You are currently here! -
  • Home
  • - Botanical Names

Botanical Names

Did you know that botanical names ACTUALLY mean something? Here’s a short list of some common species names that will help you understand what it is you’re looking at.

SPECIESMEANING
acaulisstemless
albawhite
angustifolianarrow-leaved
annuaannual
argenteasilvery
arvensisof the field
auratiacaorange
aureagolden, yellow
australisfrom the south (not necessarily Australia)
autumnalisof autumn
azureablue
caeruleablue
caespitosadense
campanulatalike a bell
campestrisof the field
canadensisfrom Canada
capensisfrom the Cape, South Africa
chinensisfrom China
chrysanthayellow
coccineared
compactacompact
deciduadeciduous
densifloradense-flowered
digitataleaves like a hand, with 5 lobes
esculentaedible
farinosafloury, powdery
flavayellow
flora plenawith double flowers
foetidawith an unpleasant smell
glabrasmooth
grandifloralarge flowered
hirsutahairy
humilisshort
japonicafrom Japonica
lanceolatalance-shaped leaves
latifoliawide leaved
longiflorawith long flowers
longifoliawith long leaves
luteayellow
macranthawith large leaves
macrorrhizawith large roots
maculataspotted
majusbigger
maritimanear the sea
micranthasmall flowered
microphyllawith small leaves
millefoliawith many (thousands of) leaves
montanafrom mountains
multifloramany flowered
nanasmall
officinaliswith herbal uses
pallidacream
palustrisfrom marshes
parviflorasmall flowered
parvifoliasmall leaved
pauciflorafew-flowered
paucifoliawith few leaves
pendulahanging
perennisperennial
pinnatawith pinnate leaves
polyphyllawith many leaves, leafy
praecoxearly, of spring
prostrataprostrate
pumilasmall
punicared
purpureadeep pink
pygmaesmall
quercifoliaoak-leaved
rosearose pink
rotundifoliaround leaved
rubrared
rupestrisof hills
sanguineablood-red
sativacultivated
saxatillisof rocks
sempervivaperennial
sibiricafrom Siberia
spicataspiked
spinosaspiny
stellatastarry
sulphureayellow
sylvestrisfrom the woods
tenuifoliawith thin, narrow leaves
umbellataflowers in an umbel
vernalisof spring
villosahairy
viridisgreen
vulgariscommon