Plant Names
Plant tags, garden centers and plant-care apps all use a mix of common and botanical names, which is why the same plant can be sold as a snake plant, mother-in-law’s tongue or Dracaena trifasciata. This guide lists 100 popular plants by their everyday name and their current botanical name, with a quick care or trivia note for each.
We start with houseplants and succulents, move outdoors to ferns, climbers and edible plants, and finish with some playful names to give your plants a personality. For flowering plants specifically, see our names of flowers; for kitchen greenery, our herb names; and for bigger specimens, our tree names.
Popular houseplant names
These are the plants you’ll find in most US plant shops. Several were recently reclassified, so older labels may show a different botanical name.
| Common name | Botanical name | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Monstera | Monstera deliciosa | Leaves develop holes (fenestrations) as they mature |
| Pothos | Epipremnum aureum | Nearly unkillable trailing vine |
| Snake plant | Dracaena trifasciata | Formerly Sansevieria; tolerates low light |
| ZZ plant | Zamioculcas zamiifolia | Stores water in thick rhizomes |
| Peace lily | Spathiphyllum | Droops dramatically when thirsty |
| Fiddle-leaf fig | Ficus lyrata | Hates being moved |
| Rubber plant | Ficus elastica | Glossy leaves; once tapped for rubber |
| Spider plant | Chlorophytum comosum | Produces baby “spiderettes” |
| Heartleaf philodendron | Philodendron hederaceum | Heart-shaped trailing leaves |
| Calathea | Goeppertia | Most calatheas now belong to this genus |
| Prayer plant | Maranta leuconeura | Leaves fold up at night |
| Chinese evergreen | Aglaonema | Colorful, low-light tolerant |
| Dumb cane | Dieffenbachia | Sap irritates the mouth and throat |
| Parlor palm | Chamaedorea elegans | Victorian parlor favorite |
| Bird’s nest fern | Asplenium nidus | Wavy, apple-green fronds |
| Boston fern | Nephrolepis exaltata | Loves humidity |
| String of pearls | Curio rowleyanus | Bead-like trailing succulent |
| Chinese money plant | Pilea peperomioides | Round, coin-shaped leaves |
| Peperomia | Peperomia | Over 1,000 species, many pet-safe |
| Cast iron plant | Aspidistra elatior | Earned its name by surviving neglect |
| Dragon tree | Dracaena marginata | Spiky leaves edged in red |
| Ponytail palm | Beaucarnea recurvata | Not a palm; stores water in its swollen trunk |
| Flamingo flower | Anthurium andraeanum | Waxy red spathes year-round |
| Bird of paradise | Strelitzia nicolai | Giant banana-like leaves indoors |
| Umbrella plant | Heptapleurum arboricola | Formerly Schefflera |
| Elephant ear | Alocasia | Dramatic arrow-shaped leaves |
| English ivy | Hedera helix | Climbs by aerial roots |
| Wax plant | Hoya carnosa | Fragrant star-shaped flower clusters |
| Inch plant | Tradescantia zebrina | Purple-striped leaves, fast grower |
| Croton | Codiaeum variegatum | Leaves splashed red, orange and yellow |
Succulents and cacti
Succulents store water in their leaves or stems. Give them bright light, gritty soil and very little water.
| Common name | Botanical name | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Aloe vera | Aloe vera | Gel soothes minor burns |
| Jade plant | Crassula ovata | Can live for decades; “money tree” in feng shui |
| Echeveria | Echeveria | Rosette-shaped, many colors |
| Zebra haworthia | Haworthiopsis attenuata | White-striped, tolerates lower light |
| Hens and chicks | Sempervivum | Latin “live forever”; spreads by offsets |
| Christmas cactus | Schlumbergera | Forest cactus that likes more water |
| Golden barrel cactus | Echinocactus grusonii | Round and spiny |
| Prickly pear | Opuntia | Edible pads (nopales) and fruit |
| Saguaro | Carnegiea gigantea | Can take 50–70 years to grow its first arm |
| Bunny ears cactus | Opuntia microdasys | Fuzzy-looking but prickly |
| Burro’s tail | Sedum morganianum | Leaves fall off at a touch |
| Agave | Agave | Blue agave is used to make tequila |
| Flaming Katy | Kalanchoe blossfeldiana | Long-lasting bright flowers |
| Panda plant | Kalanchoe tomentosa | Fuzzy leaves with brown tips |
| Living stones | Lithops | Camouflaged as pebbles |
| Moon cactus | Gymnocalycium mihanovichii | Colorful top grafted onto a green base |
| Ghost plant | Graptopetalum paraguayense | Pale, powdery rosettes |
| String of dolphins | Curio × peregrinus | Leaves shaped like leaping dolphins |
Ferns and mosses
Ferns reproduce by spores rather than seeds, and some species are over 300 million years old as a group.
| Common name | Botanical name | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Maidenhair fern | Adiantum | Delicate fronds on black stems |
| Staghorn fern | Platycerium | Mounted on boards like antlers |
| Sword fern | Polystichum munitum | Pacific Northwest native |
| Ostrich fern | Matteuccia struthiopteris | Source of edible fiddleheads |
| Bracken | Pteridium aquilinum | One of the most widespread ferns on Earth |
| Sphagnum moss | Sphagnum | Holds up to 20 times its weight in water |
| Cushion moss | Leucobryum glaucum | Forms soft domes in woodland |
| Spikemoss | Selaginella | Includes the “resurrection plant” |
| Asparagus fern | Asparagus setaceus | Not a true fern, but looks like one |
Climbing plants and vines
Climbers cover fences, pergolas and walls. Some, like kudzu, are invasive in parts of the US.
| Common name | Botanical name | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Wisteria | Wisteria sinensis | Cascading purple flowers; plant away from pipes |
| Clematis | Clematis | “Queen of climbers” |
| Honeysuckle | Lonicera | Sweet-scented tubular flowers |
| Morning glory | Ipomoea purpurea | Blooms open at sunrise |
| Virginia creeper | Parthenocissus quinquefolia | Native vine with five leaflets and red fall color |
| Boston ivy | Parthenocissus tricuspidata | Covers Ivy League buildings |
| Climbing hydrangea | Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris | Shade-tolerant, lacy white flowers |
| Passionflower | Passiflora incarnata | Maypop, a native passionflower |
| Trumpet vine | Campsis radicans | Hummingbird magnet |
| Bougainvillea | Bougainvillea | Papery bracts in bright colors |
| Star jasmine | Trachelospermum jasminoides | Fragrant white pinwheel flowers |
| Kudzu | Pueraria montana | “The vine that ate the South” |
Carnivorous plants
These plants grow in poor, boggy soil and top up their nutrients by catching insects.
| Common name | Botanical name | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Venus flytrap | Dionaea muscipula | Native only to the Carolinas |
| Pitcher plant | Sarracenia | Trumpet-shaped traps in North American bogs |
| Tropical pitcher plant | Nepenthes | Hanging traps; some catch small frogs |
| Sundew | Drosera | Sticky tentacles curl around prey |
| Butterwort | Pinguicula | Greasy-looking leaves trap gnats |
| Bladderwort | Utricularia | Underwater suction traps |
| Cobra lily | Darlingtonia californica | Hooded like a snake |
Vegetable garden plants
Kitchen gardens are full of plants with surprising relatives: tomatoes and potatoes are cousins in the nightshade family.
| Common name | Botanical name | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Solanum lycopersicum | Botanically a fruit |
| Potato | Solanum tuberosum | First domesticated in the Andes |
| Bell pepper | Capsicum annuum | Same species as jalapeños |
| Carrot | Daucus carota subsp. sativus | Early carrots were purple or yellow |
| Lettuce | Lactuca sativa | Bolts quickly in summer heat |
| Cucumber | Cucumis sativus | About 95% water |
| Zucchini | Cucurbita pepo | A type of summer squash |
| Kale | Brassica oleracea | Same species as cabbage and broccoli |
| Spinach | Spinacia oleracea | Cool-season crop |
| Garden pea | Pisum sativum | Used by Mendel to study genetics |
| Green bean | Phaseolus vulgaris | Bush and pole varieties |
| Corn | Zea mays | Domesticated in Mexico about 9,000 years ago |
| Rhubarb | Rheum rhabarbarum | Stalks edible, leaves toxic |
| Asparagus | Asparagus officinalis | Beds can produce for 20 years |
Cute names for your plants
Naming your plants is a fun way to remember to water them. These puns suit specific plants; for more wordplay, see our funny pet names.
| Name | Best for | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Fernando | Any fern | Classic pun |
| Leaf Erikson | A big leafy monstera | Explorer energy |
| Spike | Cactus or snake plant | Sharp and simple |
| Prickles | Small cactus | Cute warning label |
| Monty | Monstera | Friendly short form |
| Pothos Malone | Trailing pothos | Pop-star pun |
| Sprout | Seedlings | Tiny and hopeful |
| Vincent van Grow | A plant that’s thriving | Artistic flourish |
| Sir Leafs-a-Lot | A shedding fig | Honest name |
| Twiggy | Leggy, lanky plant | Retro model nod |
| Ivy League | English ivy | Smart pun |
| Bud | Any flowering plant | Your new best friend |
How to identify and name your plants
- Use a plant ID app, then double-check. Apps are good starting points, but confirm with a botanical name before buying care products.
- Keep the botanical name. Common names vary by region, while the Latin name is the same everywhere.
- Check pet safety. Dieffenbachia, aloe, jade plant and pothos are toxic to cats and dogs; peperomia and spider plants are generally safe.
- Give your plants names. A named plant is a plant you notice — and a plant you notice gets watered. Try ideas from our cute pet names list.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular houseplant?
Pothos, snake plants, monstera and ZZ plants are among the best-selling houseplants in the US because they tolerate low light and irregular watering.
Why do plants have Latin names?
Botanical names follow a two-part Latin system, created by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, so that scientists everywhere can refer to exactly the same plant.
Why did my snake plant’s name change?
DNA studies moved Sansevieria into the genus Dracaena in 2017, so the snake plant is now Dracaena trifasciata.
What plant is easiest to keep alive?
ZZ plant, snake plant, pothos and cast iron plant are famously forgiving for beginners.
What are some cute plant names?
Fernando, Leaf Erikson, Monty, Sprout, Prickles and Pothos Malone are popular pun names for houseplants.