When strolling through a garden center or flipping through a plant catalog, you’ll often notice two distinct names on each tag: a common name and a botanical name. While the common name feels friendly ...

The scientific names of plants are often mysterious. There are some that describe a particular aspect of the plant itself, others that honor either the discoverer of the plant or some other worthy ...

If you've collected your fair share of plants (no matter if they are large indoor plants or convincing artificial plants) over the years, it's safe to say you've committed to being a plant parent.

It's been a while, but we still miss zauschneria. The plant is still with us, blooming right now to enliven late summer, but the name is obsolete. Some call it California fuchsia, but it isn't much ...

The common names of plants are fascinating because they're often evocative and colorful. Names such as peace lily, zombie palm and devil's backbone, for instance, immediately conjure up vivid mental ...

I’m big into names. As a professional ornithologist and a lifelong naturalist, I’ve spent years learning the names of things. That drab little yellow-green bird skulking in the bushes? It’s an ...

Jasmine is a perennial vine or shrub that’s much-loved around the world for its delicate blossoms and sweet fragrance. Depending on the variety, jasmine may have star-shaped or tubular flowers, and it ...

DEAR GARDEN COACH: I enjoyed your article on plant adaptations; it got me thinking about something I recently discovered when looking for a plant called mock orange. There were two — Pittosporum ...

The century plant seems prone to exaggeration. First of all: the name. The American century plant — the common name of the Agave americana, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden website — is ...