes warmth. The basilic and the menthe are aromatic plants very commonly used in cooking. To start a cultivation, one talks about a semis when putting seeds in soil. The terre of the potager must often be loose and rich. We also say: plant tomatoes, sow basil, harvest mint.

terresemispotagermenthebasilictomate

---

Le basilic est une herbe aromatique au parfum fraisLa menthe est une plante aromatique au goût fraisLa tomate est un fruit du potager souvent rangé parmi les légumes en cuisineUn potager est un jardin où l on cultive des légumes et des plantes utilesLa terre est le sol où les plantes poussentUn semis est une jeune plantation faite à partir de graines

Garden vegetables and sowing

Word	Definition
tomate	The tomate is a garden fruit often grouped with vegetables in cooking.
basilic	The basilic is an aromatic herb with a fresh scent.
menthe	The menthe is an aromatic plant with a fresh taste.
potager	A potager is a garden where vegetables and useful plants are grown.
semis	A semis is a young plantation grown from seeds.
terre	The terre is the soil where plants grow.

Scramble

Arroser a plant means giving it water. Tailler a plant means cutting certain parts so that it keeps a nice shape or grows better. Rempoter a plant means placing it in a larger pot. Planter is used when we put a young plant or a seed in the ground. Fertiliser means to provide fertilizer to nourish the plant. In a garden, one can water in the morning, prune in spring and repot when the roots lack space.

Useful verbs for caring for plants

Usage	Explanation
Regular watering	We use to water when giving water to a plant, especially when the soil becomes dry.
Light pruning	We use to prune to remove parts that are too long or damaged in order to keep the plant in shape.
New pot	We use to repot when we put a plant in a larger pot.
Putting in the ground	We use to plant when we put a seed or a young plant in the ground.
Nutrient supply	We use to fertilize when we give the plant a product that helps its growth.

At the beginning of spring, the bourgeons appear on the branches. The plant begins to pousser when the season becomes milder. Then it can fleurir and produce visible flowers. When the heat is lacking or when winter arrives, some plants fanent and their flowers close or dry. After blooming, one can have a récolte for the plants of the potager or the orchard. We also talk about the rhythm of the seasons to say when a plant grows, flowers or rests.

récoltefanerbourgeonpousserfleurir

---

Pousser veut dire grandir peu à peu pour une planteUn bourgeon est une petite pousse qui annonce une nouvelle feuille ou une fleurLa récolte est la récupération des plantes ou des fruits arrivés à maturitéFleurir veut dire produire des fleursFaner veut dire perdre sa fraîcheur et se courber pour une fleur

Cycle of plants through the seasons

Word	Definition
bourgeon	An bourgeon is a small bud that announces a new leaf or flower.
pousser	Pousser means to grow little by little for a plant.
fleurir	Fleurir means to produce flowers.
faner	Faner means to lose freshness and to droop for a flower.
récolte	The récolte is the collection of plants or fruits that have ripened.

Scramble

A plant sauvage grows without being cultivated. It is found in a field, along a path or in a forest. The herbe often covers the ground in large green areas. The mousse forms a soft and damp layer on stone, the wall or the soil. Some fougères also grow spontaneously in shaded places. These plants give the landscape a natural and discreet look, as in Paysages.

fougèremoussespontanéeherbebord du chemin

---

La fougère est une plante sauvage ou décorative aux feuilles finesL herbe est une plante basse qui pousse souvent en tapisUne plante spontanée est une plante qui pousse seule sans être plantéeLe bord du chemin est un endroit où poussent souvent des plantes spontanéesLa mousse est une plante très douce qui pousse dans les endroits humides

Wild Plants by the Wayside

Word	Definition
herbe	The grass is a low plant that often grows in carpets.
mousse	The moss is a very soft plant that grows in damp places.
fougère	The fern is a wild or decorative plant with delicate leaves.
bord du chemin	The wayside is a place where spontaneous plants often grow.
spontanée	A spontaneous plant is a plant that grows on its own without being planted.

Scramble

One can say: ça pousse for a plant that grows, ça sent bon for a flower or a fragrant herb, c’est toxique for a plant dangerous to touch or eat, and c’est décoratif for a plant chosen for its beauty. These sentences are used to quickly describe a plant in a house, a garden or a display window. One can also say: this plant grows fast, this flower smells good, this berry is toxic, this foliage is decorative.

Simple sentences to describe a plant

Usage	Explanation
Visible growth	We use it grows to say that a plant is growing.
Pleasant smell	We use it smells good to talk about a plant that emits a pleasant odor.
Danger for eating	We use it is toxic to say that a plant may be dangerous to eat or touch.
Decoration	We use it is decorative to say that a plant is mainly used to beautify a place.

The légumes often come from the potager: tomato, courgette, salade, haricot. The herbes aromatiques give flavor to dishes, like basil, parsley, mint or thyme. The fruits can come from a tree, from a shrub or from a garden plant. The épices come from certain plants, but they are used in small quantities to flavor the cuisine. In the garden, one also speaks of edible plants when they can be eaten or cooked.

comestiblelégumejardinherbe aromatiqueépicefruit

---

Une épice est une matière végétale qui donne du goût aux platsUn légume est une plante ou une partie de plante que l on mangeComestible veut dire que l on peut manger sans dangerUn fruit est une partie de plante souvent sucrée et mangeableUne herbe aromatique est une plante qui parfume les platsLe jardin est le lieu où l on cultive souvent des plantes utiles ou décoratives

Edible garden plants

Word	Definition
légume	A légume is a plant or part of a plant that is eaten.
herbe aromatique	An herbe aromatique is a plant that flavors dishes.
fruit	A fruit is a part of a plant often sweet and edible.
épice	An épice is a vegetable substance that adds flavor to dishes.
comestible	Comestible means that it can be eaten without danger.
jardin	The jardin is the place where one often grows useful or decorative plants.

Scramble

Some names of plants change depending on the region or on local usage. A word common in daily conversation may have a more precise name in a botany book. Sometimes one says pinède for a place covered with pines, while the ordinary word remains pin. For the same plant, a region may keep a popular name, while the more technical French uses another term. One must therefore observe the context: kitchen, garden, countryside or scientific text