Horticolour : : It's All Latin To Me!


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It's All Latin To Me!

Plant names are a mystery. When you sit down to look through horticultural books and journals for inspiration the array of exotically named plants can be confusing. The use of Latin to name plants stems from Roman times. The present system of naming plants dates back to 1753 when Carl Linnaeus created the two-name system - the first name relates to the plant genus, while the second name relates to the species.

We still use Latin because it is consistent. Plants come from all over the world and each country has its own common name for each plant. If we used common names, each plant could potentially have several different name! Latin, however, is a dead language and cannot be altered. Therefore, using Latin names for plants means that they remain constant.

However, knowing the reasons for using Latin to name plants does not help translate the names into more user-friendly terminology! The following list is designed to do just that.

Latin Name	Common Name

Abies	Fir
Acanthus mollis	Bear's Breeches
Acer	Maple
Achillea spp.	Yarrow
Agapanthus	African Lily
Ajuga reptans	Bugleweed
Alcea rosea	Hollyhock
Allium spp.	Ornamental Onion
Alnus	Alder
Alstroemeria	Peruvian Lily
Antirrhinum	Snap Dragon
Aquilegia spp.	Columbine
Aralia elata	Japanese Angelica Tree
Armeria maritima	Sea Thrift
Artemesi	Mugwort
Aucuba japonica	Japanese Laurel
Auraucaria araucana	Monkey Puzzle
Bellis perennis	English Daisy
Berberis	Barberry
Betula	Birch
Buddleja	Butterfly Bush
Buxus	Box
Calendula	Common Marigold
Calluna vulgaris	Common Heather
Campanula	Bellflower
Carex sp.	Sedge
Carpinus	Hornbeam
Ceanothus	Californian Lilac
Centranthus	Red Valerian
Cerastium tomentosum	Snow in Summer
Chaenomeles	Flowering Quince
Choisya ternata	Mexican Orange Blossom
Cistus	Rock Rose
Clarkia	Godetia
Convallaria majalis	Lily of the Valley
Cordyline	Cabbage Palm
Coreopsis	Tickseed
Cornus	Dogwood
Corylus	Hazel
Cotinus	Smoke Bush
Crataegus	Hawthorn
Cytisus scoparius	Broom
Dianthus	Pinks
Dicentra spectablis	Bleeding Heart
Digitalis	Foxglove
Echinacea	Cone Flower
Erysimum	Wallflower
Euonymous	Spindle Tree
Euphorbia	Spurge
Exochorda	Pearl Bush
Fagus	Beech
Felicia	Margeurite Daisy
Festuca sp.	Fescue
Genista	Spanish Gorse
Geranium spp.	Cranesbill
Gypsophila	Baby's Breath
Hamamelis	Witch Hazel
Hedera	Ivy
Helianthemum	Rock Rose
Hemerocallis	Day Lily
Heuchera	Coral Flower
Hosta	Plaintain Lily
Iberis	Candytuft
Ilex	Holly
Kniphofia	Red Hot Poker
Lamium	Dead Nettle
Lathyrus	Sweet Pea
Laurus	Bay
Lavandula	Lavender
Lavatera	Tree Mallow
Leucothoe	Switch Ivy
Lonicera	Honeysuckle
Mahonia	Oregon Grape
Malus	Apple
Nandina	Heavenly Bamboo
Nepeta	Cat Mint
Olea	Olive
Osmanthus	False Holly
Paeonia	Peony
Papaver	Poppy
Passiflora	Passion Flower
Penstemon	Beard Tongue
Perovskia	Russian Sage
Philadelphus	Mock Orange
Phormium	New Zealand Flax
Phygelius	Cape Fuchsia
Potentilla	Cinque Foil
Pyracantha	Fire Thorn
Quercus	Oak
Rudbeckia	Coneflower/ Black Eyed Susan
Salvia	Sage
Sambucas	Common Elder
Santolina	Cotton Lavender
Sarcococca	Sweet Box
Sedum	Stone Crop
Stachys	Lamb's Ears
Syringa	Lilac
Taxus	Yew
Vitis	Grape