What’s in a name? Join Extension Master Gardeners Rebecca Secula and Evin Morrison as they discuss just that. A rose by any other name might smell as sweet, but knowing and understanding the scientific nomenclature of your favorite plants is not only interesting, but a necessary tool in your garden toolkit. Follow along as they discuss the difference between common and scientific names, where plant names come from, and just how much you can glean from the name of a plant alone.
And when you start to think, “it’s all Greek, to me”, enjoy a few Greek myths that have given their names to some of our favorite fall-planted bulbs. Hyacinths, crocus and daffodils have a little more in common than you might have once thought. By the end of this session, you’ll be ready to jump start your fall and spring plantings with plenty of planting tips, growing information and a better appreciation for how much really goes into a name.
Zoom session, October 27, 2023
Video of Presentation
Chapter Breaks & Captions to Come.
- 0:00:00 Introduction
- 0:02:05 Importance of Scientific Plant Names
- 0:13:39 Understanding Binomial Nomenclature
- 0:21:37 Questions
- 0:23:17 Flower Names & Tales Behind Them
- 0:23:54 Hyacinth
- 0:31:15 Narcissus
- 0:38:52 Anemone
- 0:45:31 Milkweed
- 0:52:22 Yarrow
- 0:58:27 Crocus
- 1:02:41 Lasagna Planting of Bulbs
- 1:03:30 Resources
Additional Resources
- Growing Guide – pdf
Books Referenced
- Bayton, Ross. 2020. The Gardener’s Botanical: An Encyclopedia of Latin Plant Names. Princeton University Press.
- Begay, Odessa. 2020. The Language of Flowers: A Fully Illustrated Compendium of Meaning, Literature, and Lore for the Modern Romantic . Harper; illustrated edition.
- Bryan, John E. 2020. Bulbs. Timber Press; Revised edition.
- Fry, Stephen. 2019. Mythos: The Greek Myths Reimagined. Chronicle Books
- Giesecke, Annette. 2014. The Mythology of Plants: Botanical Lore from Ancient Greece and Rome. J. Paul Getty Museum; 1st edition.
- Harrison, Lorraine. 2012. Latin for Gardeners. University of Chicago Press; illustrated edition