Katniss Evergreen And 147 Other Cute Names For Your Beloved Pet Plant
Not all of us have green thumbs. As a matter of fact, many people will tell you they have black thumbs: They kill everything. At some point in your life, however, you will inevitably own a plant. Why? Because it was cute or maybe it looked lonely on the shelf at the store. Or, you know, perhaps you were gifted a succulent by a well-meaning friend. While some plants are so hard to kill you can forget about them in your dank basement or a hidden corner of your bathroom for a year, other plants require a bit more attention. For instance, if you end up with an orchid (or any other delicate flower or flowering plant) it can feel like living with a cat: It owns you; you don’t own it. When you end up with a plant (or plants) that take up space in your home and your routine, they become even more like pets. So, why not name your plant? As it turns out, it’s a pretty common practice to name your little green friends.
But, where do you start, and how do you get to your final choice? There are so many ways you can go. Sometimes it helps if you look at your plants’ botanical or scientific names, as well as their common names. You never know what you might see that could inspire a punny name for your plant. There’s also the option of going with a name as simple as “Miss Plant” or “The Jolly Green Giant.” It’s less about the kind of plant and more about the fact that it is, well, a plant.
And if you’re feeling particularly cheeky? Why use a plant-inspired name at all? There’s really nothing stopping you from naming your creepy, prickly cactus after Aunt Lydia from The Handmaid’s Tale. You could even name your String of Bananas after a famous primate, like Harambe or Curious George. Or, you know, just name it Fred. Whatever suits your fancy.
Just like with any other pet or living thing in your life, you can go in many directions when naming them. However, it never hurts to look for help. Hopefully, our list inspires the perfect name and a green thumb.
Botanical/Scientific and Common Plant Names for Popular Plants
- Agave Americana, Century Plant
- Aglaonema Commutatum, Chinese Evergreen
- Amaryllidinae, Amaryllis
- Amaryllis Belladonna, Belladonna Lily
- Asphodelaceae, Aloe vera
- Asplenium Nidus, Bird’s Nest Fern
- Beaucarnea Recurvata, Ponytail Palm
- Begonia Rex-Cultorum, Begonia Rex
- Billbergia Pyramidalis, Bromeliad
- Bromeliaceae, Bromeliads
- Calathea Lancifolia, Rattlesnake Plant
- Chamaedorea Elegans, Victorian Parlor Palm
- Chlorophytum Comosum, Spider Plant
- Curio Radicans, String of Bananas
- Cycas Revoluta, Japanese Sago Palm
- Dieffenbachia, Tropical Snow
- Dracaena Fragrans, Limelight
- Dracaena Marginata, Madagascar Dragon Tree
- Dracaena Trifasciata, Snake Plant
- Euphorbia Neriifolia, Coral cactus
- Faucaria Tigrina, Tiger Jaws
- Ficus Benjamina, Weeping Fig Tree
- Fittonia, Nerve Plant
- Gerbera Jamesonii, Barberton Daisy
- Heart-Leaf Philodendron, Sweetheart Plant
- Hymenocallis Littoralis, Beach Spider Lily
- Kalanchoe Daigremontiana, Mother Of Thousands
- Kleinia Petraea, Trailing Jade
- Opuntia Microdasys, Bunny Ear Cactus
- Orchidaceae, Orchid
- Lithops Pseudotruncatella, Truncate Living Stone
- Ming Aralia Pre-Bonsai Tree, The Happy Plant
- Pachira Aquatica, Money Tree
- Peperomia Argyreia, Watermelon Peperomia
- Peperomia Obtusfolia, Baby Rubber Plant
- Platycerium, Staghorn Fern
- Pothos, Golden Devil’s Ivy
- Saintpaulia, African Violet
- Schlumbergera Truncata, Christmas Cactus
- Sedum Morganianum, Donkey’s Tail
- Senecio Rowleyanus, String of Pearls
- Spathiphyllum, Peace Lily
- Stenocactus Multicostatus, Brain Cactus
- Tracheophyta, Fern
- Tradescantia Spathacea, Oyster Plant
- Zamioculcas Zamiifolia, Aroid Palm or ZZ Plant
- Dimorphotheca Aurantica, African Daisy
- Lobularia Maritima, Alyssum
- Amaranthaceae, Amaranth
- Callistephus, Aster
- Centaurea Cyanus, Bachelor Buttons
- Platycodon Grandiflorus, Balloon Flower
- Impatiens Balsamina, Balsam
- Monarda Didyma, Bee Balm
- Begoniaceae, Begonia
- Camponula, Bellflower
- Cucurbita Lagenaria, Birdhouse Gourds
- Rudbeckia Hirta, Black Eyed Susan
- Gaillardia Aristata, Blanketflower
- Liatris Spicata, Blazing Star
- Dicenta Spectabilis, Bleeding Heart
Adorable Plant Nicknames Riffed From Their “Real” Names
- Katniss Evergreen
- Midas the Nidus
- Birdie
- Ariana Grande (because of her famous ponytail)
- Rex
- Broseph
- Brolene
- Broheim
- Jake the Snake Plant
- Draco
- Draco Fragrans
- Draco Marginata
- Draco Trifasciata
- King (from Madagascar)
- Benji
- Wimping Willow (like the Whomping Willow, but sadder)
- Joey Fittonia
- Phil or Philomena
- Pharrell (he’s a “Happy” man)
- Steve Zissou (because “Life Aquatic”)
- Pepper Potts
- Pepper Potted Plant
- Potted Pepper
- Prongs
- Ivy (obviously)
- Hippie Lily
- Christophern Robin
- Happy Little Clam
- ZeeZee
- Blossom
- Bud
- Burnie Sanders
- Cactus Evergreen
- Elvis Parsley
- Emerald
- Flora
- Fluffy
- Goldie
- Her/His Royal Plantness
- Jade
- Killer
- Lil Plant
- Megan Thee Plant
- Mr./Miss Plant
- Pearl
- Prickles
- Professor Plant
- Sir Pokes-A-Lot
- Spike
- Succa
- Sunny
- Tree Diddy
- Vera
- Vincent Van Grow
- Woody
- Snake Plant on a Plane
More Plant Names
- Baby Yoda
- Bill (Perfect for money plants!)
- Chloe
- Cutie
- Elphaba
- Esmeralda
- Fern
- Fernie Sanders
- Fiona
- Holly Golightly (for a “string of pearls” plant)
- Justin Timberlake
- LeFaun James
- Lily (peace lily)
- MC Hammer
- Morgan Treeman
- Olive
- Orlando Bloom
- Penelope
- Penny
- Pickle
- Ruby
- Sage
- Simon and Garfunkel (a perfect set of names for two plant combos)
- Snake Gyllenhaal (Get it? Jake Gyllenhaal?)
- Spice Girls (a group of herb plants)
- Stretch Armstrong (for a rubber plant)
- Sylvia
- Sylvie
- Tree Diddy
- Verde
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