My Plant Only Has a Latin Name — Now What?
How to read it, and use it to actually find care info.
A tag with only "Philodendron hederaceum" instead of a friendly common name can feel like a dead end — but the Latin name is actually the more useful piece of information for finding accurate care instructions, once you know what to do with it.
Decoding the Name
The broader plant family group — e.g. 'Monstera'. Plants in the same genus usually share similar care needs.
The specific plant within that genus — e.g. 'deliciosa'. Together, 'Monstera deliciosa' identifies one exact plant.
Type the two words exactly as written into a search engine or plant database — it's more reliable than any common name, which varies by region.
There's no single correct pronunciation of botanical Latin — focus on the spelling for searching, not saying it out loud correctly.
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Browse the Plant Catalog →FAQs
What do the two Latin words on a plant tag mean?
The first word is the genus (the broader plant group, capitalized) and the second is the species (specific to that plant, lowercase) — together called a 'binomial name'. E.g. Monstera deliciosa: Monstera is the genus, deliciosa the species.
How do I pronounce a Latin plant name?
There's no single 'correct' pronunciation — botanical Latin is pronounced differently across countries and even among experts. Don't worry about getting it perfect; what matters for finding care info is the spelling, not the sound.
How do I search for care info using just a Latin name?
Type the genus and species exactly as written (ignore capitalization/spacing issues) into a search engine or our plant catalog — the scientific name is actually more reliable for searching than a common name, since common names vary by region and often overlap between unrelated plants.
Why do nurseries sometimes only give the Latin name?
Common names are inconsistent — the same plant can have several different common names, and different plants sometimes share one common name. The Latin name is the one unambiguous identifier across the entire plant trade.
What if I can't find my exact variety, only the genus?
Search the genus name alone (e.g. just 'Calathea') for general care guidance — most care needs (light, water, humidity) are similar across species within the same genus, even if the specific variety isn't individually documented.
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