Unfortunately, many common names are used for more than one plant. To get exactly what you want, you may need to find out the plant's official botanical name. That doesn't mean you can't still use all those great names you learned from your Grandpa. Common Names Don't let anyone tell you common names are worthless. Some are romantic, lyrical and enticing.
Some common names tell a story of their own.
Other common names are simply amusing. And then there are a few that would make you wonder why anyone would grow a plant with that name. The genus name is given to a group of plants that are very closely related. Species names are given to plants within the genus that have distinctively different characteristics. Sometimes species can be broken down further and you will find a third name that will tell you a plant's variety or cultivar.