List of plants by common name

The common names of plants often vary from region to region, which is why most plant encyclopedias refer to plants using binomials, or "Latin" names. Common names are also referred to as "country names" or "farmer's names". These names develop over time according to use, appearance, and lore.
Most plants have several country names, and country names often refer to several distinct plants. This list includes garden plants as well as weeds.
This is by no means a complete list. Most of the common names here so far are regional names from North America.
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A
Alder - Alnus
Black Alder - Alnus glutinosa, Ilex verticillata
Common Alder - Alnus glutinosa
False Alder - Ilex verticillata
Gray Alder - Alnus incana
Speckled Alder - Alnus incana
Striped Alder - Ilex verticillata
White Alder - Alnus incana, Ilex verticillata
Ambrosia
Tall Ambrosia - Ambrosia trifida
Amy Root - Apocynum cannabinum
Apple - Malus
Osage Apple - Maclura pomifera
Apple of Sodom - Solanum carolinense
Arfaj - Rhanterium epapposum
Arrowwood - Cornus florida
Indian Arrowwood - Cornus florida
Ash - Fraxinus
Black Ash- Fraxinus nigra
Blue Ash - Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Cane Ash - Fraxinus americana
Green Ash - Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Maple Ash- Acer negundo
Red Ash - Fraxinus pennsylvanica
River Ash - Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Swamp Ash - Fraxinus pennsylvanica
White Ash - Fraxinus americana
Water Ash- Acer negundo (Manitoba maple in Canada), Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Azolla - Azolla
Carolina Azolla - Azolla caroliniana
Lists Of Plants
B
Bearberry - Ilex decidua
Bear Corn - Veratrum viride
Bindweed
Blue Bindweed - Solanum dulcamara
Bird's Nest - Daucus carota
Bird's Nest Plant - Daucus carota
Birch - Betula
Black Birch - Betula lenta, Betula nigra
Bolean Birch - Betula papyrifera
Canoe Birch - Betula papyrifera
Cherry Birch - Betula lenta
European Weeping Birch - Betula pendula
European White Birch - Betula pendula
Gray Birch - Betula alleghaniensis
Mahogany Birch - Betula lenta
Paper Birch - Betula papyrifera
Red Birch - Betula nigra
River Birch - Betula nigra, Betula lenta
Silver Birch - Betula papyrifera
Spice Birch - Betula lenta
Sweet Birch - Betula lenta
Water Birch - Betula nigra
Weeping Birch - Betula pendula
White Birch - Betula papyrifera, Betula pendula
Yellow Birch - Betula alleghaniensis
Bittercress - Barbarea vulgaris, Cardamine bulbosa, Cardamine hirsuta
Hairy Bittercress - Cardamine hirsuta
Bittersweet - Solanum dulcamara
Trailing Bittersweet - Solanum dulcamara
Bitterweed - Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Artemesia trifida
Blackberry - Rubus spp., Rubus pensilvanicus, Rubus occidentalis
Hispid Swamp Blackberry - Rubus hispidus
Pennsylvania Blackberry - Rubus pensilvanicus
Running Swamp Blackberry - Rubus hispidus
Black Cap - Rubus occidentalis
Black-eyed Susan - Rudbeckia hirta, Rudbeckia fulgida
Blackhaw - Viburnum prunifolium
Blackiehead - Rudbeckia hirta
Black-weed - Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Blue-of-the-Heavens - Allium caeruleum
Bow-wood - Maclura pomifera
Box - Buxus
False Box - Cornus florida
Boxelder - Acer negundo
Boxwood - Buxus, Cornus florida
False Boxwood - Cornus florida
Brier
Sand Brier - Solanum carolinense
Brittlebush - Encelia farinosa
Broadleaf - Plantago major
Brown Betty - Rudbeckia hirta
Black-eyed Susan - Rudbeckia hirta, Rudbeckia triloba
Buffalo Weed - Ambrosia trifida
Butterfly Flower - Asclepias syriaca
Butterfly Weed - Asclepias tuberosa
C
Cabbage - Brassica oleracea
Clumpfoot Cabbage - Symplocarpus foetidus
Meadow Cabbage - Symplocarpus foetidus
Skunk Cabbage - Symplocarpus foetidus
Swamp Cabbage - Symplocarpus foetidus
Canada Root - Asclepias tuberosa
Cancer Jalap - Phytolacca americana
Carrot - Daucus carota
Wild Carrot - Daucus carota
Carrot Weed - Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Cart Track Plant - Plantago major
Cherry - Prunus
Black Cherry - Prunus serotina
Cabinet Cherry - Prunus serotina
Rum Cherry - Prunus serotina
Whiskey Cherry - Prunus serotina
Wild Cherry - Prunus avium, Prunus serotina
Wild Black Cherry - Prunus serotina
Chigger Flower - Asclepias tuberosa
Coakum - Phytolacca americana
Colic Weed - Corydalis flavula
Collard - Symplocarpus foetidus
Colwort
Hare's Colwort - Sonchus oleraceus
Coneflower
Brilliant Coneflower - Rudbeckia fulgida
Cutleaf Coneflower - Rudbeckia laciniata
Eastern Coneflower - Rudbeckia fulgida
Green-headed Coneflower - Rudbeckia laciniata
Orange Coneflower - Rudbeckia fulgida
Tall Coneflower - Rudbeckia laciniata
Thin-leaved Coneflower - Rudbeckia triloba
Three-leaved Coneflower - Rudbeckia triloba
Cornel
Blueberry Cornel - Cornus amomum
Silky Cornel - Cornus amomum
White Cornel - Cornus florida
Cornelian Tree - Cornus florida
Corydalis - Corydalis
Fern-leaf Corydalis - Corydalis cleilanthifolia
Golden Corydalis - Corydalis aurea
Pale Corydalis - Corydalis flavula, Corydalis sempervirens
Pink Corydalis - Corydalis sempervirens
Yellow Corydalis - Corydalis lutea, Corydalis flavula
Cress - (several genera)
American Cress - Barbarea verna
Bank Cress - Barbarea verna
Belle Isle Cress - Barbarea verna
Bermuda Cress - Barbarea verna
Bulbous Cress - Cardamine bulbosa
Lamb's Cress - Cardamine hirsuta
Land Cress - Barbarea verna, Cardamine hirsuta
Scurvy Cress - Barbarea verna
Spring Cress - Cardamine bulbosa
Upland Cress - Barbarea verna
Crowfoot - Cardamine concatenata
Crow's Nest - Daucus carota
Crow's Toes - Cardamine concatenata
D
Daffodil - Narcissus pseudonarcissus
Daisy
Brown Daisy - Rudbeckia hirta
Gloriosa Daisy - Rudbeckia hirta
Poorland Daisy - Rudbeckia hirta
Yellow Daisy - Rudbeckia hirta
Yellow Ox-eye Daisy - Rudbeckia hirta
David mountain laurel - Sophora davidii
Deadnettle - Lamium
Henbit Deadnettle - Lamium amplexicaule
Devil's Bite - Veratrum viride
Devil's Darning Needle - Clematis virginiana
Devil's Hair - Clematis virginiana
Devil's Plague - Daucus carota
Dewberry
Bristly Dewberry - Rubus hispidus
Swamp Dewberry - Rubus hispidus
Dindle - Sonchus arvensis
Dogwood - Cornus, Solanum dulcamara
American Dogwood - Cornus florida
Florida Dogwood - Cornus florida
Flowering Dogwood - Cornus florida
Japanese Flowering Dogwood - Cornus kousa
Kousa Dogwood - Cornus kousa
Silky Dogwood - Cornus amomum
Swamp Dogwood- Cornus amomum
Duck Retten - Veratrum viride
Duscle - Solanum nigrum
Dye-leaves - Ilex glabra
E
Earth Gall - Veratrum viride
English Bull's Eye - Rudbeckia hirta
F
Fair-maid-of-France - Achillea ptarmica
Fairymoss Azolla caroliniana
Fellenwort - Solanum dulcamara
Felonwood - Solanum dulcamara
Felonwort - Solanum dulcamara
Fern
Mosquito Fern - Azolla caroliniana
Water Fern - Azolla caroliniana
Feverbush - Ilex verticillata
Feverfew - Tanacetum parthenium
Creeping Yellowcress - Rorippa sylvestris
Fluxroot - Asclepias tuberosa
Fumewort
Yellow Fumewort - Corydalis flavula
G
Gallberry - Ilex glabra
Garget - Phytolacca americana
Garlic
Golden Garlic - Allium moly
Wild Garlic - Allium canadense
Garlic Mustard - Alliaria petiolata
Garlic Root - Alliaria petiolata
Gilliflower
Dame's Gilliflower - Hesperis matronalis
Night Scented Gilliflower - Hesperis matronalis
Queen's Gilliflower - Hesperis matronalis
Rogue's Gilliflower - Hesperis matronalis
Winter Gilliflower - Hesperis matronalis
Golden Buttons - Tanacetum vulgare
Goldenglow - Rudbeckia laciniata
Golden Jerusalem - Rudbeckia hirta
Gordaldo - Achillea millefolium
Goose Tongue - Achillea ptarmica
Groundberry - Rubus hispidus
Bristly Groundberry - Rubus hispidus
Gutweed - Sonchus arvensis
H
Harlequin
Rock Harlequin - Corydalis sempervirens
Yellow Harlequin - Corydalis flavula
Hay Fever Weed - Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Artemesia trifida
Healing Blade - Plantago major
Hedge Plant - Maclura pomifera
Hellebore - Helleborus
American White Hellebore - Veratrum viride
Big Hellebore - Veratrum viride
Black Hellebore - Veratrum nigrum
European White Hellebore - Veratrum album
False Hellebore - Veratrum album, Veratrum viride
Swamp Hellebore - Veratrum viride
White Hellebore - Veratrum album, Veratrum viride
Hemp Dogbane - Apocynum cannabinum
Hen Plant - Plantago major
Henbit - Lamium amplexicaule
Greater Henbit - Lamium amplexicaule
Herb Barbara - Barbarea vulgaris
Hogweed - Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Holly - Ilex
Deciduous Holly - Ilex decidua, Ilex verticillata
Inkberry Holly - Ilex glabra
Meadow Holly - Ilex decidua
Swamp Holly - Ilex decidua
Winterberry Holly - Ilex verticillata
Horse Cane - Ambrosia trifida
Hortensia - Hydrangea
Hound's Berry - Solanum nigrum
Houseleek - Sempervivum tectorum
I
Indian Hemp - Apocynum cannabinum
White Indian Hemp - Asclepias incarnata
Indian Paintbrush - Castilleja, Castilleja mutis, Asclepias tuberosa
Indian Posy - Asclepias tuberosa
Inkberry - Ilex glabra, Phytolacca americana
Itchweed - Veratrum viride
J
Jack-by-the-Hedge - Alliaria petiolata
Jack-in-the-Bush - Alliaria petiolata
Juneberry - Amelanchier canadensis
K
Keek - Rorippa sylvestris
Kinnikinnik - Cornus amomum
Kousa - Cornus kousa
L
Laceflower - Daucus carota
Lamb's Foot - Plantago major
Leek - Allium
Lily Leek - Allium moly
Lilac
Summer Lilac - Hesperis matronalis
Love Vine - Clematis virginianaM
Maple - Acer
Ash-Leaved Maple - Acer negundo
Creek Maple - Acer saccharinum
Cutleaf Maple - Acer negundo
Maple Ash- Acer negundo
Red River Maple - Acer negundo
River Maple - Acer saccharinum
Silver Maple - Acer saccharinum
Silverleaf Maple - Acer saccharinum
Soft Maple - Acer saccharinum
Sugar Maple - Acer saccharum, Acer negundo
Swamp Maple - Acer saccharinum
Water Maple - Acer saccharinum
White Maple - Acer saccharinum
Mesquite - Prosopis
Honey Mesquite - Prosopis glandulosa
Screwbean Mesquite - Prosopis pubescens
Milfoil - Achillea millefolium
Milkweed - Asclepias, Sonchus oleraceus
Blunt-leaved Milkweed - Asclepias amplexicaulis
Common Milkweed - Asclepias syriaca
Horsetail Milkweed - Asclepias verticillata
Orange Milkweed - Asclepias tuberosa
Swamp Milkweed - Asclepias incarnata
Rose Milkweed - Asclepias incarnata
Whorled Milkweed - Asclepias verticillata
Yellow Milkweed - Asclepias tuberosa
Milky Tassel - Sonchus oleraceus
Morel - Solanum nigrum
Petty Morel - Solanum nigrum
Mosquito Plant - Azolla caroliniana
Mother-of-the-Evening - Hesperis matronalis
Mountain Mahogany - Betula lenta
Mulberry - Morus
Red Mulberry - Morus rubra
White Mulberry - Morus alba
N
Nature's Mistake - Cornus florida
Nettle
Bull Nettle - Solanum carolinense
Carolina Horse Nettle - Solanum carolinense
Horse Nettle - Solanum carolinense
Nightshade
American Nightshade - Phytolacca americana, Solanum americanum
Bitter Nightshade - Solanum dulcamara
Black Nightshade - Solanum nigrum, Solanum americanum
Climbing Nightshade - Solanum dulcamara
Deadly Nightshade - Solanum nigrum
Garden Nightshade - Solanum nigrum
Trailing Nightshade - Solanum dulcamara
Woody Nightshade - Solanum dulcamara
Nosebleed - Achillea millefolium
O
Oak - Quercus
Algerian Oak Quercus canariensisBlack Oak - Quercus velutina, Quercus coccinea, Quercus rubraBlue Oak - Quercus macrocarpaBur Oak - Quercus macrocarpaChampion Oak - Quercus rubraDyer's Oak - Quercus velutinaEnglish Oak - Quercus roburMirbeck's Oak - Quercus canariensisMossycup Oak - Quercus macrocarpaMossycup White Oak - Quercus macrocarpaPedunculate Oak -Quercus robur
Pin Oak - Quercus palustris
Red Oak - Quercus rubra, Quercus coccinea
Scarlet Oak - Quercus coccinea
Scrub Oak - Quercus macrocarpa
Sessile Oak - Quercus petraea
Spanish Oak - Quercus coccinea, Quercus rubra
Spotted Oak - Quercus velutina
Swamp Oak - Quercus palustris, Quercus bicolor
Swamp Spanish Oak - Quercus palustris
Swamp White Oak - Quercus bicolor
White Oak - Quercus alba
Yellowbark Oak - Quercus velutina
Old Man's Pepper - Achillea millefolium
Onion
Giant Onion - Allium giganteum
Nodding Onion - Allium cernuum
Tree Onion - Allium canadense
Wild Onion - Allium canadense
Orange
Osage Orange - Maclura pomifera
Wild Orange - Maclura pomifera
Orange-root - Asclepias tuberosa
Osage - Maclura pomifera
Osier
Red Osier - Cornus amomum
P
Parsnip - Pastinaca sativa, Daucus carota
Pellitory
Bastard Pellitory - Achillea ptarmica
European Pellitory - Achillea ptarmica
Wild Pellitory - Achillea ptarmica
Penny Hedge - Alliaria petiolata
Pepper Root - Cardamine concatenata
Pigeon Berry - Phytolacca americana
Plantain
Broadleaf Plantain - Plantago major
Common Plantain - Plantago major
Dooryard Plantain - Plantago major
Greater Plantain - Plantago major
Roundleaf Plantain - Plantago major
Wayside Plantain - Plantago major
Pleurisy Root - Asclepias tuberosa
Pocan Bush - Phytolacca americana
Poisonberry - Solanum dulcamara
Poisonflower - Solanum dulcamara
Poke - Phytolacca americana
Indian Poke - Veratrum viride
Pokeroot - Phytolacca americana
Pokeweed - Phytolacca americana
Polkweed - Symplocarpus foetidus
Polecat Weed - Symplocarpus foetidus
Poor Annie - Veratrum viride
Poor Man's Mustard - Alliaria petiolata
Possumhaw - Ilex decidua
Queen Anne's Lace - Daucus carota
Quercitron - Quercus velutina
R
Radical Weed - Solanum carolinense
Ragweed - Ambrosia
Common Ragweed - Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Giant Ragweed - Ambrosia trifida
Great Ragweed - Ambrosia trifida
Rantipole - Daucus carota
Raspberry - Rubus spp.
Black Raspberry - Rubus occidentalis
Purple Raspberry - Rubus occidentalis
Redbrush - Cornus amomum
Red Ink Plant - Phytolacca americana
Redweed - Phytolacca americana
Rheumatism Root - Apocynum cannabinum
Ribwort - Plantago major
Roadweed - Plantago major
Rocket - (several genera)
Dame's Rocket - Hesperis matronalis
Sweet Rocket - Hesperis matronalis
Winter Rocket - Barbarea vulgaris
Yellow Rocket - Barbarea vulgaris
Rocketcress - Barbarea vulgaris
Rose - Rosa
Baby Rose - Rosa multiflora
Dwarf Wild Rose - Rosa virginiana
Low Rose - Rosa virginiana
Multiflora Rose - Rosa multiflora
Prairie Rose - Rosa virginiana
Rambler Rose - Rosa multiflora
Wild Rose - Rosa virginiana
S
Sanguinary - Achillea millefolium
Sauce-alone - Alliaria petiolata
Scarlet Berry - Solanum dulcamara
Scoke - Phytolacca americana
Scotch Cap - Rubus occidentalis
Scrambled Eggs - Corydalis aurea
Scurvy Grass - Barbarea verna
Serviceberry - Amelanchier
Common Serviceberry - Amelanchier arborea
Downy Serviceberry - Amelanchier arborea
Shadblow Serviceberry - Amelanchier canadensis
Shadblow - Amelanchier canadensis
Shadbush - Amelanchier canadensis
Silkweed - Asclepias syriaca
Swamp Silkweed - Asclepias incarnata
Virginia Silkweed - Asclepias syriaca
Skunkweed - Symplocarpus foetidus
Snakeberry - Solanum dulcamara
Speedwell=Veronica
Corn Speedwell - Veronica arvensis
Wall Speedwell - Veronica arvensis
Spoolwood - Betula papyrifera
Squaw Bush - Cornus amomum
Stammerwort - Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Stars-of-Persia - Allium cristophii
Stickweed - Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Swallow-wort
Orange Swallow-wort - Asclepias tuberosa
Silky Swallow-wort - Asclepias syriaca
Sneezeweed - Achillea ptarmica
Sneezewort - Achillea ptarmica
Sugarplum - Amelanchier canadensis
Soldier's Woundwort - Achillea millefolium
Stag Bush - Viburnum prunifolium
Swallow-wort
Orange Swallow-wort - Asclepias tuberosa
Silky Swallow-wort - Asclepias syriaca
Sweet Potato - Ipomoea batatas
Sweet Potato Vine - Ipomoea batatas
Sweet William - Dianthus barbatus
Swinies - Sonchus oleraceus
T
Tansy
Common Tansy - Tanacetum vulgare
White Tansy - Achillea ptarmica
Wild Tansy - Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Tea
Appalachian Tea - Ilex glabra
Thimbleberry - Rubus occidentalis
Thimbleweed - Rudbeckia laciniata
Thousand-leaf - Achillea millefolium
Thousand-seal - Achillea millefolium
Tassel Weed - Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Thistle - (Several genera)
Annual Sow Thistle - Sonchus oleraceus
California Thistle - Cirsium arvense
Canada Thistle - Cirsium arvense
Corn Thistle - Cirsium arvense
Corn Sow Thistle - Sonchus arvensis
Creeping Thistle - Cirsium arvense
Cursed Thistle - Cirsium arvense
Field Sow Thistle - Sonchus arvensis
Green Thistle - Cirsium arvense
Hard Thistle - Cirsium arvense
Hare's Thistle - Sonchus oleraceus
Milk Thistle - Sonchus oleraceus
Nodding Thistle - Carduus nutans L.
Perennial Thistle - Cirsium arvense
Prickly Thistle - Cirsium arvense
Sharp-fringed Sow Thistle - Sonchus asper
Small-flowered Thistle - Cirsium arvense
Spiny Sow Thistle - Sonchus asper
Spiny-leaved Sow Thistle - Sonchus asper
Swine Thistle - Sonchus arvensis
Tree Sow Thistle - Sonchus arvensis
Way Thistle - Cirsium arvense
Tickleweed - Veratrum viride
Toothwort - Cardamine concatenata
Cutleaf Toothwort - Cardamine concatenata
Purple-flowered Toothwort - Cardamine concatenata
Touch-me-not - Cardamine hirsuta
Traveller's Joy - Clematis virginiana
Tread-softly - Solanum carolinense
Tree Tobacco - Nicotiana glauca
Tuber-root - Asclepias tuberosa
V
Viburnum - Viburnum
Blackhaw Viburnum - Viburnum prunifolium
Leatherleaf Viburnum - Viburnum rhytidophyllum
Violet - (several genera)
Damask Violet - Hesperis matronalis
Dame's Violet - Hesperis matronalis
Violet Bloom - Solanum dulcamara
Virgin's Bower - Clematis virginiana
Virginia Virgin's Bower - Clematis virginiana
W
Waybread - Plantago major
White Man's Foot - Plantago major
White-root - Asclepias tuberosa
Wild Cotton - Apocynum cannabinum, Asclepias syriaca
Wild Hops - Clematis virginiana
Willow - Salix
Coyote Willow - Salix exigua
Goodding Willow - Salix gooddingii
Red Willow - Cornus amomum
Rose Willow - Cornus amomum
Windroot - Asclepias tuberosa
Wineberry - Rubus phoenicolasius
Winterberry - Ilex verticillata
American Winterberry - Ilex verticillata
Evergreen Winterberry - Ilex glabra
Virginia Winterberry - Ilex verticillata
Wintercress - Barbarea vulgaris
Early Wintercress - Barbarea verna
Woodbine - Clematis virginiana
Wormwood
Roman Wormwood - Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Corydalis sempervirens
Wound Rocket - Barbarea vulgaris
Y
Yarrow - Achillea
Common Yarrow - Achillea millefolium
Fernleaf Yarrow - Achillea filipendulina
Sneezewort Yarrow - Achillea ptarmica
Yellow Fieldcress - Rorippa sylvestris
Yellowwood - Cladrastis lutea, Maclura pomifera
Z
Sources and references
Johnny's Plant Profiles
Common name