Parenting

Katniss Evergreen And 147 Other Cute Names For Your Beloved Pet Plant

by Deirdre Kaye
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
plant names
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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

  1. Agave Americana, Century Plant
  2. Aglaonema Commutatum, Chinese Evergreen
  3. Amaryllidinae, Amaryllis
  4. Amaryllis Belladonna, Belladonna Lily
  5. Asphodelaceae, Aloe vera
  6. Asplenium Nidus, Bird’s Nest Fern
  7. Beaucarnea Recurvata, Ponytail Palm
  8. Begonia Rex-Cultorum, Begonia Rex
  9. Billbergia Pyramidalis, Bromeliad
  10. Bromeliaceae, Bromeliads
  11. Calathea Lancifolia, Rattlesnake Plant
  12. Chamaedorea Elegans, Victorian Parlor Palm
  13. Chlorophytum Comosum, Spider Plant
  14. Curio Radicans, String of Bananas
  15. Cycas Revoluta, Japanese Sago Palm
  16. Dieffenbachia, Tropical Snow
  17. Dracaena Fragrans, Limelight
  18. Dracaena Marginata, Madagascar Dragon Tree
  19. Dracaena Trifasciata, Snake Plant
  20. Euphorbia Neriifolia, Coral cactus
  21. Faucaria Tigrina, Tiger Jaws
  22. Ficus Benjamina, Weeping Fig Tree
  23. Fittonia, Nerve Plant
  24. Gerbera Jamesonii, Barberton Daisy
  25. Heart-Leaf Philodendron, Sweetheart Plant
  26. Hymenocallis Littoralis, Beach Spider Lily
  27. Kalanchoe Daigremontiana, Mother Of Thousands
  28. Kleinia Petraea, Trailing Jade
  29. Opuntia Microdasys, Bunny Ear Cactus
  30. Orchidaceae, Orchid
  31. Lithops Pseudotruncatella, Truncate Living Stone
  32. Ming Aralia Pre-Bonsai Tree, The Happy Plant
  33. Pachira Aquatica, Money Tree
  34. Peperomia Argyreia, Watermelon Peperomia
  35. Peperomia Obtusfolia, Baby Rubber Plant
  36. Platycerium, Staghorn Fern
  37. Pothos, Golden Devil’s Ivy
  38. Saintpaulia, African Violet
  39. Schlumbergera Truncata, Christmas Cactus
  40. Sedum Morganianum, Donkey’s Tail
  41. Senecio Rowleyanus, String of Pearls
  42. Spathiphyllum, Peace Lily
  43. Stenocactus Multicostatus, Brain Cactus
  44. Tracheophyta, Fern
  45. Tradescantia Spathacea, Oyster Plant
  46. Zamioculcas Zamiifolia, Aroid Palm or ZZ Plant
  47. Dimorphotheca Aurantica, African Daisy
  48. Lobularia Maritima, Alyssum
  49. Amaranthaceae, Amaranth
  50. Callistephus, Aster
  51. Centaurea Cyanus, Bachelor Buttons
  52. Platycodon Grandiflorus, Balloon Flower
  53. Impatiens Balsamina, Balsam
  54. Monarda Didyma, Bee Balm
  55. Begoniaceae, Begonia
  56. Camponula, Bellflower
  57. Cucurbita Lagenaria, Birdhouse Gourds
  58. Rudbeckia Hirta, Black Eyed Susan
  59. Gaillardia Aristata, Blanketflower
  60. Liatris Spicata, Blazing Star
  61. Dicenta Spectabilis, Bleeding Heart

Adorable Plant Nicknames Riffed From Their “Real” Names

  1. Katniss Evergreen
  2. Midas the Nidus
  3. Birdie
  4. Ariana Grande (because of her famous ponytail)
  5. Rex
  6. Broseph
  7. Brolene
  8. Broheim
  9. Jake the Snake Plant
  10. Draco
  11. Draco Fragrans
  12. Draco Marginata
  13. Draco Trifasciata
  14. King (from Madagascar)
  15. Benji
  16. Wimping Willow (like the Whomping Willow, but sadder)
  17. Joey Fittonia
  18. Phil or Philomena
  19. Pharrell (he’s a “Happy” man)
  20. Steve Zissou (because “Life Aquatic”)
  21. Pepper Potts
  22. Pepper Potted Plant
  23. Potted Pepper
  24. Prongs
  25. Ivy (obviously)
  26. Hippie Lily
  27. Christophern Robin
  28. Happy Little Clam
  29. ZeeZee
  30. Blossom
  31. Bud
  32. Burnie Sanders
  33. Cactus Evergreen
  34. Elvis Parsley
  35. Emerald
  36. Flora
  37. Fluffy
  38. Goldie
  39. Her/His Royal Plantness
  40. Jade
  41. Killer
  42. Lil Plant
  43. Megan Thee Plant
  44. Mr./Miss Plant
  45. Pearl
  46. Prickles
  47. Professor Plant
  48. Sir Pokes-A-Lot
  49. Spike
  50. Succa
  51. Sunny
  52. Tree Diddy
  53. Vera
  54. Vincent Van Grow
  55. Woody
  56. Snake Plant on a Plane

More Plant Names

  1. Baby Yoda
  2. Bill (Perfect for money plants!)
  3. Chloe
  4. Cutie
  5. Elphaba
  6. Esmeralda
  7. Fern
  8. Fernie Sanders
  9. Fiona
  10. Holly Golightly (for a “string of pearls” plant)
  11. Justin Timberlake
  12. LeFaun James
  13. Lily (peace lily)
  14. MC Hammer
  15. Morgan Treeman
  16. Olive
  17. Orlando Bloom
  18. Penelope
  19. Penny
  20. Pickle
  21. Ruby
  22. Sage
  23. Simon and Garfunkel (a perfect set of names for two plant combos)
  24. Snake Gyllenhaal (Get it? Jake Gyllenhaal?)
  25. Spice Girls (a group of herb plants)
  26. Stretch Armstrong (for a rubber plant)
  27. Sylvia
  28. Sylvie
  29. Tree Diddy
  30. Verde

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