When learning about or discussing plants, you’ll often come across both common and scientific names. There are good reasons for knowing both.
When I discuss any plant on this site, I always mention the scientific name. That’s not just to impress you with my botanical chops, there are a few good reasons for this.
Common Names Can Be Misleading
Here are some examples of desert plants with ironic common names:
- Bear grass is not a grass
- Sago palm is not a palm
- Mexican honeysuckle is not a honeysuckle
- Texas sage is not a sage
- Texas olive is not an olive tree
- Yuca vine is not a yucca
- Mexican petunia is not a petunia
- Hesperaloe (also called red yucca) is not an aloe or a yucca
And don’t even get me started on the five plants grown in the southwest called bird of paradise — it’s a nomenclature nightmare!
While these examples can be amusing, misleading common names can lead you to give these plants the wrong care.
Your sago “palm” doesn’t need palm fertilizer, your bear grass should not be sheared like an ornamental grass, and don’t expect your Mexican honeysuckle to climb like a vine.
Common Names Can Be Confusing
If you go shopping for a firecracker bush (Hamelia patens) you might wind up bringing home a totally unrelated firecracker plant (Russelia equisetiformis) instead.
If you tell someone from another part of the country that your local botanical garden* hosts a major event the night the Queen of the Night (Peniocereus greggii) blooms, they might wonder what the fuss is about if they grow Queen of the Night as a houseplant.
Of course, their Queen of the Night is a completely different, unrelated plant — Epiphyllum oxypetalum. Here’s a picture of our incomparable Queen of the Night in bloom.
The Bottom Line
Gardening is hard enough in the desert. Knowing scientific names can make it easier.
The next time someone uses or asks you for a scientific name of a plant, don’t think they are being a “botany snob”. They may just be striving for accuracy so that you get the plant you want and give it the care it needs.
*Tucson’s Tohono Chul Park has the world’s largest collection
of Peniocereus greggii. Their Bloom Night is a major event attended by
thousands who come to photograph this elusive desert beauty.
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Author Bio
Deane Alban is the creator of Southwest Gardener. She is a science writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of South Florida. Gardening is her lifelong passion. She’s been gardening in Tucson for over 15 years.
Photo Credits
“Nightblooming Cereus Cactus” by Exia Photography is licensed under CC BY 2.0