What Are the Common Scientific Names for Flowers?

Gardening is a relaxing hobby that many individuals enjoy. However, how many of those people know the scientific names of the flowers they are cultivating? With a little dictionary research you can easily find the scientific name for many of the common flowers.

The scientific name is typically expressed in Latin. Flower Expert provides the scientific names for many different types of flowers. Some of the names that they list on their site are as follows.

The difference between these two groups is that Group A format is to list the common name first, followed by the scientific name. In Group B the order is reversed, with the scientific name listed first, followed by the common name.

Group A

• Knotweed: Polygonum spp.
• Lady's mantle: Alchemilla mollis
• Lamb's-ears: Stachys byzantina
• Larkspur: Delphinium spp.
• Lavender: Lavandula angustifolis
• Lenten rose: Helleborus orientalis
• Leopard plant: Ligularia tussilaginea
• Leopard's bane: Doronicum spp.
• Ligularia: Ligularia stenocephala
• Peruvian lily:  Alstroemeria hybrids
• Loosestrife: Lysimachia clethroides
• Purple loosestrife:, Lythrum salicaria
• Lungwort: Pulmonaria saccharata
• Southern lupine: Thermopsis caroliniana
• Maltese cross: Lychnis chalcedonica
• Marsh marigold: Caltha palustris
• Meadow rue: Thalictrum aquilegifolium
• Meadowsweet: Filipendula palmata
• Mealy-cup sage: Salvia farinacea
• Monkshood: Aconitum spp.
• Obedient plant: Physostegia virginiana
• African Marigold/American Marigold: Tagetes erecta
• Annual China Pink/Sweet William: Dianthus chinensis / Dianthus barbatus
• Milkweed: Asclepias curassavica
• Black-Eyed Susan: Rudbeckia hirta
• African-lily: Agapanthus cultivars
• Hardy ageratum: Eupatorium coelestinum
• Alkanet: Anchusa azurea
• Japanese anemone: Anemone x hybrida
• Artemisia: Artemisia absinthium
• Aster: Aster spp.
• Stokes' aster: Stokesia laevis
• Astilbe: Astilbe x arendsii
• Avens: Geum spp.
• Baby's breath: Gypsophila paniculata
• Balloon flower: Platycodon grandiflorus
• Basket-of-gold: Aurinia saxatilis
• Bear's breeches: Acanthus spinosus
• Bearded tongue: Penstemon spp.
• Bee-balm: Monarda didyma
• Hardy begonia: Begonia grandis
• Bellflower: Campanula spp.
• Bergenia: Bergenia cordifolia
• Black-eyed Susan: Rudbeckia fulgida
• Blackberry lily: Belamcanda chinensis
• Blanket flower: Gaillardia x grandiflora
• Bleeding heart: Dicentra spectabilis
• Fringed bleeding heart:  Dicentra eximia
• Blue poppy: Meconopsis betonicifolia
• Blue star flower: Amsonia tabernaemontana
• Blue wild indigo: Baptisia australis
• Bluebeard: Caryopteris spp.
• Butterfly weed: Asclepias tuberosa
• Calla lily: Zantedeschia spp.
• Candytuft: Iberis sempervirens
• Canna lily: Canna x generalis
• Cardinal flower: Lobelia cardinalis
• Catmint: Nepeta spp.
• Chrysanthemum: Chrysanthemum morifolium
• Cinquefoil: Potentilla x hybrida
• Columbine: Aquilegia canadensis
• Purple coneflower: Echinacea purpurea
• Coral bells: Heuchera sanguinea
• Lanceleaf coreopsis: Coreopsis lanceolata
• Threadleaf coreopsis: Coreopsis verticillata
• Cranesbill geranium: Geranium sanguineum
• Crocosmia: Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora
• Daisy fleabane: Erigeron spp.
• Shasta daisy: Chrysanthemum x superbum
• Daylily: Hemerocallis spp., H. hybrids
• Spotted dead nettle: Lamium maculatum
• Delphinium: Delphinium cultivars
• English daisy: Bellis perennis
• Everlasting pea: Lathrus latifolius
• Geranium: Pelargonium x hortorum

Group B

• Pelargonium peltatum: Ivy geranium
• Pennisetum setaceum: Crimson fountain grass/Annual fountain grass
• Pentas lanceolata, Pentas: Star cluster
• Petunia x hybrida: Petunia
• Plectranthus fosteri 'Marginatus': Spur flower
• Plectranthus argentatus: Silver plectranthus
• Portulaca grandiflora, Portulaca: Moss rose
• Ricinus communis: Castor bean
• Rudbeckia hirta: Gloriosa daisy
• Ruellia elegans: Red ruellia
• Russelia equisentiformis: Coral plant, Fountain plant
• Salpiglossis sinuata: Painted tongue
• Salvia coccinea: Texas sage, Bloody sage
• Salvia farinacea: Mealy-cup sage
• Salvia splendens, Salvia: Scarlet sage
• Salvia argentea: Silver sage
• Scabiosa atropurpurea, Scabiosa: Pincushion flower
• Scaevola aemula: Fan flower
• Schizanthus pinnatus: Butterfly flower
• Senecio cineraria: Dusty miller
• Solenostemon pumilus, Coleus pumilus: Trailing coleus
• Strobilanthes dyerianus: Persian shield
• Sutera corda: Bacopa
• Tagetes erecta, T. patula: Marigold
• Tagetes temurfolia: Signet marigold
• Tagetes erecta: American marigold; African marigold; Aztec marigold
• Tagetes patula: French marigold
• Tithonia rotundifolia: Mexican sunflower
• Torenia fournieri: Wishbone flower
• Tropaeolum majus: Nasturtium
• Verbena x hybrida: Verbena
• Viola cornuta, V. tricolor: Viola; Johnny-jump-up
• Viola x wittrockiana: Pansy
• Zea mays var. japonica: Ornamental corn
• Zinna angustifolia: Creeping zinnia

Clearly, there are hundreds, if not thousands of different flowers. If you are interested in the scientific name of a specific one, you can research that flower using the flower's definition here on YourDictionary.com.