Plant List: Cross-reference Common to Botanical Name

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• Outdoor Plants
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Common names for plants can refer to totally different plants and will vary by region and culture.

We prefer to use the botanical name whenever possible and suggest you use it, too, especially when researching plants online. This cross reference list should help reduce confusion and help you locate plants among our perennials, trees and shrubs.

Download a printable PDF version of this list.

Perennial Plants

COMMON NAME – BOTANICAL NAME

A

Alpine Poppy – Papaver burseri
Anise Hyssop – Agastache aureum
Anise Hyssop  – Agastache rupestris
Asiatic Lily – Lilium asiatica
Aster  – Aster
Astilbe  – Astilbe
Autumn Fern Fern – Dryopteris erythrosora
Autumn Red Japanese Grass Grass – Miscanthus sinensis purpurescens
Autums Moon Grass Grass – Sesleria ‘Autumnalis’

B

Bachelor Button – Centaurea montana
Balloon Flower – Platycodon
Baneberry – Actaea
Bear Berry Cover- Arctostaphylos uva ursi ‘Mass.’
Bear Claw Fern Fern – Dryopteris crasshirizoma
Beard Tongue – Penstemon barbatus
Beard Tongue  – Penstemon gracilis
Bee Balm – Monarda
Bell Flower – Campanula
Berry Bladder Fern Fern – Cystopteris dickieana
Big Brother Fern Fern – Deparia pycnosora
Black-eyed Susan – Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldstrum’
Black-stem Bamboo Grass – Phyllostachys nigra
Blanket Flower – Gaillardia
Bleeding Heart Dicentra
Blue Eyed Grass  – Sisyrinchium
Blue False Indigo  – Baptisia australis
Blue Fescue Grass – Festuca
Blue Flax – Linum perenne
Blue Oat Grass Grass – Helictotrichon
Blue Sedge Grass – Juncus patens ‘Carmen’s Gray’
Bottlebrush Grass Grass – Hystrix patula
Bouncing Bet – Saponaria officinalis
Broad Buckler Fern Fern – Dryopteris diletata
Bugbane – Cimicifuga
Bulbous Oat Grass Grass – Arrhenatherum bulbosum
Butterfly Weed – Asceplias incarnata (Swamp milkweed)
Butterfly Weed  – Asclepias tuberosa

C

Carnation – Dianthus ‘Robes Pierre’
Carpathian Harebell – Campanula carpatica
Cat Mint – Nepeta
Cattails Grass – Typhus latifolia
Chameleon Plant – Houttuynia cordata
Christmas Fern Fern – Polystichum acrostichoides
Chrysanthemum – Dendranthemum
Cinnamon Fern Fern – Osmunda cinnamonea
Cinquefoil – Potentilla
Cleft Creeping Phlox – Phlox bifida
Clematis – Clematis
Columbine – Aquilegia
Cone Flower – Echinacea
ConeFlower, Orange – Rudbeckia
Coral Bells – Heuchera
Coreopsis – Coreopsis
Cranesbill – Geranium
Creeping Phlox – Phlox procumbens
Creeping Phlox – Phlox stolonifera
Culver’s Root – Veronicastrum
Cupid’s Dart – Catananche caerulea
Cutleaf Coneflower – Rudbeckia nitida ‘Herbstonne’

D

Daylily – Hemerocallis
Delphineum – Delphinium
Dead Nettle – Lamium
Dwarf Bamboo Grass – Sasa pygmaea
Dwarf Fountain Grass Grass – Pennisetum alopecuroides
Dwarf Goatsbeard – Aruncus aethusifolius

E

Eupatorium – Eupatorium fistalosum
Evening – Primrose Oenothera
Evergreen Candytuft – Iberis sempervirens

F

Faassen Nepeta – Nepeta faassinii
False Chamomile – Boltonia asteroides
False – Spirea Astilbe
False Sunflower – Heliopsis
Fancy Fern Fern – Dryopteris intermedia
Feather Reed Grass Grass – Calamagrostis
Fever Few – Matricaria
Forget Me Not-perennial  – Brunnera macrophylla
Foxglove – Digitalis

G

Garden Phlox – Phlox paniculata
Gay Feather – Liatris
Gentian Speedwell  – Veronica gentianoides
Geranium -perennial – Geranium
Ginger Cover -Asarum
Glade Fern Fern – Diplazium pycnocarpon
Globe Thistle – Echinops
Gloriosa Daisy – Rudbeckia hirta ‘Irish Eyes’
Goatsbeard – Aruncus dioicus
Golden Ray – Ligularia
Gooseneck Loosestrife – Lysimachia clethroides
Grecian Wildflower  – Anemone blanda ‘Blue’

H

Hair Grass Grass – Deschampsia caespitosa
Hardy Ageratum – Eupatorium coelestinum
Hardy Bamboo Grass – Fargesia
Hardy Bamboo Grass – Phyllostachys ‘Black Jade’
Hardy Bamboo Grass – Phyllostachys nuda
Hardy Bamboo Grass – Sasa tsuboina ‘Green View’
Harebell Speedwell – Veronica prostrata
Hayscented Fern Fern – Dennstaedtia punctiobula
Heart’s Tongue Fern Fern – Asplenium scolopendrium
Helen’s Flower – Helenium
Heliopsis – Heliopsis
Hollyhock – Alcea
Hosta – Hosta
Hyssop – Agastache

I

Ice plant – Delosperma
Iceland Poppy – Papaver nudicaule
Interrupted Fern Fern – Osmunda claytoniana

J

Japanese Anemone – Anemone hybrida
Japanese Beech Fern Fern – Thelypteris decursive-pinnata
Japanese Blood Grass Grass – Imperata cylindrica
Japanese Forest Grass Grass – Hakonechloa macra
Japanese Mat Grass – Juncus effusus
Japanese Painted Fern Fern – Athyrium nipponicum pictum
Japanese Silver Grass Grass – Miscanthus sinensis ‘Yaku Jima’
Japanese Silver Grass Grass – Miscanthus sinensis ‘Variegatus’
Joe Pye Weed – Eupatorium maculatum

L

Lady Fern Fern – Athyrium
Lady’s Mantle – Alchemilla
Larkspur – Delphinium
Lavender – Lavandula
Leadwort – Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
Leatherwood Fern –  Fern – Dryopteris marginalis
Leopard’s Bane – Doronicum austriacum
Lily-of-the-Valley – Convallaria majalis
Little Bluestem, The Blues Grass – Schizachyrium ‘The Blues’
Long-leaf Veronica – Veronica longifolia ‘Eveline’
Lyme Grass Grass – Elymus glaucus

M

Maiden Grass  – Grass – Miscanthus sinensis
Marjoram – Origanum vulgare
Meadow Anemone  – Anemone canadensis
Meadow Rue – Thalictrum
Mexican Male Fern  – Fern – Dryopteris pseudo-felix-mas
Mondo Grass – Grass – Ophiopogon
Monkshood – Aconitum
Montbretia – Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’
Mosquito Grass – Grass – Bouteloua gracilis
Moss Phlox – Phlox subulata ‘
Mother of Thyme  – Thymus serphyllum
Mountain Bluet  – Centaurea montana
Mourning Widow  – Geranium phaeum
Mugwort  – Artemisia lactiflora
Musk Mallow – Malva moschata ‘Rosea’
My Favorite Mum – Dendranthemum

N

New York Fern – Fern – Thelypteris noveboracensis
Northern Maidenhair Fern – Fern – Adiantum pedatum
Northern Sea Oats Grass – Chasmanthium latifolium

O

Obedient Plant – Physotegia
Onion – Allium
Oregano – Origanum
Oriental Lily – Lilium oriental
Oriental Poppy – Papaver orientale
Ostrich Fern Fern – Matteuccia struthiopteris
Ox-eye Daisy – Leucanthemum vulgare

P

Pasque Flower – Anemone pulsatilla
Penstemon – Penstemon
Peony – Paeonia
Periwinkle Cover – Vinca
Phlox – Phlox amoena
Pigsqueak – Bergenia
Pincushion Flower – Scabiosa
Pinks – Dianthus
Plantain Lily, Funkia – Hosta ‘Gay Feather’
Plume Flower – Astilbe glaberrima
Porcupine Grass Grass – Miscanthus sinensis ‘Strictus’
Pumpkin Grass Grass – Sporobolus ‘Heterolepsis’

R

Rattlesnakemaster – Eryngium yuccifolium
Rock Candytuft – Iberis saxatilis
Rock Soapwort – Saponaria
Rose Twisted Stalk – Streptopus roseus
Royal Fern Fern – Osmunda regalis
Russian Sage – Perovskia

S

Sage – Salvia
Sea Holly – Eryngium
Sedge Grass – Carex
Sedge Grass – Scirpus cyperius
Sedum – Sedum
Sensitive Fern – Fern – Onoclea sensibilis
Shaggy Shield Fern – Fern – Dryopteris cycadina
Shasta – Dendranthemum
Shasta Daisy – Leucanthemum
Siberian Bugloss  – Brunnera macrophylla
Siberian Pink – Dianthus amurensis
Silver Feather Grass – Grass – Miscanthus sinensis ‘Silberfeder’
Silver Mound – Artemisia schmidtiana
Silver Sage – Salvia argentea
Snakeroot  – Cimicifuga racemosa
Snow in Summer – Cerastium tomentosum
Snowdrop Anemone  – Anemone sylvestris
Soapwort – Saponaria
Sorrel – Rumex sanguineus
Speedwell – Veronica
Spleenwort Fern – Asplenium ‘Platyneuron’
Spotted Nettle – Lamium maculatum
Spurge – Pachysandra procumbens
Stokes Aster – Stokesia
Stonecrop – Sedum
Summer Phlox  – Phlox paniculata
Swamp Milkweed – Asclepias incarnata
Sweet Autumn Clematis – Clematis paniculata
Sweet Flag Grass – Acorus calamus
Sweet William – Dianthus barbatus
Sweet Woodruff – Galium odoratum
Switch Grass Grass – Panicum virgatum

T

Tall Speedwell – Veronicastrum virginicum Lavendelturm’
Tassel Fern Fern – Polystichum polyblepharum
Thyme – Thymus
Tickseed  – Coreopsis
Toad Lily – Tricyrtis
Tree Peony – Paeonia suffruticosa
Turtlehead – Chelone lyonii

V

Virgin’s Bower – Clematis tangutica or viticella

W

Wandflower – Gaura
Western Sneezweed – Helenium hoopesii
Western Sword Fern Fern – Poystichum minutum
White Sage – Artemisia ludoviciana
White Snakeroot  – Eupatorium rugosum
Wild Indigo – Baptisia
Wild Petunia – Ruellia humilis
Wild Sweet William – Phlox maculata
Wild Thyme – Thymus serpyllum
Windflower – Anemone blanda
Wintergreen Cover – Gaultheria procumbens
Wood Anemone  – Anemone nemerosa
Wood Fern Fern – Dryopteris
Woodland Phlox – Phlox divaricata
Woodruff – Asperula gussonii
Woodrush Grass – Luzula ‘Scarlet Stiletto’
Woodsia Fern – Woodsia
Wormwood – Artemisia

Y

Yarrow – Achillea
Yellow Groove Bamboo Grass – Phyllostachys aureosulcata
Yellow Waxbells – Kirengeshoma

Z

Zebra Grass Grass – Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus’

Woody Plants & Vines

COMMON NAME – BOTANICAL NAME

A

Arborvitae – Thuja
Almond Oriental – Prunus
Andromeda – Pieris
Apple, Fruiting – Apple
Apricot, Ornamental – Prunus
Arborvitae – Thuja
Azalea – Azalea or Rhododendron

B

Barberry – Berberis (INVASIVE – not sold in Massachusetts)
Beech – Fagus
Birch – Betula
Birch, Eur. White Bark – Betula jacquemonti
Birch, Paper  – Betula papyrifera
Birch, River  – Betula nigra
Birch, White  – Betula pendula
Blueberry  – Vaccinum
Bog Rosemary  – Andromeda
Boxwood – Buxus
Broom – Cytisis
Butterfly Bush  – Buddleia

C

Cherry Plum  – Prunus cerasifera
Cherry, Amur Choke Cherry – Prunus maackii
Cherry  – Prunus
Cherry, Weeping Higan – Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula’
Crabapple, Flowering – Malus
Cypress, False  – Chamaecyparis

D – K

Dogwood – Cornus

Eastern Red Cedar – Juniperus virginiana

Fir  – Abies

Grape  – Vitis

Hemlock  – Tsuga
Holly – Ilex
Honey locust – Gleditsia
Honeysuckle  – Lonicera
Hornbeam – Carpinus betula ‘fastigiata’

Juniper – Juniperus
Juniper, Creeping – Juniperus horizontalis

Katsura – Cercidiphyllum

L – M

Larch – Larix
Lilac – Syringa
Linden – Tilia

Magnolia, Saucer – Magnolia soulangiana
Maple – Acer
Maple, Japanese  – Acer palmatum
Maple, Norway  – Acer platanoides
Maple, Red  – Acer rubrum
Maple, Sugar  – Acer saccharum
Mockorange – Philadelphus
Mountain Laurel  – Kalmia

O – P

Oak – Quercus
Oak, Pin  – Quercus palustris
Oak, Red  – Quercus rubra
Oak, White  – Quercus alba

Peach – Prunus persica
Pear – Pyrus
Pine, Scot – Pinus sylvestris
Pine, White  – Pinus strobus
Plum  – Prunus
Plum, Ornamental Purpleleaf  – Prunus cerasifera

Q – S

Quince, Flowering – Chaenomeles

Redbud  – Cercis
Rhododendron – Rhododendron

Serviceberry or Shadblow – Amelanchier
Smoke Tree / Bush – Cotinus
Spruce  – Picea
Spruce, Alberta – Picea glauca
Spruce, Colorado  – Picea pungens
Spruce, Norway – Picea abies
Sweetspire – Itea
Sycamore  – Platanus

T – Y

Trumpet Vine  – Campsis
Tuliptree  – Liriodendron or Magnolia

Virginia Creeper  – Parthenocisus

Willow  – Salix
Witchhazel – Hamamelis

Yew  – Taxus