Common wrong 'common' names

14 years ago

I posted this is another forum on accident but thought the question would be better placed here.

Ok. So I know the title doesn't make any sense. I couldn't figure out how to word it better. I'm on break at work and day dreaming about spring flowers and gardens and got to thinking about common names that people call native plants that are so horribly wrong.

For instance here in central West Virginia they call the wild orange azaleas - honey suckles. That one irks me the most. Also daffodils that bloom right at Easter, Easter Lily. It drives me nuts!

Anyone have the same experiences??

I got onto my co-worker so much becuase everytime she referred to the azelea as a honey suckle I'd blurt out, "AZALEA!" lol Now she just refers to them as hillbilly honey suckles. LOL!!!

Comments (6)

Lynda Waldrep
14 years ago
I find the common names charming, especially in how they vary from area to area. Often, with a little research, you can find out why these plants have such names. Years ago I wondered about Silene virginica, which are red but called "Fire Pink" by the locals I met in the mountains. I finally discovered that the pink was due to the edges, sharp as if cut by pinking shears. Made sense then. I agree that botanical names are more accurate and can be intresting if you know about the people for whom some plants are named or if you know the meaning of the specific epithet.
agrigirl
14 years ago
I am with you on the Easter Lily! Some people around here call the Daffodil an Easter Lily and some call it a Buttercup. GRRR My sister, God love her, she and I were talking last night and she asked me "Where did you get that wild hippy marsh mallow plant you gave me last year?" I was confused and it took us narrowing down everything I had given her last year to finally determine it was wild Hibiscus-Rose Mallow! Ah ha ha ha ha I asked her where she came up with a name such as that. She said her neighbor calls it that because it is wild and hippies are about natives and it grows in marshes and it is a mallow. Errr....ok....whatever! LOL And yes, I gave her a brief lesson regarding natives not being related to being a hippy.
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Iris GW
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14 years ago
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"This tree is a yew"

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"Are you trying to be philosophical?"

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14 years ago
ROFL Lycopus!! That is too funny! Thanks for the laugh! I sure needed one!
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Common wrong 'common' names

Comments (6)

Lynda Waldrep

agrigirl

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lycopus

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