Scientific Plant Name Generator
Botanical Latin binomials, real and invented
Generate scientific plant names in proper botanical Latin: hundreds of real binomials for trees, herbs, flowers, crops, ferns and cacti, plus invented genus-and-species names built from genuine Latin and Greek roots for fictional flora in novels, games and worldbuilding.
About scientific plant names
Botanical names follow the binomial system Linnaeus laid out in Species Plantarum in 1753: a capitalised genus followed by a lowercase specific epithet, both in italics, as in Quercus robur (English oak) or Digitalis purpurea (foxglove). The epithet is a Latin adjective or noun that must agree in gender with the genus, which is why you see Salvia officinalis but Rosmarinus officinalis and Taraxacum officinale. Tree genera ending in -us are treated as feminine, so it is Pinus sylvestris and Fagus sylvatica, a detail that instantly separates a plausible invented name from a careless one.
Epithets usually describe something real about the plant. Colour (alba, nigra, purpurea, caerulea), habitat (palustris, sylvatica, montana, maritima, arvensis), form (cordifolia, lanceolata, spinosa, repens, pendula), season (vernalis, autumnale), use (officinalis, sativa, edulis, tinctorium) and origin (canadensis, japonica, sinensis) account for most of them, with a smaller set honouring people (davidii, menziesii, arnoldii) or places (-ensis). Unlike zoology, botany forbids tautonyms, so Bison bison has no plant equivalent.
The list mixes roughly 350 accepted names of real species, from oaks and conifers to herbs, crops, bulbs, wildflowers, ferns and cacti, with around 140 invented names that keep the grammar and vocabulary intact for fictional plants.
How to choose scientific plant names
- Capitalise the genus, keep the epithet lowercase and italicise both: Digitalis purpurea, never Digitalis Purpurea. After the first mention the genus can be abbreviated (D. purpurea).
- When inventing a name, match gender endings: feminine genera take -a epithets (Noctiflora lunaris, Aurelia stellata), neuter -um genera take -um (Hesperidium aureum), and masculine -us genera take -us (Ignicaulis erectus), remembering that trees in -us are feminine.
- Pick an epithet that describes habitat, colour, shape or season; real botanists almost never name a plant after what it does in a story, so Viola glacialis reads as genuine while Viola healingpotion does not.
- Use -ensis for a place (Brennania hebridensis), -ii for a man and -iae for a woman to honour a character or discoverer, and -icola for a dweller (rupicola, arenicola).
- Check the real names in a database such as Plants of the World Online before citing them in schoolwork; nomenclature changes, and Rosmarinus officinalis is now also accepted as Salvia rosmarinus.
Frequently asked questions
How are scientific plant names written?
As a two-part Latin binomial: the genus, capitalised, followed by the specific epithet, lowercase, with both words italicised in print or underlined by hand, for example Taraxacum officinale. A cultivar name, if any, follows in single quotes and roman type.
Are the names in this generator real plants?
Most are. Roughly 350 are accepted binomials for real trees, shrubs, herbs, crops, wildflowers, ferns, mosses and cacti. The rest, such as Noctiflora lunaris and Viola glacialis, are invented for fiction and worldbuilding, but each name uses genuine Latin or Greek roots with correct gender agreement. The two kinds sit side by side in the list, so look a name up in Plants of the World Online to see which it is.
Why do so many plant names end in officinalis?
Officinalis means 'of the officina', the storeroom of a monastery or apothecary, and was given to plants sold as medicines or herbs. Salvia officinalis (sage), Calendula officinalis (marigold) and Melissa officinalis (lemon balm) all carry it, making it a quick way to flag a useful herb in a fictional setting too.
Can I use an invented botanical name for a plant in my novel or game?
Yes. The invented names here are free to use, though they have not been checked against botanical databases, so one may coincide with a real plant. If you invent your own, keep the epithet descriptive, respect gender agreement and avoid reusing a real genus for something that looks nothing like its relatives, or botany-minded readers will notice.
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All 500 scientific plant names
A: 51 names
- Abies alba
- Acer igneum
- Acer palmatum
- Acer pseudoplatanus
- Acer rubrum
- Acer saccharum
- Achillea millefolium
- Aconitum napellus
- Adansonia digitata
- Aesculus hippocastanum
- Aestivalia rubella
- Aethera sempervirens
- Agave americana
- Alcea rosea
- Allium cepa
- Allium sativum
- Allium ursinum
- Alnus glutinosa
- Aloe arborescens
- Aloe vera
- Amaranthus caudatus
- Amaryllis belladonna
- Ambrosella suaveolens
- Amorphophallus titanum
- Anacardium occidentale
A, continued
- Ananas comosus
- Anemone coronaria
- Anemone nemorosa
- Anethum graveolens
- Angelica archangelica
- Antirrhinum majus
- Apicularia mellifera
- Apium graveolens
- Aquilegia vulgaris
- Arabidopsis thaliana
- Arachis hypogaea
- Araucaria araucana
- Arctium lappa
- Ardenia venenata
- Argentilunaria purpurascens
- Artemisia absinthium
- Arundo donax
- Asparagus officinalis
- Asplenium scolopendrium
- Atropa belladonna
- Aurantia serrata
- Aurelia stellata
- Aureopetalum nutans
- Auroralia flava
- Aurumdendron majus
- Avena sativa
B: 16 names
- Balsamina resinosa
- Bellis perennis
- Beta vulgaris
- Betula argentina
- Betula papyrifera
- Betula pendula
- Borago officinalis
- Bougainvillea glabra
- Bractearia auricoma
- Brassica napus
- Brassica oleracea
- Brennania hebridensis
- Brightwateria maculata
- Brumalia fragilis
- Buddleja davidii
- Buxus sempervirens
C: 68 names
- Caeruleanthus spinosus
- Caeruleum fontanum
- Calendula officinalis
- Calluna vulgaris
- Caltha palustris
- Camellia sinensis
- Campanula rotundifolia
- Candelaria nemoralis
- Cannabis indica
- Cannabis sativa
- Capsella bursa-pastoris
- Capsicum annuum
- Carbonella fuliginosa
- Carex pendula
- Carica papaya
- Carnegiea gigantea
- Carpinus betulus
- Carya ovata
- Castanea sativa
- Castellana veranii
- Cedrus deodara
- Cedrus libani
- Centaurea cyanus
- Cercis canadensis
- Cervicaulis bifida
- Chelidonium majus
- Chenopodium quinoa
- Chrysanthella ciliata
- Chrysanthemum indicum
- Cicer arietinum
- Cichorium intybus
- Cinchona officinalis
- Cinerascens hiemalis
- Cinnabarina pendens
C, continued
- Cinnamomum verum
- Cirsium vulgare
- Citrullus lanatus
- Citrus limon
- Citrus sinensis
- Cocos nucifera
- Coffea arabica
- Colchicum autumnale
- Conium maculatum
- Convallaria majalis
- Coriandrum sativum
- Cornus florida
- Cornus mas
- Cortaderia selloana
- Corvidendron atrum
- Corylus avellana
- Cosmos bipinnatus
- Crassula ovata
- Crataegus monogyna
- Crepusculina rosea
- Crocus sativus
- Cryptomeria japonica
- Cucumis sativus
- Cucurbita pepo
- Cuminum cyminum
- Cupressus sempervirens
- Cuprifolia serotina
- Cyanella pratensis
- Cyanodendron arboreum
- Cycas revoluta
- Cyclamen hederifolium
- Cynara scolymus
- Cyperus papyrus
- Cypripedium calceolus
D: 14 names
- Dahlia pinnata
- Datura stramonium
- Daucus carota
- Delphinium elatum
- Dianthus barbatus
- Dianthus caryophyllus
- Dicentra spectabilis
- Digitalis purpurea
- Dionaea muscipula
- Dracaena draco
- Draconia volubilis
- Drosera rotundifolia
- Dryopteris filix-mas
- Dubrovnia adriatica
E: 10 names
- Echinacea purpurea
- Echinella tuberosa
- Echinocactus grusonii
- Elaeis guineensis
- Encephalartos woodii
- Epipremnum aureum
- Equisetum arvense
- Eschscholzia californica
- Eucalyptus globulus
- Euphorbia pulcherrima
F: 16 names
- Fagus grandifolia
- Fagus sylvatica
- Fallopia japonica
- Fennimora palustris
- Ferrumnia saxatilis
- Ficus benjamina
- Ficus carica
- Foeniculum vulgare
- Fontinella rorifera
- Forsythia suspensa
- Fragaria ananassa
- Fragaria nivea
- Fragaria vesca
- Fraxinus excelsior
- Fritillaria meleagris
- Fuchsia magellanica
G: 12 names
- Galanthella praecox
- Galanthus nivalis
- Galium aparine
- Gardenia jasminoides
- Gentiana lutea
- Geranium robertianum
- Ginkgo biloba
- Glaciaria pumila
- Glacidium frigidum
- Gleditsia triacanthos
- Glycine max
- Gossypium hirsutum
H: 22 names
- Hamamelis virginiana
- Harenaria procumbens
- Harlowia grandiflora
- Hedera helix
- Hederina velox
- Helianthus annuus
- Helleborus niger
- Hemerocallis fulva
- Heracleum mantegazzianum
- Hesperidium aureum
- Hevea brasiliensis
- Hiberna gelida
- Hibernanthus niveus
- Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
- Hibiscus syriacus
- Hippeastrum vittatum
- Hordeum vulgare
- Humulus lupulus
- Hyacinthoides non-scripta
- Hyacinthus orientalis
- Hydrangea macrophylla
- Hypericum perforatum
I: 11 names
- Ignicaulis erectus
- Ignifolia montana
- Ignisorbus coccineus
- Ignispina rubra
- Ilex aquifolium
- Impatiens glandulifera
- Ipomoea batatas
- Iris germanica
- Iris pseudacorus
- Iris tenebrosa
- Ishikawaea japonica
J: 4 names
- Jasminum officinale
- Juglans nigra
- Juglans regia
- Juniperus communis
L: 26 names
- Lacrimaria fragrans
- Lactuca sativa
- Lacunaria palustris
- Lamium album
- Lampyridia spectabilis
- Larix decidua
- Laurus nobilis
- Lavandula angustifolia
- Lavandula borealis
- Lilium candidum
- Lilium cinereum
- Lilium martagon
- Lilium regale
- Lindqvistia borealis
- Linum usitatissimum
- Liquidambar styraciflua
- Liriodendron tulipifera
- Litchi chinensis
- Lithops aucampiae
- Lobelia cardinalis
- Lolium perenne
- Lonicera periclymenum
- Lophophora williamsii
- Luciflora minima
- Lunidium sativum
- Lupinus polyphyllus
M: 26 names
- Magnolia grandiflora
- Malus aurora
- Malus domestica
- Mandragora officinarum
- Mangifera indica
- Manihot esculenta
- Marchantia polymorpha
- Matricaria chamomilla
- Medicago sativa
- Melaleuca alternifolia
- Melanocarpa lucida
- Melissa officinalis
- Mellicaulis odorata
- Mentha piperita
- Metasequoia glyptostroboides
- Mimosa pudica
- Miraculosa rediviva
- Monarda didyma
- Monstera deliciosa
- Moreaua insularis
- Morus alba
- Murmurina tremula
- Musa acuminata
- Muscari armeniacum
- Myrtella glauca
- Myrtus communis
N: 18 names
- Narcissus poeticus
- Narcissus pseudonarcissus
- Nasturtium officinale
- Nebularia dependens
- Nelumbo nucifera
- Nepenthes rajah
- Nepeta cataria
- Nerium oleander
- Nicotiana tabacum
- Nigella damascena
- Nimbocaulis hirsutus
- Nivaria reptans
- Nivicaulis glacialis
- Nivicordium album
- Noctiflora lunaris
- Nubifolia elata
- Nymphaea alba
- Nymphaeola lacustris
O: 19 names
- Obsidiana nitida
- Ocimum basilicum
- Oculiflora velutina
- Oenothera biennis
- Okafora congoensis
- Okonkwoa regalis
- Olea europaea
- Onopordum acanthium
- Ophiocaulis repens
- Ophrys apifera
- Opuntia ficus-indica
- Orchis mascula
- Oreodendron alpinum
- Oreophila alpina
- Origanum vulgare
- Oryza sativa
- Osmunda regalis
- Ossicula vitrea
- Oxalis acetosella
P: 49 names
- Paeonia lactiflora
- Paeonia officinalis
- Pallidora crepuscularis
- Papaver lunatum
- Papaver orientale
- Papaver rhoeas
- Papaver somniferum
- Passiflora incarnata
- Pelargonium zonale
- Persea americana
- Petrophila crassifolia
- Petroselinum crispum
- Petrovia caucasica
- Petunia hybrida
- Phalaenopsis amabilis
- Phaseolus vulgaris
- Phoenix dactylifera
- Phyllostachys edulis
- Picea abies
- Picea sitchensis
- Pinus longaeva
- Pinus nigra
- Pinus ponderosa
- Pinus sibilans
P, continued
- Pinus strobus
- Pinus sylvestris
- Pistacia vera
- Pisum sativum
- Plantago major
- Platanus occidentalis
- Plumeria rubra
- Pluvialis cordifolia
- Poa pratensis
- Populus tremula
- Populus tremuloides
- Primula veris
- Primula vulgaris
- Pruinosa hyemalis
- Prunus avium
- Prunus dulcis
- Prunus persica
- Prunus sanguinolenta
- Pseudotsuga menziesii
- Psidium guajava
- Pteridium aquilinum
- Pulsatilla vulgaris
- Punica granatum
- Pyrocarpa autumnalis
- Pyrus communis
Q: 8 names
- Querciflora parvula
- Quercus alba
- Quercus ilex
- Quercus robur
- Quercus rubra
- Quercus suber
- Quercus umbratilis
- Quintanilla mexicana
R: 23 names
- Rafflesia arnoldii
- Ramosella coralloides
- Ranunculus acris
- Raphanus sativus
- Ravenscroftia nigra
- Rheum rhabarbarum
- Rhododendron ferrugineum
- Rhododendron ponticum
- Ribes nigrum
- Ricinus communis
- Robinia pseudoacacia
- Rorida matutina
- Rosa canina
- Rosa damascena
- Rosa noctiluca
- Rosa rugosa
- Rosmaria ignea
- Rosmarinus officinalis
- Rubrocarpa littoralis
- Rubus fruticosus
- Rubus idaeus
- Rudbeckia hirta
- Rumex acetosa
S: 44 names
- Saccharum officinarum
- Salix alba
- Salix babylonica
- Salix lacrimans
- Salsidendron maritimum
- Salveolum montanum
- Salvia divinorum
- Salvia officinalis
- Salvia rosmarinus
- Sambucus nigra
- Sanguinella hirsuta
- Sansevieria trifasciata
- Sarracenia purpurea
- Saxidium rupestre
- Sciophila arborea
- Scopulina arenicola
- Secale cereale
- Sedum acre
- Selenanthus radiatus
- Sempervivum tectorum
- Sequoia sempervirens
- Sequoiadendron giganteum
S, continued
- Serotina vesperina
- Silene dioica
- Solanum lycopersicum
- Solanum melongena
- Solanum tuberosum
- Solcaulis gigantea
- Solidago virgaurea
- Somnifera caerulea
- Somniflora obscura
- Sorbus aucuparia
- Sorensenia arctica
- Spinacia oleracea
- Spinoptera cristata
- Spinosella cyanea
- Spiraventa argentea
- Stellanthus vernalis
- Stellaria media
- Strigiflora pallida
- Sylvanella florida
- Symphytum officinale
- Syringa vulgaris
- Syzygium aromaticum
T: 26 names
- Tagetes erecta
- Tamarindus indica
- Tanacetum vulgare
- Taraxacum officinale
- Taxodium distichum
- Taxus baccata
- Tenebrosia foetida
- Tessellata quadrangula
- Thalassocaulis maritimus
- Theobroma cacao
- Thornbergia alata
- Thuja occidentalis
- Thymus vulgaris
- Tilia americana
- Tilia cordata
- Tintinnabula pendula
- Toxicodendron radicans
- Tremulanthus pendulus
- Trifolium pratense
- Trifolium repens
- Trillium grandiflorum
- Tristanthus umbrosus
- Triticum aestivum
- Tropaeolum majus
- Tulipa gesneriana
- Typha latifolia
U: 5 names
- Ulmus glabra
- Umbellaria gigas
- Umbraflora nocturna
- Umbravirens palustris
- Urtica dioica
V: 23 names
- Vaccinium macrocarpon
- Vaccinium myrtillus
- Valeriana officinalis
- Vanilla planifolia
- Vasquezia andina
- Veliflora rupicola
- Veneranthus officinalis
- Ventisilva glabra
- Verbascum thapsus
- Vespera candida
- Vespertilia alba
- Viburnum opulus
- Vicia faba
- Victoria amazonica
- Vinca minor
- Viola glacialis
- Viola odorata
- Viola tricolor
- Viridomela crispa
- Viscum album
- Vitis vinifera
- Vortica spiralis
- Vulpinella aurea
W: 3 names
- Welwitschia mirabilis
- Wisteria sinensis
- Wollemia nobilis
Y: 2 names
- Yucca brevifolia
- Yucca filamentosa