List of plants by common name
The common names of plants often vary from region to region, which is why most plant encyclopedias refer to plants using binomials, or "Latin" names. Common names are also referred to as "country names" or "farmer's names". These names develop over time according to use, appearance, and lore.
Most plants have several country names, and country names often refer to several distinct plants. This list includes garden plants as well as weeds.
This is by no means a complete list. Most of the common names here so far are regional names from North America.
Top - 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
A
- Alder - Alnus
- Black Alder - Alnus glutinosa, Ilex verticillata
- Common Alder - Alnus glutinosa
- False Alder - Ilex verticillata
- Gray Alder - Alnus incana
- Speckled Alder - Alnus incana
- Striped Alder - Ilex verticillata
- White Alder - Alnus incana, Ilex verticillata
- Ambrosia
- Tall Ambrosia - Ambrosia trifida
- Amy Root - Apocynum cannabinum
- Apple - Malus
- Osage Apple - Maclura pomifera
- Apple of Sodom - Solanum carolinense
- Arfaj - Rhanterium epapposum
- Arrowwood - Cornus florida
- Indian Arrowwood - Cornus florida
- Ash - Fraxinus
- Black Ash- Fraxinus nigra
- Blue Ash - Fraxinus pennsylvanica
- Cane Ash - Fraxinus americana
- Green Ash - Fraxinus pennsylvanica
- Maple Ash- Acer negundo
- Red Ash - Fraxinus pennsylvanica
- River Ash - Fraxinus pennsylvanica
- Swamp Ash - Fraxinus pennsylvanica
- White Ash - Fraxinus americana
- Water Ash- Acer negundo (Manitoba maple in Canada), Fraxinus pennsylvanica
- Azolla - Azolla
- Carolina Azolla - Azolla caroliniana
B
- Bearberry - Ilex decidua
- Bear Corn - Veratrum viride
- Bindweed
- Blue Bindweed - Solanum dulcamara
- Bird's Nest - Daucus carota
- Bird's Nest Plant - Daucus carota
- Birch - Betula
- Black Birch - Betula lenta, Betula nigra
- Bolean Birch - Betula papyrifera
- Canoe Birch - Betula papyrifera
- Cherry Birch - Betula lenta
- European Weeping Birch - Betula pendula
- European White Birch - Betula pendula
- Gray Birch - Betula alleghaniensis
- Mahogany Birch - Betula lenta
- Paper Birch - Betula papyrifera
- Red Birch - Betula nigra
- River Birch - Betula nigra, Betula lenta
- Silver Birch - Betula papyrifera
- Spice Birch - Betula lenta
- Sweet Birch - Betula lenta
- Water Birch - Betula nigra
- Weeping Birch - Betula pendula
- White Birch - Betula papyrifera, Betula pendula
- Yellow Birch - Betula alleghaniensis
- Bittercress - Barbarea vulgaris, Cardamine bulbosa, Cardamine hirsuta
- Hairy Bittercress - Cardamine hirsuta
- Bittersweet - Solanum dulcamara
- Trailing Bittersweet - Solanum dulcamara
- Bitterweed - Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Artemesia trifida
- Blackberry - Rubus spp., Rubus pensilvanicus, Rubus occidentalis
- Hispid Swamp Blackberry - Rubus hispidus
- Pennsylvania Blackberry - Rubus pensilvanicus
- Running Swamp Blackberry - Rubus hispidus
- Black Cap - Rubus occidentalis
- Black-eyed Susan - Rudbeckia hirta, Rudbeckia fulgida
- Blackhaw - Viburnum prunifolium
- Blackiehead - Rudbeckia hirta
- Black-weed - Ambrosia artemisiifolia
- Blue-of-the-Heavens - Allium caeruleum
- Bow-wood - Maclura pomifera
- Box - Buxus
- False Box - Cornus florida
- Boxelder - Acer negundo
- Boxwood - Buxus, Cornus florida
- False Boxwood - Cornus florida
- Brier
- Sand Brier - Solanum carolinense
- Brittlebush - Encelia farinosa
- Broadleaf - Plantago major
- Brown Betty - Rudbeckia hirta
- Black-eyed Susan - Rudbeckia hirta, Rudbeckia triloba
- Buffalo Weed - Ambrosia trifida
- Butterfly Flower - Asclepias syriaca
- Butterfly Weed - Asclepias tuberosa
C
- Cabbage - Brassica oleracea
- Clumpfoot Cabbage - Symplocarpus foetidus
- Meadow Cabbage - Symplocarpus foetidus
- Skunk Cabbage - Symplocarpus foetidus
- Swamp Cabbage - Symplocarpus foetidus
- Canada Root - Asclepias tuberosa
- Cancer Jalap - Phytolacca americana
- Carrot - Daucus carota
- Wild Carrot - Daucus carota
- Carrot Weed - Ambrosia artemisiifolia
- Cart Track Plant - Plantago major
- Cherry - Prunus
- Black Cherry - Prunus serotina
- Cabinet Cherry - Prunus serotina
- Rum Cherry - Prunus serotina
- Whiskey Cherry - Prunus serotina
- Wild Cherry - Prunus avium, Prunus serotina
- Wild Black Cherry - Prunus serotina
- Chigger Flower - Asclepias tuberosa
- Coakum - Phytolacca americana
- Colic Weed - Corydalis flavula
- Collard - Symplocarpus foetidus
- Colwort
- Hare's Colwort - Sonchus oleraceus
- Coneflower
- Brilliant Coneflower - Rudbeckia fulgida
- Cutleaf Coneflower - Rudbeckia laciniata
- Eastern Coneflower - Rudbeckia fulgida
- Green-headed Coneflower - Rudbeckia laciniata
- Orange Coneflower - Rudbeckia fulgida
- Tall Coneflower - Rudbeckia laciniata
- Thin-leaved Coneflower - Rudbeckia triloba
- Three-leaved Coneflower - Rudbeckia triloba
- Cornel
- Blueberry Cornel - Cornus amomum
- Silky Cornel - Cornus amomum
- White Cornel - Cornus florida
- Cornelian Tree - Cornus florida
- Corydalis - Corydalis
- Fern-leaf Corydalis - Corydalis cleilanthifolia
- Golden Corydalis - Corydalis aurea
- Pale Corydalis - Corydalis flavula, Corydalis sempervirens
- Pink Corydalis - Corydalis sempervirens
- Yellow Corydalis - Corydalis lutea, Corydalis flavula
- Cress - (several genera)
- American Cress - Barbarea verna
- Bank Cress - Barbarea verna
- Belle Isle Cress - Barbarea verna
- Bermuda Cress - Barbarea verna
- Bulbous Cress - Cardamine bulbosa
- Lamb's Cress - Cardamine hirsuta
- Land Cress - Barbarea verna, Cardamine hirsuta
- Scurvy Cress - Barbarea verna
- Spring Cress - Cardamine bulbosa
- Upland Cress - Barbarea verna
- Crowfoot - Cardamine concatenata
- Crow's Nest - Daucus carota
- Crow's Toes - Cardamine concatenata
D
- Daffodil - Narcissus pseudonarcissus
- Daisy
- Brown Daisy - Rudbeckia hirta
- Gloriosa Daisy - Rudbeckia hirta
- Poorland Daisy - Rudbeckia hirta
- Yellow Daisy - Rudbeckia hirta
- Yellow Ox-eye Daisy - Rudbeckia hirta
- David mountain laurel - Sophora davidii
- Deadnettle - Lamium
- Henbit Deadnettle - Lamium amplexicaule
- Devil's Bite - Veratrum viride
- Devil's Darning Needle - Clematis virginiana
- Devil's Hair - Clematis virginiana
- Devil's Plague - Daucus carota
- Dewberry
- Bristly Dewberry - Rubus hispidus
- Swamp Dewberry - Rubus hispidus
- Dindle - Sonchus arvensis
- Dogwood - Cornus, Solanum dulcamara
- American Dogwood - Cornus florida
- Florida Dogwood - Cornus florida
- Flowering Dogwood - Cornus florida
- Japanese Flowering Dogwood - Cornus kousa
- Kousa Dogwood - Cornus kousa
- Silky Dogwood - Cornus amomum
- Swamp Dogwood- Cornus amomum
- Duck Retten - Veratrum viride
- Duscle - Solanum nigrum
- Dye-leaves - Ilex glabra
E
- Earth Gall - Veratrum viride
- English Bull's Eye - Rudbeckia hirta
F
- Fair-maid-of-France - Achillea ptarmica
- Fairymoss Azolla caroliniana
- Fellenwort - Solanum dulcamara
- Felonwood - Solanum dulcamara
- Felonwort - Solanum dulcamara
- Fern
- Mosquito Fern - Azolla caroliniana
- Water Fern - Azolla caroliniana
- Feverbush - Ilex verticillata
- Feverfew - Tanacetum parthenium
- Creeping Yellowcress - Rorippa sylvestris
- Fluxroot - Asclepias tuberosa
- Fumewort
- Yellow Fumewort - Corydalis flavula
G
- Gallberry - Ilex glabra
- Garget - Phytolacca americana
- Garlic
- Golden Garlic - Allium moly
- Wild Garlic - Allium canadense
- Garlic Mustard - Alliaria petiolata
- Garlic Root - Alliaria petiolata
- Gilliflower
- Dame's Gilliflower - Hesperis matronalis
- Night Scented Gilliflower - Hesperis matronalis
- Queen's Gilliflower - Hesperis matronalis
- Rogue's Gilliflower - Hesperis matronalis
- Winter Gilliflower - Hesperis matronalis
- Golden Buttons - Tanacetum vulgare
- Goldenglow - Rudbeckia laciniata
- Golden Jerusalem - Rudbeckia hirta
- Gordaldo - Achillea millefolium
- Goose Tongue - Achillea ptarmica
- Groundberry - Rubus hispidus
- Bristly Groundberry - Rubus hispidus
- Gutweed - Sonchus arvensis
H
- Harlequin
- Rock Harlequin - Corydalis sempervirens
- Yellow Harlequin - Corydalis flavula
- Hay Fever Weed - Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Artemesia trifida
- Healing Blade - Plantago major
- Hedge Plant - Maclura pomifera
- Hellebore - Helleborus
- American White Hellebore - Veratrum viride
- Big Hellebore - Veratrum viride
- Black Hellebore - Veratrum nigrum
- European White Hellebore - Veratrum album
- False Hellebore - Veratrum album, Veratrum viride
- Swamp Hellebore - Veratrum viride
- White Hellebore - Veratrum album, Veratrum viride
- Hemp Dogbane - Apocynum cannabinum
- Hen Plant - Plantago major
- Henbit - Lamium amplexicaule
- Greater Henbit - Lamium amplexicaule
- Herb Barbara - Barbarea vulgaris
- Hogweed - Ambrosia artemisiifolia
- Holly - Ilex
- Deciduous Holly - Ilex decidua, Ilex verticillata
- Inkberry Holly - Ilex glabra
- Meadow Holly - Ilex decidua
- Swamp Holly - Ilex decidua
- Winterberry Holly - Ilex verticillata
- Horse Cane - Ambrosia trifida
- Hortensia - Hydrangea
- Hound's Berry - Solanum nigrum
- Houseleek - Sempervivum tectorum
I
- Indian Hemp - Apocynum cannabinum
- White Indian Hemp - Asclepias incarnata
- Indian Paintbrush - Castilleja, Castilleja mutis, Asclepias tuberosa
- Indian Posy - Asclepias tuberosa
- Inkberry - Ilex glabra, Phytolacca americana
- Itchweed - Veratrum viride
J
- Jack-by-the-Hedge - Alliaria petiolata
- Jack-in-the-Bush - Alliaria petiolata
- Juneberry - Amelanchier canadensis
K
- Keek - Rorippa sylvestris
- Kinnikinnik - Cornus amomum
- Kousa - Cornus kousa
L
- Laceflower - Daucus carota
- Lamb's Foot - Plantago major
- Leek - Allium
- Lily Leek - Allium moly
- Lilac
- Summer Lilac - Hesperis matronalis
- Love Vine - Clematis virginiana
M
- Maple - Acer
- Ash-Leaved Maple - Acer negundo
- Creek Maple - Acer saccharinum
- Cutleaf Maple - Acer negundo
- Maple Ash- Acer negundo
- Red River Maple - Acer negundo
- River Maple - Acer saccharinum
- Silver Maple - Acer saccharinum
- Silverleaf Maple - Acer saccharinum
- Soft Maple - Acer saccharinum
- Sugar Maple - Acer saccharum, Acer negundo
- Swamp Maple - Acer saccharinum
- Water Maple - Acer saccharinum
- White Maple - Acer saccharinum
- Mesquite - Prosopis
- Honey Mesquite - Prosopis glandulosa
- Screwbean Mesquite - Prosopis pubescens
- Milfoil - Achillea millefolium
- Milkweed - Asclepias, Sonchus oleraceus
- Blunt-leaved Milkweed - Asclepias amplexicaulis
- Common Milkweed - Asclepias syriaca
- Horsetail Milkweed - Asclepias verticillata
- Orange Milkweed - Asclepias tuberosa
- Swamp Milkweed - Asclepias incarnata
- Rose Milkweed - Asclepias incarnata
- Whorled Milkweed - Asclepias verticillata
- Yellow Milkweed - Asclepias tuberosa
- Milky Tassel - Sonchus oleraceus
- Morel - Solanum nigrum
- Petty Morel - Solanum nigrum
- Mosquito Plant - Azolla caroliniana
- Mother-of-the-Evening - Hesperis matronalis
- Mountain Mahogany - Betula lenta
- Mulberry - Morus
- Red Mulberry - Morus rubra
- White Mulberry - Morus alba
N
- Nature's Mistake - Cornus florida
- Nettle
- Bull Nettle - Solanum carolinense
- Carolina Horse Nettle - Solanum carolinense
- Horse Nettle - Solanum carolinense
- Nightshade
- American Nightshade - Phytolacca americana, Solanum americanum
- Bitter Nightshade - Solanum dulcamara
- Black Nightshade - Solanum nigrum, Solanum americanum
- Climbing Nightshade - Solanum dulcamara
- Deadly Nightshade - Solanum nigrum
- Garden Nightshade - Solanum nigrum
- Trailing Nightshade - Solanum dulcamara
- Woody Nightshade - Solanum dulcamara
- Nosebleed - Achillea millefolium
O
- Oak - Quercus
- Algerian Oak Quercus canariensis
- Black Oak - Quercus velutina, Quercus coccinea, Quercus rubra
- Blue Oak - Quercus macrocarpa
- Bur Oak - Quercus macrocarpa
- Champion Oak - Quercus rubra
- Dyer's Oak - Quercus velutina
- English Oak - Quercus robur
- Mirbeck's Oak - Quercus canariensis
- Mossycup Oak - Quercus macrocarpa
- Mossycup White Oak - Quercus macrocarpa
- Pedunculate Oak -Quercus robur
- Pin Oak - Quercus palustris
- Red Oak - Quercus rubra, Quercus coccinea
- Scarlet Oak - Quercus coccinea
- Scrub Oak - Quercus macrocarpa
- Sessile Oak - Quercus petraea
- Spanish Oak - Quercus coccinea, Quercus rubra
- Spotted Oak - Quercus velutina
- Swamp Oak - Quercus palustris, Quercus bicolor
- Swamp Spanish Oak - Quercus palustris
- Swamp White Oak - Quercus bicolor
- White Oak - Quercus alba
- Yellowbark Oak - Quercus velutina
- Old Man's Pepper - Achillea millefolium
- Onion
- Giant Onion - Allium giganteum
- Nodding Onion - Allium cernuum
- Tree Onion - Allium canadense
- Wild Onion - Allium canadense
- Orange
- Osage Orange - Maclura pomifera
- Wild Orange - Maclura pomifera
- Orange-root - Asclepias tuberosa
- Osage - Maclura pomifera
- Osier
- Red Osier - Cornus amomum
P
- Parsnip - Pastinaca sativa, Daucus carota
- Pellitory
- Bastard Pellitory - Achillea ptarmica
- European Pellitory - Achillea ptarmica
- Wild Pellitory - Achillea ptarmica
- Penny Hedge - Alliaria petiolata
- Pepper Root - Cardamine concatenata
- Pigeon Berry - Phytolacca americana
- Plantain
- Broadleaf Plantain - Plantago major
- Common Plantain - Plantago major
- Dooryard Plantain - Plantago major
- Greater Plantain - Plantago major
- Roundleaf Plantain - Plantago major
- Wayside Plantain - Plantago major
- Pleurisy Root - Asclepias tuberosa
- Pocan Bush - Phytolacca americana
- Poisonberry - Solanum dulcamara
- Poisonflower - Solanum dulcamara
- Poke - Phytolacca americana
- Indian Poke - Veratrum viride
- Pokeroot - Phytolacca americana
- Pokeweed - Phytolacca americana
- Polkweed - Symplocarpus foetidus
- Polecat Weed - Symplocarpus foetidus
- Poor Annie - Veratrum viride
- Poor Man's Mustard - Alliaria petiolata
- Possumhaw - Ilex decidua
Queen Anne's Lace - Daucus carota
- Quercitron - Quercus velutina
R
- Radical Weed - Solanum carolinense
- Ragweed - Ambrosia
- Common Ragweed - Ambrosia artemisiifolia
- Giant Ragweed - Ambrosia trifida
- Great Ragweed - Ambrosia trifida
- Rantipole - Daucus carota
- Raspberry - Rubus spp.
- Black Raspberry - Rubus occidentalis
- Purple Raspberry - Rubus occidentalis
- Redbrush - Cornus amomum
- Red Ink Plant - Phytolacca americana
- Redweed - Phytolacca americana
- Rheumatism Root - Apocynum cannabinum
- Ribwort - Plantago major
- Roadweed - Plantago major
- Rocket - (several genera)
- Dame's Rocket - Hesperis matronalis
- Sweet Rocket - Hesperis matronalis
- Winter Rocket - Barbarea vulgaris
- Yellow Rocket - Barbarea vulgaris
- Rocketcress - Barbarea vulgaris
- Rose - Rosa
- Baby Rose - Rosa multiflora
- Dwarf Wild Rose - Rosa virginiana
- Low Rose - Rosa virginiana
- Multiflora Rose - Rosa multiflora
- Prairie Rose - Rosa virginiana
- Rambler Rose - Rosa multiflora
- Wild Rose - Rosa virginiana
S
- Sanguinary - Achillea millefolium
- Sauce-alone - Alliaria petiolata
- Scarlet Berry - Solanum dulcamara
- Scoke - Phytolacca americana
- Scotch Cap - Rubus occidentalis
- Scrambled Eggs - Corydalis aurea
- Scurvy Grass - Barbarea verna
- Serviceberry - Amelanchier
- Common Serviceberry - Amelanchier arborea
- Downy Serviceberry - Amelanchier arborea
- Shadblow Serviceberry - Amelanchier canadensis
- Shadblow - Amelanchier canadensis
- Shadbush - Amelanchier canadensis
- Silkweed - Asclepias syriaca
- Swamp Silkweed - Asclepias incarnata
- Virginia Silkweed - Asclepias syriaca
- Skunkweed - Symplocarpus foetidus
- Snakeberry - Solanum dulcamara
- Speedwell=Veronica
- Corn Speedwell - Veronica arvensis
- Wall Speedwell - Veronica arvensis
- Spoolwood - Betula papyrifera
- Squaw Bush - Cornus amomum
- Stammerwort - Ambrosia artemisiifolia
- Stars-of-Persia - Allium cristophii
- Stickweed - Ambrosia artemisiifolia
- Swallow-wort
- Orange Swallow-wort - Asclepias tuberosa
- Silky Swallow-wort - Asclepias syriaca
- Sneezeweed - Achillea ptarmica
- Sneezewort - Achillea ptarmica
- Sugarplum - Amelanchier canadensis
- Soldier's Woundwort - Achillea millefolium
- Stag Bush - Viburnum prunifolium
- Swallow-wort
- Orange Swallow-wort - Asclepias tuberosa
- Silky Swallow-wort - Asclepias syriaca
- Sweet Potato - Ipomoea batatas
- Sweet Potato Vine - Ipomoea batatas
- Sweet William - Dianthus barbatus
- Swinies - Sonchus oleraceus
T
- Tansy
- Common Tansy - Tanacetum vulgare
- White Tansy - Achillea ptarmica
- Wild Tansy - Ambrosia artemisiifolia
- Tea
- Appalachian Tea - Ilex glabra
- Thimbleberry - Rubus occidentalis
- Thimbleweed - Rudbeckia laciniata
- Thousand-leaf - Achillea millefolium
- Thousand-seal - Achillea millefolium
- Tassel Weed - Ambrosia artemisiifolia
- Thistle - (Several genera)
- Annual Sow Thistle - Sonchus oleraceus
- California Thistle - Cirsium arvense
- Canada Thistle - Cirsium arvense
- Corn Thistle - Cirsium arvense
- Corn Sow Thistle - Sonchus arvensis
- Creeping Thistle - Cirsium arvense
- Cursed Thistle - Cirsium arvense
- Field Sow Thistle - Sonchus arvensis
- Green Thistle - Cirsium arvense
- Hard Thistle - Cirsium arvense
- Hare's Thistle - Sonchus oleraceus
- Milk Thistle - Sonchus oleraceus
- Nodding Thistle - Carduus nutans L.
- Perennial Thistle - Cirsium arvense
- Prickly Thistle - Cirsium arvense
- Sharp-fringed Sow Thistle - Sonchus asper
- Small-flowered Thistle - Cirsium arvense
- Spiny Sow Thistle - Sonchus asper
- Spiny-leaved Sow Thistle - Sonchus asper
- Swine Thistle - Sonchus arvensis
- Tree Sow Thistle - Sonchus arvensis
- Way Thistle - Cirsium arvense
- Tickleweed - Veratrum viride
- Toothwort - Cardamine concatenata
- Cutleaf Toothwort - Cardamine concatenata
- Purple-flowered Toothwort - Cardamine concatenata
- Touch-me-not - Cardamine hirsuta
- Traveller's Joy - Clematis virginiana
- Tread-softly - Solanum carolinense
- Tree Tobacco - Nicotiana glauca
- Tuber-root - Asclepias tuberosa
V
- Viburnum - Viburnum
- Blackhaw Viburnum - Viburnum prunifolium
- Leatherleaf Viburnum - Viburnum rhytidophyllum
- Violet - (several genera)
- Damask Violet - Hesperis matronalis
- Dame's Violet - Hesperis matronalis
- Violet Bloom - Solanum dulcamara
- Virgin's Bower - Clematis virginiana
- Virginia Virgin's Bower - Clematis virginiana
W
- Waybread - Plantago major
- White Man's Foot - Plantago major
- White-root - Asclepias tuberosa
- Wild Cotton - Apocynum cannabinum, Asclepias syriaca
- Wild Hops - Clematis virginiana
- Willow - Salix
- Coyote Willow - Salix exigua
- Goodding Willow - Salix gooddingii
- Red Willow - Cornus amomum
- Rose Willow - Cornus amomum
- Windroot - Asclepias tuberosa
- Wineberry - Rubus phoenicolasius
- Winterberry - Ilex verticillata
- American Winterberry - Ilex verticillata
- Evergreen Winterberry - Ilex glabra
- Virginia Winterberry - Ilex verticillata
- Wintercress - Barbarea vulgaris
- Early Wintercress - Barbarea verna
- Woodbine - Clematis virginiana
- Wormwood
- Roman Wormwood - Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Corydalis sempervirens
- Wound Rocket - Barbarea vulgaris
Y
- Yarrow - Achillea
- Common Yarrow - Achillea millefolium
- Fernleaf Yarrow - Achillea filipendulina
- Sneezewort Yarrow - Achillea ptarmica
- Yellow Fieldcress - Rorippa sylvestris
- Yellowwood - Cladrastis lutea, Maclura pomifera
Z
Sources and references
- Johnny's Plant Profiles Archived 2007-08-14 at the Wayback Machine