Home Scientific names of houseplants

Scientific names of houseplants

Nicknames are a great way to remember certain plants, but it becomes confusing when the same nickname could be used for multiple different plants. That's why it never hurts to use their scientific names. Here is a comprehensive list of all plants I've written about!

Scientific name Common names
Abutilon indicum
Abutilon indicum

Common nicknames for Abutilon indicum include:

  • Indian Mallow
  • Indian Abutilon
  • Indian lantern Plant
  • Atibala
Adiantum
Adiantum

Common nicknames for Adiantum include:

  • Maidenhair Fern
  • Northern Maidenhair
  • Five-Fingered Fern
  • Walking Fern
Aechmea fasciata
Aechmea fasciata

Common nicknames for Aechmea fasciata include:

  • Silver Vase Plant
  • Urn Plant
  • Bromeliad Silver Vase
  • Silver Vase Bromeliad.
Aeschynanthus
Aeschynanthus

Common nicknames for Aeschynanthus include:

  • Lipstick Plant
  • Basket Vine
  • Zebra Basket Vine
  • Goldfish Plant
  • Clustering Tubeflower
  • Red Bugle Vine
  • Indian Rope Plant
  • Blushing Bromeliad
Agave tequilana
Agave tequilana

Common nicknames for Agave tequilana include:

  • Blue Agave
  • Tequila Agave
  • Mezcal Blue
  • Weber's Blue Agave
  • Century plant
Aglaonema
Aglaonema

Common nicknames for Aglaonema include:

  • Chinese Evergreen
  • Silver Bay
  • Maria
  • Golden Bay
  • Silver Queen
  • Red Alert
  • Pink Dalmatian
  • Sparkling Sarah
  • White Calcite
Alocasia Zebrina
Alocasia Zebrina

Common nicknames for Alocasia Zebrina include:

  • Zebra Plant
  • Elephant Ear Plant
  • Zebra Elephant Ear
  • Zebra Alocasia
  • Tiger Alocasia
Alocasia amazonica
Alocasia amazonica

Common nicknames for Alocasia amazonica include:

  • African Mask Plant
  • Amazon Taro
  • Elephant Ear
  • Polly Plant
  • Amazon Elephant's Ear
  • Alocasia Amazonica 'Polly'
Aloe barbadensis miller
Aloe barbadensis miller

Common nicknames for Aloe barbadensis miller include:

  • Aloe Vera
  • Burn Aloe
  • Medicine Plant
  • Miracle Plant
  • True Aloe
  • Lily of the Desert
  • First Aid Plant
  • Witch's Broom
Anthurium
Anthurium

Common nicknames for Anthurium include:

  • Flamingo Flower
  • Tailflower
  • Painter's Palette
  • Laceleaf
  • Heartleaf
  • Flamingo Lily.
Aphelandra squarrosa
Aphelandra squarrosa

Common nicknames for Aphelandra squarrosa include:

  • Zebra Plant
  • Saffron Spike
  • Zebra Aphelandra.
Asparagus densiflorus
Asparagus densiflorus

Common nicknames for Asparagus densiflorus include:

  • Sprenger's Asparagus
  • Asparagus Fern
  • Emerald Fern
  • Basket Asparagus
  • Plume Asparagus
Aspidistra elatior
Aspidistra elatior

Common nicknames for Aspidistra elatior include:

  • Cast Iron Plant
  • Bar Room Plant
  • Iron Plant
  • Ballroom Plant
Asplenium
Asplenium

Common nicknames for Asplenium include:

  • Asplenium nidus - Bird's Nest Fern
  • Asplenium scolopendrium - Hart's Tongue Fern
  • Asplenium trichomanes - Maidenhair Spleenwort
  • Asplenium bulbiferum - Hen and Chicken Fern, Mother Fern
  • Asplenium ruta-muraria - Wall Rue
  • Asplenium adiantum-nigrum - Black Spleenwort
  • Asplenium platyneuron - Ebony Spleenwort.
Beaucarnea recurvata
Beaucarnea recurvata

Common nicknames for Beaucarnea recurvata include:

  • Ponytail Palm
  • Elephant's Foot
  • Bottle Palm
  • Monja
  • Palma Culona
  • Nolina's Recurved
  • Pony Tail Tree
Begonia maculata
Begonia maculata

Common nicknames for Begonia maculata include:

  • Polka Dot Begonia
  • Trout Begonia
  • Spotted Begonia
  • Angel Wing Begonia
  • Clown Flower
Caladium Praetermissum
Caladium Praetermissum

Common nicknames for Caladium Praetermissum include:

  • Lance Leaf Caladium
  • Strap Leaf Caladium
  • Narrow Leaf Caladium
Caladium bicolor
Caladium bicolor

Common nicknames for Caladium bicolor include:

  • Heart of Jesus
  • Angel Wings
  • Elephant Ear
Calathea Ornata
Calathea Ornata

Common nicknames for Calathea Ornata include:

  • Pinstripe Calathea
  • Pinstripe Prayer Plant
  • Pinstripe Plant
  • Striped Calathea
  • Calathea Pinstripe
Calathea Triostar
Calathea Triostar

Common nicknames for Calathea Triostar include:

  • Stromanthe Triostar
  • Stromanthe sanguinea 'Triostar'
  • Tricolor Prayer Plant
  • Tricolor Stromanthe
Cephalocereus senilis
Cephalocereus senilis

Common nicknames for Cephalocereus senilis include:

  • Old Man Cactus
  • White Persian Cat Cactus
  • Old Man of the Andes
  • Hairy Cactus
Ceropegia woodii
Ceropegia woodii

Common nicknames for Ceropegia woodii include:

  • String of Hearts
  • Rosary Vine
  • Sweetheart Vine
  • Chain of Hearts
  • Hearts on a String
  • Heart Vine
  • String of Beads
  • Collar of Hearts
  • Necklace Vine
  • Sweetheart Hoya
Chamaedorea elegans
Chamaedorea elegans

Common nicknames for Chamaedorea elegans include:

  • Parlor Palm
  • Neanthe Bella Palm
  • Bella Palm
  • Good Luck Palm
  • Dwarf Mountain palm
  • Miniature Fish Tail Dwarf Palm
Chlorophytum comosum
Chlorophytum comosum

Common nicknames for Chlorophytum comosum include:

  • Spider Plant
  • Ribbon Plant
  • Airplane Plant
  • Spider Ivy
  • St. Bernard's Lily
  • Hen and Chickens
  • Spider's Ivy
Citrus limon
Citrus limon

Common nicknames for Citrus limon include:

  • Lemon
  • Lemon Tree
  • True Lemon
  • European Lemon
Clusia Rosea
Clusia Rosea

Common nicknames for Clusia Rosea include:

  • Autograph Tree
  • Pitch Apple
  • Scotch Attorney
  • Florida Clusia
  • Balsam Apple
  • Copey
  • Cabbage Tree
  • Garlic Pear
Codiaeum variegatum
Codiaeum variegatum

Common nicknames for Codiaeum variegatum include:

  • Croton
  • Garden croton
  • Variegated croton
  • Joseph's Coat
  • Rushfoil.
Cordyline fruticosa
Cordyline fruticosa

Common nicknames for Cordyline fruticosa include:

  • Good Luck Plant
  • Ti Plant
  • Tree of Kings
  • Hawaiian Ti Plant
  • Palm Lily
Crassula ovata
Crassula ovata

Common nicknames for Crassula ovata include:

  • Jade Plant
  • Money Plant
  • Money Tree
  • Lucky Plant
  • Friendship Tree
  • Dollar Plant
  • Tree of Happiness
  • Pink Joy
  • Jade Tree
  • Rubber Plant
Cycas revoluta
Cycas revoluta

Common nicknames for Cycas revoluta include:

  • Sago Palm
  • King Sago
  • Sago Cycad
  • Japanese Sago Palm
Cyperus alternifolius
Cyperus alternifolius

Common nicknames for Cyperus alternifolius include:

  • Umbrella Papyrus
  • Umbrella Palm
  • Umbrella Sedge
  • Umbrella Plant
  • Water Palm
Dieffenbachia seguine
Dieffenbachia seguine

Common nicknames for Dieffenbachia seguine include:

  • Dumb Cane
  • Leopard Lily
  • Tropic Snow
  • Exotica Perfection
  • Dieffenbachia
  • Spotted Dumb Cane
  • Exotica
  • Charming Dieffenbachia
Dionaea muscipula
Dionaea muscipula

Common nicknames for Dionaea muscipula include:

  • Venus Flytrap
  • Flytrap
  • Tippity Twitchet
  • Bug Eater
  • Tipper
  • Trap Plant
Dracaena deremensis
Dracaena deremensis

Common nicknames for Dracaena deremensis include:

  • Corn Plant
  • Janet Craig
  • Striped Dracaena
  • Warneckii
  • Happy Plant
  • Green Cornplant
Dracaena marginata
Dracaena marginata

Common nicknames for Dracaena marginata include:

  • Red-edged Dracaena
  • Madagascar Dragon Tree
  • Dragon Tree
  • Rainbow Tree
  • Tree Dracaena
  • Marginata Plant
Dracaena sanderiana
Dracaena sanderiana

Common nicknames for Dracaena sanderiana include:

  • Lucky Bamboo
  • Ribbon Dracaena
  • Belgian Evergreen
  • Chinese Water Bamboo
  • Goddess of Mercy Plant
  • Sander's Dracaena
  • Curly Bamboo
  • Ribbon Plant
Dypsis lutescens
Dypsis lutescens

Common nicknames for Dypsis lutescens include:

  • Areca Palm
  • Butterfly Palm
  • Cane Palm
  • Golden Feather Palm
  • Yellow Palm
  • Madagascar palm
Echeveria
Echeveria

Common nicknames for Echeveria include:

  • Mexican Snow Ball
  • Mexican Hens and Chicks
  • Pearl of Nurnberg
  • Desert Rose
  • Stone Rose
  • Mexican Firecracker
  • Painted Echeveria
  • Ghost Echeveria
  • Wax Rosette
  • Copper Rose
  • Plush Plant
  • Hen and Chicks
  • Desert Rose Echeveria
  • Molded Wax Agave
  • Mexican Gem
  • Hens-and-chickens
  • Molded Wax Agave.
Epipremnum aureum
Epipremnum aureum

Common nicknames for Epipremnum aureum include:

  • Golden Pothos
  • Devil's Ivy
  • Money Plant
  • Silver Vine
  • Taro Vine
  • Ivy Arum
Euphorbia Trigona
Euphorbia Trigona

Common nicknames for Euphorbia Trigona include:

  • African Milk Tree
  • Cathedral Cactus
  • High Chaparall
  • Abyssinian Euphorbia
Euphorbia pulcherrima
Euphorbia pulcherrima

Common nicknames for Euphorbia pulcherrima include:

  • Poinsettia
  • Christmas Star
  • Christmas Plant
  • Mexican Flame Leaf
  • Lobster Plant
  • Flame Leaf Flower
Ficus Benjamina
Ficus Benjamina

Common nicknames for Ficus Benjamina include:

  • Weeping Fig
  • Benjamin Fig
  • Ficus Tree
  • Small-Leaved Rubber Plant
  • Java Fig
  • Tropic Laurel
  • Variegated Weeping Fig.
Ficus Elastica
Ficus Elastica

Common nicknames for Ficus Elastica include:

  • Rubber Plant
  • Rubber Tree
  • Indian Rubber Tree
  • Rubber Fig
  • Decora Tree
Ficus Ginseng
Ficus Ginseng

Common nicknames for Ficus Ginseng include:

  • Ginseng Ficus
  • Banyan Fig
  • Taiwan Ficus
  • Potbelly Fig
  • Ficus Microcarpa 'Ginseng'
Ficus Lyrata
Ficus Lyrata

Common nicknames for Ficus Lyrata include:

  • Fiddle Leaf Fig
  • Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree
  • Ficus Pandurata
  • Banjo Fig
  • Fiddleleaf Fig Tree
  • Fiddle-leaf Fig Tree
Gardenia
Gardenia

Common nicknames for Gardenia include:

  • Cape Jasmine
  • Common Gardenia
  • True Jasmine
  • Gandhraj (in India)
Gerbera jamesonii
Gerbera jamesonii

Common nicknames for Gerbera jamesonii include:

  • Transvaal Daisy
  • Gerbera Daisy
  • African Daisy
  • Barberton Daisy
  • Gerber Flower
Haworthia fasciata
Haworthia fasciata

Common nicknames for Haworthia fasciata include:

  • Zebra Haworthia
  • Zebra Cactus
  • Zebra Plant
  • Pearl Plant
  • Star Window Plant
Hedera helix
Hedera helix

Common nicknames for Hedera helix include:

  • English Ivy
  • Common Ivy
  • European Ivy
  • Ivy
Hoya Carnosa
Hoya Carnosa

Common nicknames for Hoya Carnosa include:

  • Wax Plant
  • Porcelain Flower
  • Honey Plant
  • Hindu Rope Plant
Hoya Kerrii
Hoya Kerrii

Common nicknames for Hoya Kerrii include:

  • Sweetheart Hoya
  • Valentine Hoya
  • Heart Leaf Hoya
  • Wax Hearts
  • Lucky-Heart
  • Sweetheart Plant
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana

Common nicknames for Kalanchoe blossfeldiana include:

  • Flaming Katy
  • Christmas Kalanchoe
  • Florist Kalanchoe
  • Madagascar Widow's-thrill
Lavandula angustifolia
Lavandula angustifolia

Common nicknames for Lavandula angustifolia include:

  • English Lavender
  • True Lavender
  • Garden Lavender
  • Common Lavender
  • Narrow-leaved Lavender
  • Lavender
Ligustrum vulgare
Ligustrum vulgare

Common nicknames for Ligustrum vulgare include:

  • Common Privet
  • European Privet
  • Wild Privet
  • Privet
  • Garden Privet
Maranta leuconeura
Maranta leuconeura

Common nicknames for Maranta leuconeura include:

  • Prayer Plant
  • Herringbone Plant
  • Rabbit's Foot
Monstera deliciosa
Monstera deliciosa

Common nicknames for Monstera deliciosa include:

  • Swiss Cheese Plant
  • Fruit Salad Plant
  • Monster Fruit
  • Split-leaf Philodendron
  • Mexican Breadfruit
  • Ceriman
  • Windowleaf
  • Monstera
  • Delicious Monster
Nepenthes alata
Nepenthes alata

Common nicknames for Nepenthes alata include:

  • Winged Pitcher Plant
  • Alata Pitcher Plant
  • Common Pitcher Plant
  • Monkey Cup
Nephrolepis exaltata
Nephrolepis exaltata

Common nicknames for Nephrolepis exaltata include:

  • Boston Fern
  • Sword Fern
  • Fishbone Fern
  • Boston Sword Fern
  • Wild Boston Fern
  • Tubed Sword Fern
Oncidium Orchids
Oncidium Orchids

Common nicknames for Oncidium Orchids include:

  • Dancing Lady Orchid
  • Golden Shower Orchid
  • Tiger Orchid
  • Hawaii Orchids
  • Butterfly Orchid
  • Lady of the Valley Orchid
  • Spray Orchid
Orchid Phalaenopsis
Orchid Phalaenopsis

Common nicknames for Orchid Phalaenopsis include:

  • Moth Orchid
  • Phalaenopsis Orchid
  • Butterfly Orchid
  • Moon Orchid
  • Phals
Oxalis purpurea
Oxalis purpurea

Common nicknames for Oxalis purpurea include:

  • Purple Woodsorrel
  • Broadleaf Woodsorrel
  • Trailing Woodsorrel
  • Purple Shamrock
  • Giant False Shamrock
Pachira Aquatica
Pachira Aquatica

Common nicknames for Pachira Aquatica include:

  • Money Tree
  • Guiana Chestnut
  • Provision Tree
  • Saba Nut
  • Malabar Chestnut
  • French Peanut
  • Water Chestnut.
Peperomia Obtusifolia
Peperomia Obtusifolia

Common nicknames for Peperomia Obtusifolia include:

  • Baby Rubber Plant
  • Pepper Face
  • American Rubber Plant
  • Blunt-Leaved Peperomia
  • Florida Peperomia
  • Radiator Plant
  • Desert Privet
Philodendron Birkin
Philodendron Birkin

Common nicknames for Philodendron Birkin include:

Philodendron Gloriosum
Philodendron Gloriosum

Common nicknames for Philodendron Gloriosum include:

  • Glorious Jungle Philodendron
  • Glorious Philodendron
  • Velvet Philodendron
Philodendron Micans
Philodendron Micans

Common nicknames for Philodendron Micans include:

  • Velvet Leaf Philodendron
  • Heartleaf Philodendron
  • Velvet Philodendron
  • Hederaceum Philodendron
Philodendron Minima
Philodendron Minima

Common nicknames for Philodendron Minima include:

  • Mini Monstera
  • Dwarf Monstera
  • Piccolo Banda
  • Raphidophora Tetrasperma
Philodendron scandens
Philodendron scandens

Common nicknames for Philodendron scandens include:

  • Heartleaf Philodendron
  • Sweetheart Plant
  • Velvet Leaf Philodendron
  • Heart Leaf Vine
  • Parlour Ivy
Pilea Peperomioides
Pilea Peperomioides

Common nicknames for Pilea Peperomioides include:

  • Chinese Money Plant
  • Pancake Plant
  • UFO Plant
  • Lefse Plant
  • Mirror Grass
  • Coin Plant
  • Missionary Plant
  • Bishop's Weed
  • Pass-It-On Plant
Polyscias fruticosa
Polyscias fruticosa

Common nicknames for Polyscias fruticosa include:

  • Ming Aralia
  • Zig-zag plant
  • Spider Aralia
  • Geranium Aralia
Rex Begonia
Rex Begonia

Common nicknames for Rex Begonia include:

  • King Begonia
  • Painted-Leaf Begonia
  • Fancy-Leaf Begonia
  • Fire King Begonia
  • Dragon Wing Begonia
Saintpaulia ionantha
Saintpaulia ionantha

Common nicknames for Saintpaulia ionantha include:

  • African Violet
  • Purple Saintpaulia
  • Violet of Usambara
  • Usambara Violet
Sansevieria trifasciata
Sansevieria trifasciata

Common nicknames for Sansevieria trifasciata include:

  • Snake Plant
  • Mother-in-Law's Tongue
  • Saint George's Sword
  • Viper's Bowstring Hemp
  • Devil's Tongue
Schefflera Arboricola
Schefflera Arboricola

Common nicknames for Schefflera Arboricola include:

  • Umbrella Tree
  • Dwarf Umbrella Tree
  • Queensland Umbrella Tree
  • Octopus Tree
  • Gold Capella
  • Arboricola Plant
Schlumbergera
Schlumbergera

Common nicknames for Schlumbergera include:

  • Thanksgiving Cactus
  • Christmas Cactus
  • Holiday Cactus
  • Crab Cactus
  • Claw Cactus
  • Linkleaf
  • Yoke Cactus
Sedum Morganianum
Sedum Morganianum

Common nicknames for Sedum Morganianum include:

  • Burro's Tail
  • Donkey's Tail
  • Horse's Tail
  • Lamb's Tail
  • Monkey Tail
Senecio rowleyanus
Senecio rowleyanus

Common nicknames for Senecio rowleyanus include:

  • String of Pearls
  • String of Beads
  • String of Peas
  • Rosary
  • String of marbles
  • Pea necklace
  • Necklace plant
Spathiphyllum
Spathiphyllum

Common nicknames for Spathiphyllum include:

  • Peace Lily
  • Spathe Flower
  • White Sails
  • Mauna Loa Peace Lily
Strelitzia reginae
Strelitzia reginae

Common nicknames for Strelitzia reginae include:

  • Bird of Paradise
  • Crane Flower
  • Orange Strelitzia
  • Golden Bird of Paradise
  • Royal Strelitzia
Syngonium angustatum
Syngonium angustatum

Common nicknames for Syngonium angustatum include:

  • Arrowhead Plant
  • Arrowhead Vine
  • Goosefoot Plant
  • African Evergreen
  • Tri-leaf Wonder
  • Butterfly Plant
  • White Veined Arrowhead Vine.
Syngonium podophyllum
Syngonium podophyllum

Common nicknames for Syngonium podophyllum include:

  • Arrowhead Vine
  • Nephthytis
  • African Evergreen
  • Arrowhead Plant
  • Arrowhead Philodendron
  • Goosefoot
  • White Butterfly.
Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum
Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum

Common nicknames for Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum include:

  • Tree Philodendron
  • Lacy Tree Philodendron
  • Hope Philodendron
  • Horsehead Philodendron
  • Cut-Leaf Philodendron
  • Split-Leaf Philodendron
Tillandsia ionantha
Tillandsia ionantha

Common nicknames for Tillandsia ionantha include:

  • Sky Plant
  • Blushing Bride
  • Air Plant
Tradescantia Zebrina
Tradescantia Zebrina

Common nicknames for Tradescantia Zebrina include:

  • Spiderwort
  • Inch Plant
  • Wandering Jew Plant
  • Zebra Plant
  • Silver Inch Plant
  • Zebrina Wandering Jew
  • Purple Wandering Jew
Yucca filamentosa
Yucca filamentosa

Common nicknames for Yucca filamentosa include:

  • Adam's Needle
  • Common Yucca
  • Spoonleaf Yucca
  • Thread Yucca
  • Needle-Palm
  • Silk Grass
  • Bear Grass.
Zamioculcas Raven
Zamioculcas Raven

Common nicknames for Zamioculcas Raven include:

  • Raven ZZ Plant
  • Black ZZ Plant
  • Zanzibar Gem (generally used for all ZZ plant variants, including the Raven)
  • Black Emerald Palm
  • Black Zamioculcas
  • Black Aroid Palm
  • Raven Zamioculcas Zamiifolia
  • Black Arum Fern
Zamioculcas zamiifolia
Zamioculcas zamiifolia

Common nicknames for Zamioculcas zamiifolia include:

  • ZZ Plant
  • Zanzibar Gem
  • Emerald Palm
  • Eternity Plant
  • Chinese New Year Festive Plant
  • Money Tree (although this nickname is also used for other types of plants)
  • Gold coin plant
  • Succulent Philodendron
  • Cardboard palm
  • Aroid Palm