Houseplant Common Names: 30 Plants and Why They Have So Many Names
Compare common and botanical names for familiar houseplants and learn why regional usage, reclassification, history, and marketing create confusion.
Plant naming is a mess. The same plant can have five different common names depending on where you buy it, what country you are in, or which decade the plant guide you are reading was published. A Snake Plant might be labeled "Sansevieria," "Mother-in-Law's Tongue," "Viper's Bowstring Hemp," or "Saint George's Sword" — and they are all the same plant.
This is not a minor inconvenience. Common name confusion causes real problems: you might buy a plant expecting one thing and get another, follow the wrong care guide for your species, or fail to identify a toxic plant that could harm your pets.
Here is a reference table of 30 common houseplants, their botanical names, their most common alternative names, and why the confusion exists in the first place.
The 30 Most Confusing Houseplant Names
Foliage Plants
| Common name | Botanical name | Also known as | Why confusing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snake Plant | Dracaena trifasciata (formerly Sansevieria trifasciata) | Mother-in-Law's Tongue, Viper's Bowstring Hemp, Saint George's Sword | Reclassified from Sansevieria to Dracaena in 2017; old name still everywhere |
| ZZ Plant | Zamioculcas zamiifolia | Zanzibar Gem, Aroid Palm, Eternity Plant | "ZZ" is just an abbreviation of the genus name |
| Pothos | Epipremnum aureum | Golden Pothos, Devil's Ivy, Ceylon Creeper, Money Plant, Tarovine | "Pothos" is a different genus entirely (Pothos sensu stricto); the houseplant called Pothos is actually Epipremnum |
| Heartleaf Philodendron | Philodendron hederaceum | Philodendron scandens, Sweetheart Plant, Philodendron cordatum | The scientific name has been revised multiple times |
| Monstera Deliciosa | Monstera deliciosa | Swiss Cheese Plant, Split-Leaf Philodendron, Mexican Breadfruit | "Split-Leaf Philodendron" is wrong — it is not a Philodendron |
| Peace Lily | Spathiphyllum wallisii | White Sails, Spathe Flower, Cobra Plant | "Lily" is misleading — it is not a true lily (not Lilium) |
| Chinese Evergreen | Aglaonema commutatum | Philippine Evergreen, Poison Dart Plant | Different Aglaonema species all sold as "Chinese Evergreen" |
| Cast Iron Plant | Aspidistra elatior | Bar-room Plant, Iron Plant | Named for its toughness, not its appearance |
| Rubber Plant | Ficus elastica | Rubber Tree, Indian Rubber Tree, Rubber Fig | Not related to the rubber tree that produces commercial rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) |
| Dragon Tree | Dracaena marginata | Madagascar Dragon Tree, Red-edged Dracaena | Multiple Dracaena species are called "Dragon Tree" |
| Dumb Cane | Dieffenbachia seguine | Leopard Lily, Mother-in-Law Plant (yes, a different plant also has this name) | Toxic sap causes temporary speech loss, hence "dumb" |
Ferns and Palms
| Common name | Botanical name | Also known as | Why confusing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Fern | Nephrolepis exaltata 'Bostoniensis' | Sword Fern, Fluffy Ruffles | "Boston" is a cultivar, not a species |
| Bird's-nest Fern | Asplenium nidus | Cradle Fern, Crow's-nest Fern | Named for the nest-like center of the rosette |
| Areca Palm | Dypsis lutescens | Butterfly Palm, Golden Cane Palm, Bamboo Palm | Formerly classified as Chrysalidocarpus lutescens |
| Parlor Palm | Chamaedorea elegans | Neanthe Bella Palm, Good Luck Palm | Victorian-era name from when it was popular in parlors |
Succulents
| Common name | Botanical name | Also known as | Why confusing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jade Plant | Crassula ovata | Money Tree, Lucky Plant, Friendship Tree | "Money Tree" is also used for Pachira aquatica — a completely different plant |
| Aloe Vera | Aloe barbadensis miller | True Aloe, Burn Plant, First Aid Plant | "Aloe vera" is both a common name and a former scientific name |
| Burro's Tail | Sedum morganianum | Donkey Tail, Lamb's Tail, Horse's Tail | Multiple common names for the same trailing succulent |
| Zebra Haworthia | Haworthia attenuata | Zebra Plant, Star Window Plant | "Zebra Plant" is also used for Calathea zebrina — a completely different plant |
| String of Pearls | Curio rowleyanus (formerly Senecio rowleyanus) | String of Beads, Rosary Plant, Bead Plant | Reclassified from Senecio to Curio in recent taxonomic revisions |
Flowering Plants
| Common name | Botanical name | Also known as | Why confusing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Cactus | Schlumbergera bridgesii | Holiday Cactus, Crab Cactus, Thanksgiving Cactus (wrong species) | Often confused with Schlumbergera truncata (Thanksgiving Cactus) |
| Peace Lily | Spathiphyllum wallisii | White Sails, Spathe Flower | Not a lily — belongs to Araceae |
| Red Anthurium | Anthurium andraeanum | Flamingo Flower, Tail Flower, Painter's Palette | "Anthurium" is the genus; "Flamingo Flower" is the common name |
| Hoya Carnosa | Hoya carnosa | Wax Plant, Wax Vine, Hindu Rope (a specific cultivar) | "Hindu Rope" refers only to the contorta variety, not the species |
| Phalaenopsis Orchid | Phalaenopsis amabilis | Moth Orchid, Butterfly Orchid | "Moth Orchid" is the most common common name |
| African Violet | Saintpaulia ionantha | Usambara Violet, Cape Violet | Not a violet (not Viola); named after the violet-like flowers |
Specialty Plants
| Common name | Botanical name | Also known as | Why confusing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Croton | Codiaeum variegatum | Joseph's Coat, Garden Croton | "Croton" is also the name of a completely different genus (Croton, the medical croton) |
| Coleus | Plectranthus scutellarioides (formerly Solenostemon) | Painted Nettle, Flame Nettle | Reclassified from Solenostemon to Plectranthus; old name still used commercially |
| Tradescantia Zebrina | Tradescantia zebrina (formerly Zebrina pendula) | Wandering Jew, Inch Plant, Silver Inch Plant | The common name "Wandering Jew" is increasingly being replaced by "Wandering Dude" or "Inch Plant" |
Why Are There So Many Names?
1. Taxonomic Reclassification
Plants get reclassified as scientists learn more about their genetics. Recent DNA analysis has led to major reclassifications:
- Sansevieria → Dracaena (2017): All Sansevieria species were moved into the Dracaena genus
- Solenostemon → Plectranthus (2012): Coleus was reclassified
- Senecio → Curio (2013): Some succulents like String of Pearls were moved
- Philodendron scandens → Philodendron hederaceum: Name corrected to the earliest valid publication
The nursery trade is slow to adopt new names, so old labels persist for decades.
2. Regional Variation
Common names vary by country, region, and language. "Money Plant" means Pothos in India, Crassula ovata in China, and Pilea peperomioides in some European countries. "Palm" is applied to plants that are not palms at all — Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea), Sago Palm (Cycas), and Parlor Palm (actual palm).
3. Marketing
Plant sellers invent names to make plants more appealing. "ZZ Plant" is a marketing-friendly abbreviation. "Eternity Plant" sounds better than the scientific name. Variegated cultivars get evocative names like "Snow Queen," "Marble Queen," and "Manjula" — all forms of the same species.
4. Historical Confusion
Some names date back centuries and were based on superficial resemblance. "Peace Lily" got its name because its white spathes look like surrender flags. "Dumb Cane" got its name because chewing the stem causes temporary loss of speech. These names persist even when they are misleading.
How to Navigate the Confusion
Use Botanical Names When It Matters
When buying plants, checking toxicity for pets, or searching for specific care information, use the botanical name. It is the only identifier that is unambiguous. See our pet-safe houseplants guide for why this matters — plants with similar common names can have very different toxicity profiles.
Check Multiple Sources
If a plant guide mentions a plant by common name only, cross-reference with the botanical name before following the care advice. A guide for "Snake Plant" that actually refers to a different Sansevieria species may give incorrect care instructions.
For Our Plant Database
Every plant in our plant database is listed by both common name and botanical name. We use the botanical name as the primary identifier and note common alternative names in the plant description.
Related Reading
For more on plant naming and identification, see our article on Tradescantia common names — a single genus with over a dozen common names — and our guide to leaf veins explained for understanding plant anatomy beyond just names.
Summary
The naming mess is not going away. Taxonomy continues to evolve, common names vary by region, and marketing names appear faster than anyone can track. The solution is simple: learn the botanical name for any plant you own or plan to buy. It is the one piece of information that will reliably connect you to the correct care guide, toxicity information, and growing advice.
