The 5,000 species that make up the plant diversity of our regions suffer from many ills. Let us learn to recognize them and make our gardens into sanctuaries.
It is impossible not to notice it: the French flora is becoming impoverished. Even species that were once commonplace, such as corn niello, are starting to become scarce. The exploitation of natural environments, global warming , the intensification or abandonment of certain agricultural practices and uncontrolled concreting are the main causes of this decline.
Thus, it is now 15% of our flora , or about 750 species, which are threatened or almost threatened. The situation varies from region to region. Because the disappearance of the flora is an insidious phenomenon: less habitats, there are fewer populations and therefore a reduced genetic diversity, starting an inevitable decline …
On a walk, good reflexes
Let’s say it again: picking a bunch of wildflowers on a nature walk is a bad idea. Not only does this deprive the plant of seeds and reduce the amount of pollen available, but it penalizes foragers, sometimes very specialized, themselves dependent on rare plants.
The smallest actions during a hike can have negative consequences , such as flipping rocks or going off trails. Avoid trampling natural environments, stay on the paths, do not cut switchbacks in the mountains …
Even “wild swimming” has negative effects caused by disturbance and bodily products that pollute the water. Learning to identify the flora in its natural environment and gleaning large bouquets of photos remain the surest way to enjoy the spectacle of wild nature.
The danger of the expansion of cultivated plants
This is a facet of human activity that is still little known: the spontaneous contamination of wild plants by cultivated varieties, sometimes hybridized, always selected. However, these horticultural forms are not very varied genetically and often more sensitive to diseases and pests.
Locally, certain plants can be cultivated in such large numbers that the pollen, once transported from gardens to natural environments, creates a mixture of wild and cultivated plants. The marsh hibiscus, prized in the South-West, is thus threatened.
In other regions, the risk is the same: lavender, wild apple trees, rosehips, junipers, etc., are some of the plants that can undergo this recurring process.successive hybridization and backcrossing , which scientists call introgression .
Unusual species here but invasive elsewhere
The false water lily ( Nymphoides peltata ) illustrates the difficulties of preserving plant biodiversity . This small aquatic plant, lovely in a pond, is classified in danger of extinction in the South-East. She disappeared from Brittany, Hauts-de-France, Normandy and Auvergne. And yet: in North America, it has become so established that it aggressively colonizes many bodies of water.
It behaves there like the North American aquatic plants introduced in France, like the jussie ( Ludwigia), which slows down the circulation of water and plunges aquatic environments into the shadow of its covering foliage, or Nuttall’s water lily, which threatens aquatic flora. In America, the presence of the false water lily can sometimes depreciate the price of real estate on the edge of a body of water! With us, however, there is no contraindication.
Northwest: fragile species
In the north-western quarter of France, many plants naturally present in southern and western Europe are reaching the limit of their development area.
Despite climate change, these species do not benefit from temperature changes because their seeds are not very mobile. If their habitat disappears, they also decline and are therefore locally vulnerable. As for the very jagged coastline, it is also home to several rare species, vestiges of a population that used to be much larger, and which are today sometimes very small: these endemic plants , which cannot be found anywhere else, are numerous in that part of the territory.
North-West: Endangered horticultural heritage
The horticultural diversity of northwestern France is also threatened with oblivion. There are varieties well adapted to the local soil such as the pear tree ‘Figue d’Alençon’, characterized by its stocky and rounded fruits, which appreciates light and cool soils. Other varieties of pears and, of course, apples, such as ‘Bondon’, yellow striped with red and sweet, belong to this endangered plant heritage.
But we must not neglect other less emblematic crops, such as ‘De Trémont’ lettuce or ‘Grison de Loire’ bean.
Rather cool summers and heavy rainfallat the start of the season suit them well. All these varieties are still kept by local horticultural companies or even nurserymen specializing in old varieties, because they are no longer distributed in the traditional commercial circuit.
The culture of colchicum
name Colchicum autumnale , or killer dog, saffron-mongrel, meadowsweet …Typebulb plant.Distribution and natural habitatThe crocus is found throughout Europe, but in regions where summers are hot.Threatmore or less frequent in France, this plant is considered to be absent in Brittany and remains vulnerable in Normandy, in particular because of the mechanization of pasture maintenance.Cultivate itcolchicum likes lawns mowed in July. In a massif, it is better to offer it a bright location in fresh earth. This species is easily naturalized, but its bulky foliage, which only appears in spring, must be allowed to develop and complete its cycle. The horticultural forms are more floriferous, but sometimes sterile.
Growing Italian gladiolus
name Gladiolus italicus .Typebulb plant.Distribution and natural habitatthis gladiolus grows in the harvests and cultivated places of the Midi, the Rhône, Puy-de-Dôme, Charente-Maritime and Vendée.Threatextinct in Brittany, it is critically endangered in other regions (Auvergne and Pays de la Loire), due to the disappearance of its habitat.Cultivate itoffer it a sunny slope, even scorching in summer, in well-drained soil. It supports limestone well, if the soil is rich and even ends up forming a nice clump.
Growing the Glénan narcissus
name Narcissus triandrus subsp. capax.Type bulb plant.Distribution and natural habitat this large-flowered form is endemic to the Glénan archipelago, in Finistère.Threat the picking for the bouquets, the uprooting of the bulbs and the arrangement of the old pastures in cultivated fields almost made disappear this plant.Cultivate it the typical form is not commercially available, but ‘Thalia’, a horticultural selection, requires only draining soil and an open location. It should be planted en masse for a natural effect .
North-East: a flora under tension
The vulnerable plants of the flora are especially dependent on wetlands. There are also those whose distribution reaches the northern limit of the region.
Drainage of wetlands, urbanization and modernization of agriculture have had negative effects on some of the flora in these regions. Botanical conservatories are thus reporting a drop in the number of endemic species .
The Paris region has very rare species in the plains, such as variegated horsetail ( Equisetum variegatum ) or large-flowered sabline ( Arenaria grandiflora ), both on the verge of extinction.
Small orchid of the wet meadows, the summer spiranthus ( Spiranthes aestivali) has not been seen since 1985 in the North, but remains present everywhere else in France. The St. Michael’s daisy ( Aster amellus ) is threatened, and the common pulicaria ( Pulicaria vulgaris ) is protected. Likewise, it is only in Herbsheim, in Alsace, that we can see the doubtful selin ( Kadenia dubia ), and in Ohnenheim, the fragrant garlic ( Allium suaveolens ).
In Lorraine, the pubescent stonecrop ( Sedum villosum ) is now absent. However, a few actions would suffice to protect these plants, such as stopping mowing the edges of the roads. Gardeners can also create a small body of water at home, because wetlands are a welcome refuge for these magnificent ornamental plants.
Treasures in the garden in the Northeast
The gardens of north-eastern France traditionally host a great diversity of cultivated varieties, due in particular to the influence of neighboring countries, with whom exchanges have always been fruitful.
There are marvels there, such as the ‘De Lunéville’ melon. This 2 kg Cucurbitaceae resists cold and humidity and offers a tender flesh and not hard like some modern melons. Only downside: it requires regular pruning in order to obtain well-formed fruits.
The region is also proud of a tradition of beans, some of which have been pulled from oblivion at the last minute such as the flageolet ‘Blanc des Flandres’, the butter bean ‘Du Cambrésis’, the coconut bean ‘De Chéhu’, etc. And we must add the carrots,
Growing the wood anemone
nameAnemone sylvestris.Typeperennial.Distribution and natural habitatit is present over a large north-eastern quarter, extending to central France. Elsewhere, it is found from Sweden to West Asia. It occupies limestone lawns and light woods, despite its name.Threat the landscaping of lawns made it disappear from the places where it was present.Cultivate itthis Ranunculacea slowly settles in clumps, with other low plants, in not too dry soil and in drained soil. She doesn’t like competition.
Growing summer adonid
nameAdonis aestivalis or drop-of-blood.Typeannual.Distribution and natural habitatthis native plant was used to harvests and limestone wastelands, from Central Asia to Western Europe.Threatwith the herbicides used in cereal crops, this plant is in critical danger in the northern half, in particular in Lorraine and Picardy.Cultivate itsow it at the end of winter, on bare ground and very sunny in summer, covering the seeds with 5 mm of potting soil. Let it reseed. Remember to remove faded flowers .
Growing lysimachus in thyrsis
nameLysimachia thyrsiflora .Typeperennial.Distribution and natural habitatthis plant grows naturally in humid lowland areas, over a vast geographic area stretching from North America to part of Asia.Threatits particular habitat, in low-altitude peat bogs, being itself in sharp decline , the plant is considered to be in critical danger of extinction in Picardy. It is classified as vulnerable in many French departments.Cultivate itplant it with bank plants, around a pond, where it quickly finds its place. She only needs 2 inches of open water and, once settled, she lives a very long time. It spreads by vigorous underground rhizomes.
Growing German fern
nameMatteuccia struthiopteris or ostrich feather fern.Typeperennial.Distribution and natural habitatconfined to Alsace, this vegetal gem inhabits marshy places on the edge. It is found throughout the Northern Hemisphere, including Japan, Canada, and Russia.Threatthe drainage of wetlands and their transformation into afforestation have reduced the natural habitat of this fern.Cultivate itinstall it in the shade or in the partial shade, at the foot of a wall, in a very humus soil. It reproduces by spontaneous sowing .
Growing corn niello
nameAgrostemma githago .Typeannual.Distribution and natural habitatnative to Europe and North Africa to Asia, niello has been introduced everywhere.Threatit has become so rare, because of the weedkillers used in cereal cultivation, that it is in critical danger of extinction in the Hauts-de-France. She disappeared in the Somme, Oise and Aisne.Cultivate itsow it in winter, until February, on bare ground , after tillage. The plant, if it is inconspicuous at the beginning, then develops without care.
Emergency in the South-West
Between ocean, mountains and Mediterranean influences, the flora of the territory shows real richness. This vegetable “melting pot” is however in danger.
Wedged between the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and two mountain ranges (the Massif Central and the Pyrenees), the South-West is home to a diverse flora that results from these different constraints. Despite the relatively unspoiled character of the Pyrenean mountains, the erosion of biodiversity is real.
Global warming is one of the main threats there, because the high-altitude flora cannot climb forever, as in the Alps, and has no escape route. However, there are astonishing endemic plants, such as the Pyrenean dioscorea, a cousin of the yam, attached to mountain scree.
If the flora of the territory is enriched with plants of Mediterranean origin, which migrate north, it also loses some of its plants dependent on dry and hot summers, due in particular to the exploitation of land , so far subject to low-intensity grazing. Elsewhere, the thicket following agricultural abandonment has on the contrary plunged these plants into a shadow which prevents them from flowering and therefore from reproducing. The flora of the Southwest therefore faces complicated challenges, which will require various measures to ensure that these plants have a viable future.
Rarities in the South West
The South-West is known for its stone fruits, some varieties of which were saved from oblivion at the last minute: the plum tree ‘Datil’, with its small sweet fruits, is one of the most beautiful examples, and this variety is more and more in the catalogs of specialized producers.
Vegetables are not to be outdone, with the diversity of beans , some of which are very confidential, such as the ‘A taste of Échenans chestnut’, with brown grains, and the many cousins of the ‘Tarbais’ bean.
The other ambassador of the region is, of course, the onion, of which each canton had its own variety (there was thus a variety of Moissac, Saint-Turjan, etc.), like the onion ‘ From Trebons’. Thanks to the work of a few producers,
Growing the Hairy Soldanelle
nameSoldanella villosa or large soldanelle.Typeperennial.Distribution and natural habitatthis cousin of the primroses is confined to the Pyrenees, in their Basque part to the Cantabrian mountains, in Spain.Threatits populations are far from each other and global warming limits the possibilities of refuge.Cultivate itif this Soldanelle is not commercially available, other, easier species will find their place in a rather cool and shaded corner of the garden, sheltered from the hot weather.
Growing golden garlic
nameAllium moly or garlic from Spain.Typebulb plant.Distribution and natural habitatof European origin, this bulb is only found in the south of France. It is present in Spain, Italy and North Africa.Threatmodification of hay meadows restricts this species. Golden garlic tolerates late cutting in summer, but it cannot withstand competition from fertilizer-boosted grass.Cultivate itthis bulb is easily naturalized in the garden, in light soil and in the sun. Eventually, it can form bright colonies .
Cultivating the Pyrenean aster
nameAster pyrenaeus .Typeperennial.Distribution and natural habitatthis aster is endemic to the Cantabrian mountains and the Pyrenees. Several sites in the eastern part of its range have disappeared.Threatrare from the 19th century in the Pyrenees, this plant is not very prolific in nature. Global warming, which leads to the thickening of its habitat, limits its prospects.Cultivate itfairly easy to keep in cultivation, this perennial plant only needs fresh soil in the sun, for example in a massif made up of perennials of average size: about 50 cm in height. The Pyrenean aster deserves its place in the flower beds, but a rock garden suits it. Nurserymen sometimes offer the variety ‘Lutetia’, with larger flowers.
Growing water clover
nameMarsilea quadrifolia .Typeaquatic perennial.Distribution and natural habitatthis plant with acid green foliage is native to the humid zones of the southern regions.Threatwetland drainage and agricultural irrigation have caused it to lose many of its habitats.Cultivate itplace it around a body of water, making sure that it does not invade everything, as it is prolific . It can also be kept in a pot, in a saucer always containing a background of water. It fears the cold below – 12 ° C.
Cultivate slimy columbine
name Aquilegia viscosa or columbine of the causses.Type perennial.Distribution and natural habitat this columbine with indigo-colored flowers is endemic to the causses (ie low-altitude plateaus) in the south.Threat the disappearance of the old-fashioned pasture makes it vulnerable.Cultivate it this species is not commercially available, but others, such as Pyrenean columbine ( A. pyrenaica ), are also slender and easy in rockery. A light and cool soil , in partial shade, offers them good conditions to naturalize.
South-East: greenhouse effect
Bringing together both the Alpine massif and the Mediterranean coast, this territory is home to one of the richest flora, but also the most fragile with warming.
Urbanization and global warming are the two evils that hit the flora of the Southeast the hardest. Urban sprawl, with the transformation of wild spaces into residential or activity areas, takes a heavy toll on fragile environments such as scrubland.
But it is global warming that is proving the most pressing threat. Wasn’t it in Vérargues (34) that the maximum temperature record ever recorded in France was broken?
Climate change condemns mountain plants to migrate highto find more favorable conditions, but all of them are far from being able to do so. Species originating from the north are regressing because the climate has become too hot for them. The beech grove of Sainte-Baume, near Marseille (13), is condemned, and seeds were taken there to be replanted… in Rouen (76), in order to safeguard the genetics of this sacred forest.
On the coast, invasive plants crowd out plants that are not very vigorous and subject to a very particular environment. Despite these constraints, the local flora still offers a tremendous diversity and a number of species can undoubtedly be preserved.
Conservation of species in conservatory gardens
The modernization of market gardening practices has almost caused the disappearance of many vegetables … But if the local and old selections are sometimes better adapted to our environment , they are sometimes disappointing, because their qualities vary from one terroir to another.
In the gardens of the South-East, alongside crops for the sun, such as melons, from which we have been able to save a number of strains, there are also vegetables from less “southern” regions. The kohlrabi ‘Blanc de Vienne’ or the turnip ‘De Crévoux’ bring real diversity, because they are better suited to the gardens of the South than the varieties of the north, sometimes tested by dry and too hot seasons.
A word of advice: call on the elders, who often have these plant treasures in their gardens!
Growing dwarf birch
nameBetula nana .Typeshrub.Distribution and natural habitatrelic of the Ice Age, this birch is fond of the very northern regions. In France, it reaches its southern limit. It is present in peatlands, where its small size (it does not exceed 50 cm) makes it suitable for an environment particularly poor in nutrients.Threatglobal warming threatens its populations in the south of the Massif Central.Cultivate itdwarf birch thrives in light, but moist soil. It can be planted at the edge of a pond, in fibrous soil.
Cultivate Matthioli’s cortuse
namePrimula matthioli syn. Cortusa matthioli .Typeperennial.Distribution and natural habitatthis primrose is found in the mountains of central Europe, such as the Carpathians. In France, it reaches its western limit.Threatglobal warming and mountain developments make this plant increasingly rare. It is now protected in Rhône-Alpes.Cultivate itlike many alpines, it likes rock gardens , composed of gravel, well watered in summer. It is perfect when grown in a trough, on a bed of pebbles.
Cultivating the panicaut des Alpes
nameEryngium alpinum or Alpine blue thistle, queen of the AlpsTypeperennial.Distribution and natural habitatit grows naturally in all the Alps, at medium altitude (1,500 m). It rubs shoulders with other even rarer panicauts, such as the white thorn panicaut ( Eryngium spinalba ).Threatharvesting is the main danger. Only certified collectors can still, under conditions, take some. But the ease of cultivation of the plant removes interest from this sector.Cultivate itit is especially the variety ‘Blue Star’, more colorful, that we find. A fresh soil suits it, in mass as in rockery, and the plant can be reseeded. Leave the flower heads in place until March of the following year.
Growing the faux cork oak tree
name Quercus crenata or Lucombe oak.Type tree.Distribution and natural habitat it is confined to the dry forests of southern Europe. Only a thousand remain in Italy and only a few in the Var and the Alpes-Maritimes.Threatin France, the false cork oak tree is considered endangered. It is the subject of an interministerial protection order. Cultivate it if this oak is not marketed, it is easy to cultivate the hairy oak ( Quercus cerris ), a closely related species which could be one of its relatives. Install it in dry , limestone soil , in full sun.
Growing officinal sage
nameSalvia officinalis .Typeshrubby perennial.Distribution and natural habitatthis aromatic plant is present throughout southern Europe. It comes in several subspecies, such as those with lavender leaves or French sage, rarer and more localized than the typical form.Threatthe afforestation of previously open spaces and genetic pollution limit the possibilities of maintaining these sage.Cultivate itfor officinal sage as for its subspecies, it is necessary to offer a very sunny spot, even torrid during all summer.
