Houseplant names, decoded

African Violet

Saintpaulia

Also called: Saintpaulia · Usambara Violet

Aloe Vera

Aloe Barbadensis Miller

Also called: Medicinal Aloe · True Aloe · Burn Plant

Bird's Nest Fern

Asplenium Nidus

Also called: Asplenium · Crow's Nest Fern

Boston Fern

Nephrolepis Exaltata Bostoniensis

Also called: Sword Fern · Fishbone Fern

Calathea

Goeppertia Orbifolia

Also called: Prayer Plant · Goeppertia · Cathedral Windows

Cast Iron Plant

Aspidistra Elatior

Also called: Bar Room Plant · Iron Plant

Chinese Evergreen

Aglaonema

Also called: Aglaonema · Philippine Evergreen

English Ivy

Hedera Helix

Also called: Common Ivy · Hedera

Fiddle Leaf Fig

Ficus Lyrata

Also called: Fiddle-Leaf · Banjo Fig

Jade Plant

Crassula Ovata

Also called: Money Tree · Lucky Plant · Crassula

Lemon Lime Prayer Plant

Maranta Leuconeura

Also called: Maranta · Rabbit Tracks

Monstera

Monstera Deliciosa

Also called: Swiss Cheese Plant · Split-Leaf Philodendron

Orchid

Phalaenopsis Moth Orchid

Also called: Moth Orchid · Phal

Parlor Palm

Chamaedorea Elegans

Also called: Neanthe Bella Palm · Good Luck Palm

Peace Lily

Spathiphyllum

Also called: Spath · White Sails · Cobra Plant

Philodendron

Heartleaf Philodendron

Also called: Sweetheart Plant

Ponytail Palm

Beaucarnea Recurvata

Also called: Elephant's Foot · Bottle Palm

Pothos

Golden Pothos

Also called: Devil's Ivy · Epipremnum Aureum · Money Plant

Rubber Tree

Ficus Elastica

Also called: Rubber Plant · Indian Rubber Tree

Snake Plant

Sansevieria

Also called: Mother-in-Law's Tongue · Dracaena Trifasciata

Spider Plant

Chlorophytum Comosum

Also called: Airplane Plant · Ribbon Plant · Spider Ivy

Staghorn Fern

Platycerium Bifurcatum

Also called: Elkhorn Fern · Antler Fern

String of Pearls

Senecio Rowleyanus

Also called: String of Beads · Curio Rowleyanus

Succulents

Echeveria & Friends

Also called: Echeveria · Hens and Chicks · Stonecrop

Wax Plant

Hoya Carnosa

Also called: Hoya · Porcelain Flower · Hindu Rope Plant

ZZ Plant

Zamioculcas Zamiifolia

Also called: ZZ · Zanzibar Gem · Eternity Plant · Aroid Palm