As a horticulturist with over two decades in nurseries and gardens, I've navigated countless mix-ups caused by French common names for plants. These regional and vernacular terms often mislead, even experts. Botanical Latin names provide clarity, but everyday French labels create traps. Below is a curated list of frequent confusions to sharpen your plant identification skills.
Common French Names
Botanical Names (Latin)
Acacia (Robinia pseudo-acacia) | Acacia of Constantinople (Albizzia) | Mimosa (Acacia) | Sensitive (Mimosa)
The tree everyone calls Acacia—with its donut-scented flowers—is truly a Robinia. Albizzia shares compound leaves but blooms differently. True Mimosa (Acacia) lights up southern France in late winter, while the touch-sensitive plant is Mimosa pudica.
These overlaps highlight why Latin precision matters in horticulture.
Common French Names
Botanical Names (Latin)
Holly (Ilex) | False holly, small holly (Fragon) (Ruscus aculeatus)
Both produce red winter berries, fueling the confusion between Ilex and Ruscus.
Laurel names spark endless debates. Here's the breakdown:
Common French Names
Botanical Names (Latin)
Oleander (Nerium) | Laurel tin (not Thyme!) (Viburnum tinus) | Laurel sauce (noble) (Laurus nobilis) | Alexandrian Laurel (Danae racemosa or Ruscus aculeatus) | Portuguese laurel (Prunus lusitanica) | Cherry laurel (almond or palm) (Prunus laurocerasus) | California Laurel (Umbellularia)
Only Viburnum tinus earns 'Laurel tin' among viburnums. Prunus species dominate: lusitanica from ancient Portugal, laurocerasus named for cherry-like fruits, almond-hued leaves, or palm-shaped foliage. Noble laurel (Laurus nobilis) flavors sauces.
Common French Names
Botanical Names (Latin)
Orange tree (Citrus sinensis) | Trifoliate Orange (Poncirus) | Osage Orange (Maclura pomifera) | Mexican orange tree (Choisya)
Poncirus roots true citrus; Osage bears orange-like fruits; Choisya evokes orange blossom scent.
Common French Names
Botanical Names (Latin)
Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) | Hornbeam (Ostrya)
Ostrya's leaves and wood mimic common hornbeam; hop-like fruits inspired its nickname—but skip it for brewing!
Common French Names
Botanical Names (Latin)
Quince (Cydonia) | Japanese Quince (Chaenomeles)
Use Cydonia for jelly; Chaenomeles fruits are inedible.
Common French Names
Botanical Names (Latin)
Cypress green, blue (Cupressus) | False cypress (dwarf) (Chamaecyparis) | Bald Cypress (Taxodium) | Leyland Cypress (Cupressocyparis)
Taxodium sheds needles, earning 'bald' status.
Common French Names
Botanical Names (Latin)
Hybrid broom (Cytisus) | Laburnum (Laburnum) | Genet Lydia (Genista lydia) | Spanish broom (Genista hispanica) | Spanish broom (Spartium junceum)
Cytisus is hybrid genet; Laburnum stands alone. Two 'Spanish brooms' differ: thorny Genista hispanica vs. Spartium.
Herbaceous Veronica is Veronica; shrubby is Hebe. True jasmine is Jasminum; star jasmine Trachelospermum. Lilac is Syringa (not mock orange Philadelphus). Indian/summer lilac: Lagerstroemia or blue-flowered Melia.
Common French Names
Botanical Names (Latin)
Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) | Sycamore Maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) | Plane (Platanus acerifolia) | Common Beech (Fagus) | Antarctic Beech (Nothofagus) | Common Yew (Taxus) | Plum Yew (Cephalotaxus) | White Mulberry (Morus alba) | Paper mulberry (Broussonetia) | Osage Mulberry (Orange) (Maclura) | Common (German) Medlar (Mespilus germanica) | Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) | Walnut (Juglans) | American Walnut (Carya) | European Olive (Olea europaea) | Bohemian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) | Elm (Ulmus) | Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila) | Siberian False Elm (Zelkova carpinifolia)
Plane means 'maple-leaved'; sycamore maple is 'false plane'. Biblical sycamore? A pig-worthy fig tree, not the edible kind.
Firs are typically Abies; spruces Picea. Exceptions abound:
Common French Names
Botanical Names (Latin)
Blue Fir (Picea pungens) | Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga) | Arizona Fir (Picea engelmannii) | Siberian Fir (Picea omorika) | Himalayan Fir (Abies spectabilis) | Himalayan pine (Pinus griffithii or P. wallichiana) | Umbrella pine (Pinus pinea) | Umbrella fir (Sciadopitys verticillata) | Christmas tree (Picea excelsa) | Christmas tree (Nordmann) (Abies nordmanniana)
Any evergreen conifer suits Christmas traditions.
Bruyère covers Erica, Calluna, Daboecia. Rhododendrons and azaleas are all Rhododendron.
Daisy: Leucanthemum or Chrysanthemum. Painter's despair: Saxifraga spp. or Heuchera. Snow-in-summer: Arabis alpina, Cerastium tomentosum, or Iberis sempervirens. Golden carpet: Alyssum saxatile or Sedum acre. Carnations vary wildly: Dianthus (œillet), Tagetes (Indian), Lychnis (Jupiter), plus Gypsophila, Armeria, etc.
French plant names invite interpretation—burning bush could be Pyracantha or Chaenomeles. Early in my nursery career at 18, '50 ATROs' meant Berberis atropurpurea, not Thuja—atropurpurea! Diminutives complicate further. Always clarify with reformulation or Latin. Bees, wisely, buzz by beauty alone.
Deepen your French-Latin plant knowledge with this recommended book.
