The common names people use for plants have intrigued me for years. At school I learned to use scientific names when addressing scientific issues, in order to avoid confusion and to align my research to a common system understood by all scientists. But I question their usefulness in everyday conversation. Why, for instance at a family gathering, would I tell my bird-loving cousin I had seen a Turdus migratorius in her garden when I could simply say I saw a “Robin”? Just as birds are categorized for convenient discussion, so are plants.

An 18th century Swedish botanist, Carolus Linnaeus set forth the rules for botanical nomenclature, which are still used for plant ID in this nursery. They involve the binomial system, Genus + species, for categorizing plants based on the structure of their flower parts. More recently, known biochemical similarities, DNA sequencing, and genetic markers play a part in making a determination. What makes this system so important to us at Berkeley Hort is that we can immediately narrow the field of possibilities to a single species or variety. How often I recall being approached by the shopper asking for “Mock Orange”, only to wonder whether they mean Philadelphus, Choisya, or Pittosporum.

Since botanical names often appear formidable, we tend to be reluctant to attempt their pronunciation, and rely instead on their more familiar vernacular names. Many cultures have no need for taxonomic dogma, depending entirely on local names passed down from one generation to the next. On a global scale, it would seem that the British have had the most influence on common usage, undoubtedly due to their country's deep history and enthusiasm for gardening, coupled with prolific writers in this genre.

What you call a plant can be a matter of controversy. Some names are cute (“Biddy-Biddy”), some descriptive (“Snow-in-Summer”) and some use derogatory terms for people (not here). Often-used suffixes include -bane, -berry, and a multitude of -worts. There exist, a group of plants from Europe, which were once collected in great numbers by my spouse. These succulents were planted on rooftops (as then ordered by Charlemagne) in order to reduce house fires by lightning strikes. “Houseleeks”, “Hens & Chicks”, and “Live Forever” are common names I had heard for these plants; or botanically Sempervivum tectorum. You can imagine my surprise when, thumbing through an English gardening journal, I came across a reference to it as “Welcome-Home-Husband-Though-Never-so-Drunk”.

Some of my favorite common names are listed below.

– Paul

Lesser-known Common Names

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