Gardening Ideas 31 Funny Plant Names That Will Make You Laugh The garden can be a great source of humor. By Southern Living Editors Updated on January 25, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: KarenHBlack/Getty Images Southerners learn plant names early. From the trees—oak, pine, maple, dogwood—to the shrubs, ferns, and flowers in our region, each plant has a name, family, and specific sun and watering requirements. Spending time outdoors and in gardens teaches us what to call the plants we encounter, and we've run into a few—ok, maybe more than a few—with names that never fail to make us chuckle. These curious plants have names that make us want to learn more about the flowers, trees, and shrubs they describe. To learn more about these plants and others, check out The Southern Living Garden Book, our source for all things plant-related in the Southern states. And let us know the funniest plant names you've encountered lately. We're sure you've also found a few humorous plant names during your time in the garden. Without further ado—in alphabetical order—here are the plant names that will make you wonder and maybe even laugh a little too. 01 of 31 Balloon Flower Daisuke Oka/Getty Images Balloon flowers bloom in an intense blue-violet shade throughout the summer in two to three-inch star-shaped flowers. Other varieties include white and pink blooms, but these easy-to-grow flowers are best when planted after the danger of frost passes. While members of the bellflower family, these perennials do not resemble bells. They start as balloon-like buds. Botanical Name: Platycodon grandiflorusSun Exposure: Full, PartialSoil Type: Well-draining, Rich, LoamySoil pH: 5.5-7.5 02 of 31 Bear’s Breeches Neil Holmes/Getty Images These tall, eye-catching flowers have bold, spiny, glossy leaves that emerge in clumps. Bear's breeches are large perennials, often used as architectural plants. The flowers on this plant typically appear from late spring to early summer but are considered invasive in some regions because of how quickly they spread. Botanical Name: Acanthus mollisSun Exposure: Full, PartialSoil Type: Well-draining, MoistSoil pH: 5.6-7.8 03 of 31 Bugleweed Federica Grassi/Getty Images The Bugleweed is a quick-spreading ground cover with thick foliage and small, brightly colored flowers. This plant thrives in shady areas that typically have difficulty growing other species. Bugleweed produces blue, violet, or purple flowers in mid-to-late spring, reaching almost ten inches tall. Botanical Name: Ajuga reptansSun Exposure: Full, PartialSoil Type: Well-draining, MoistSoil pH: 6.5 04 of 31 Butcher’s Broom Valter Jacinto/Getty Images These leafless plants bear big, pointed shoots that give the appearance of leaves, plus tiny white flowers, sometimes followed by a red or yellow fruit. Butcher’s Broom is a relatively common landscape plant because of its unique colors. These plants thrive in woodlands, hedgerows, deep shade, and coastal cliffs. Botanical Name: Ruscus aculeatusSun Exposure: Full, Partial, ShadeSoil Type: Loamy, Clay, SandySoil pH: 5.6-7.8 05 of 31 Candytuft Vaivirga/Getty Images Technically a woody shrub, these deer-resistant flowers bloom in a rainbow of hues. The Candytuft has small oblong leaves in a leathery green that brightens gardens with flowers that appear in shades of white or pink blossoms. Start growing Candytuft in early fall in warm climates or the spring in colder areas. These plants reach maturity in about five to 10 years. Botanical Name: Iberis sempervirensSun Exposure: Full, PartialSoil Type: Well-drainedSoil pH: 5.6-7.8 06 of 31 Cupid’s Dart Troyka/Getty Images Cupid's Dart, belonging to the daisy family, appears with grass-like, greyish leaves and small cornflower-like blooms. These flowers, blooming from summer to fall, have petals with a prominent blue-purple hue that radiate from their royal purple centers. These flowers are relatively easy-to-grow, deer-resistant, and resistant to most pests. Botanical Name: Catananche caeruleaSun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Well-drained, Loose, Loamy, SandySoil pH: 5.8-6.8 07 of 31 Dame’s Rocket dieter1freier1/Getty Images Dame's Rocket is a biennial plant with purple blooms on branches that grow three feet tall and wide in the second year of growth. The leaves of Dame's Rocket alternate along the stem, while the flower is fragrant. In ideal growing conditions, this plant will spread rapidly and can become invasive. The showy blooms appear in mid-to-late spring. Botanical Name: Hesperis matronalisSun Exposure: Full, PartialSoil Type: Well-drained, SandySoil pH: 6.0-7.5 08 of 31 Dancing Girl Ginger Chayanan/Getty Images This plant is a perennial with showy, spidery, and delicate flowers that bloom in yellow, white, orange, or purple hues in the summer with broad, bright green leaves. Dancing Girl Ginger can grow two to three feet tall in containers or gardens. This plant adds a tropical flair to any garden, even when not in bloom. Botanical Name: Globba genusSun Exposure: Partial, Indirect, ShadeSoil Type: Well-drained, Rich, MoistSoil pH: 6.6-7.3 09 of 31 Drumsticks KarenHBlack/Getty Images Flowers shaped like small yellow globes and silvery foliage give this plant its Drumsticks moniker. Start growing Drumsticks six to eight weeks before the last frost, most commonly from seeds. This plant has a long vase life, making it ideal for crafts or cuttings. Botanical Name: Craspedia globosaSun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Well-drained, ClaySoil pH: 5.8-6.5 10 of 31 Firespikes liuyushan/Getty Images Firespikes are spiky blooms in bold colors attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. The combination of large green leaves topping the tall ruby-red-hued flowers create a visually appealing plant in any garden. However, these plants tend to be cold-tender, so plant them well after the last frost. Botanical Name: Odontonema strictumSun Exposure: Indirect, ShadeSoil Type: Well-drained, Moist, RichSoil pH: 6.5-7.0 11 of 31 Goat’s Beard Flowerphotos/Getty Images Goat’s Beard is a perennial with tiny cream-colored flowers covering fuzzy or feathery branches in the summer. These plants spread up to four feet wide and grow four to six feet tall. Goat’s Beard grows in woodlands and is an excellent garden border plant. Botanical Name: Aruncus dioicusSun Exposure: Full, PartialSoil Type: Moist, Rich, LoamySoil pH: 5.6-7.8 12 of 31 Hens and Chicks Elizabeth Fernandez/Getty Images Hens and Chicks is the moniker for this succulent with rosette-form leaves in shades of green, purple, and red. This plant thrives when planted in the spring but also grows from seeds in containers when started in the fall. Overall, Hens and Chicks has minimal maintenance requirements. Botanical Name: Sempervivum tectorumSun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Well-drained, SandySoil pH: 7.0 13 of 31 Jack-in-the-pulpit db_beyer/Getty Images Jack-in-the-pulpit has an arching, tubular flower striped or spotted with contrasting colors. This slow-growing perennial is relatively easy to grow. Find this species in deciduous woodlands and floodplains. Botanical Name: Arisaema triphyllumSun Exposure: Partial, ShadeSoil Type: Moist, RichSoil pH: 5.5-7.0 14 of 31 Leopard’s Bane skymoon13/Getty Images Similar in appearance to a daisy, this cheerful perennial blooms in the spring in bright gold with rounded, heart-shaped leaves with toothed edges. Leopard's Bane is easy-to-grow, and the flowers show for several weeks throughout the springtime. This plant goes dormant after blooming, so use this time to divide the clump if needed. Botanical Name: DoronicumSun Exposure: Partial, ShadeSoil Type: Well-drainedSoil pH: 6.0-6.5 15 of 31 Lion’s Tail OpaqueFifty/Getty Images Fuzzy stems with spherical, whorled orange flower clusters in summer and autumn create Lion's Tail appearance. This plant is excellent for attracting pollinators, such as birds and butterflies, as the red-oranged-hued flower is full of nectar. To help Lion's Tail thrive in the following season, deadhead the plant after it blooms and before the first frost of the season. Botanical Name: Leonotis leonurusSun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Well-drained, Loamy, SandySoil pH: 5.5-6.5 16 of 31 Lobster Claw Dana Edmunds/Getty Images Large bract clusters that look like lobster claws are this plant's calling card. While they grow best in tropical environments, Lobster Claw can also develop as a houseplant in the right conditions. The flower stem forms extremely colorful waxy leaves, and it's from here that the flower groups emerge. Botanical Name: HeliconiaSun Exposure: Partial, ShadeSoil Type: Well-drained, MoistSoil pH: 6.0-6.5 17 of 31 Lords and Ladies Christophe LEHENAFF/Getty Images The Lords and Ladies perennial plant can grow 12 to 18 inches tall and contains dense, bright red fruit clusters that resemble tiny ears of corn. The orange-red berries appear in the summer. The leaves of this plant are elongated, heart-shaped, and green with variegated patterns. Botanical Name: Arum maculatumSun Exposure: Partial, ShadeSoil Type: Well-drained, MoistSoil pH: 6.1-7.8 18 of 31 Love-in-a-mist RedA&Co/Getty Images Flowering in late spring or early summer, this plant has thin, threadlike leaves with showy blooms in blue, white, or pink. This plant's moniker derives from the fennel-like, airy foliage that forms around the flowers. This plant will bloom for several weeks. Botanical Name: Nigella damascenaSun Exposure: Full, PartialSoil Type: Well-drained, MoistSoil pH: 6.5-7.0 19 of 31 Nodding Ladies’ Tresses David Clapp/Getty Images Dark green rosette-shaped foliage and fragrant, bell-shaped white flowers appear in the summer through early autumn. Described as a classic bog plant, the Nodding Ladies' Tresses has grass-like leaves that can grow up to 10 inches tall. Find this plant in woods, old fields, and prairies. Botanical Name: Spiranthes cernuaSun Exposure: Full, PartialSoil Type: Moist, Clay, Loamy, SandySoil pH: 6.1-6.5 20 of 31 Obedient Plant Marcia Straub/Getty Images This plant, also known as false dragonhead, has tall, upright stems with funnel-shaped flowers that look like snapdragons. This easy-to-grow member of the mint family blooms in summer and remains until the fall. Obedient Plant is excellent for attracting pollinators, such as bees and hummingbirds. Botanical Name: Physostegia virginianaSun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Well-drainedSoil pH: 5.5-7.0 21 of 31 Ostrich Fern Katrin Ten Eikelder / EyeEm / Getty Images This plant's bountiful, broad fronds with a narrow base can reach four feet long. Ostrich Fern will go dormant in the winter and are best grown in natural sites, such as woodlands, wild gardens, or bordering streams or ponds. Once established, this plant will spread rapidly. Botanical Name: Matteuccia struthiopterisSun Exposure: Partial, ShadeSoil Type: Moist, ClaySoil pH: 5.0-6.5 22 of 31 Piggyback Plant Anne Hyde/Getty Images The Piggyback Plant has triangular or heart-shaped leaves that, when mature, grow plantlets on top. The Piggyback Plant has a unique growing habit as new leaves sprout directly from mature leave where the stem attaches to the leaf. This plant grows indoors throughout the year. Botanical Name: Tolmiea menziesiiSun Exposure: Partial, ShadeSoil Type: Moist, Well-drainedSoil pH: 5.0-7.0 23 of 31 Pincushion Flower Achim Mittler/Getty Images This flower contains a rounded head that resembles a pin cushion full of pins. The perennial is available in various hues, is best planted in early spring, and is relatively easy to grow. The Pincushion Flower attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Botanical Name: ScabiosaSun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Moist, Well-drainedSoil pH: 5.8-6.2 24 of 31 Polka-Dot Plant Julio Ricco/Getty Images Broad, pointed, variegated green leaves with pink and white spots distinguish the Polka-Dot Plant. These plants thrive in warmer climates, so treating them as annuals is one way to include them in your garden if you live in an environment that experiences colder weather. A mature plant reaches one to two feet tall and wide. Botanical Name: Hypoestes phyllostachyaSun Exposure: PartialSoil Type: Moist, Well-drainedSoil pH: 6.1-7.3 25 of 31 Ponytail Palm James Young/Getty Images Ponytail Palm has loose green leaves and a trunk with an extensive, swollen base for storing water. This slow-growing and long-living species can take five years or more to double in size. When planted indoors, this plant is relatively carefree. Botanical Name: Beaucarnea recurvataSun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Well-drained, SandySoil pH: 6.5-7.5 26 of 31 Red-Hot Poker Neil Holmes/Getty Images Grass-like foliage, bare stems, and tubular clusters that resemble a glowing torch are characteristics of Red-Hot Poker. The perennials have stunning flower spokes in bright red, orange, yellow, and other color varieties. This deer-resistant plant attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. Botanical Name: KniphofiaSun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Well-drainedSoil pH: 6.0-7.0 27 of 31 Scarlet Pimpernel Robert Pickett/Getty Images Sprawling stems and small red-orange flowers that open and close over the day distinguish the Scarlet Pimpernel. These showy flowers, blooming in late spring or early summer, have a bloom size of around one inch. The entire plant grows up to six inches tall. Botanical Name: Lysimachia arvensisSun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Clay, Loamy, SandySoil pH: 5.5-8.0 28 of 31 Skunk Cabbage Panoramic Images/Getty Images Excellent for water gardens, the Skunk Cabbage has big, ridged, verdant green leaves that resemble hostas. Expect this perennial plant to grow around one to three feet tall. This bog garden plan goes dormant and flowers in late winter or early spring. Botanical Name: Symplocarpus foetidusSun Exposure: Partial, ShadeSoil Type: Rich, LoamySoil pH: 5.5-7.5 29 of 31 Sneezeweed Jacky Parker Photography/Getty Images Daisy-like blossoms with big, dark, yellow-speckled centers characterize Sneezeweed. This plant quickly grows to its mature size of two to five feet tall and around two feet wide. Attracting butterflies in early summer and fall, this plant is available in different shades of gold, orange, red, and brown. Botanical Name: Helenium autumnaleSun Exposure: FullSoil Type: Moist, Well-drainedSoil pH: 5.5-7.0 30 of 31 Toad Lily Chris Burrows/Getty Images A Toad Lily plant contains spotted flowers that resemble orchids. Another reason for its moniker is that the entire plant is hairy, while the leaves alternate as they grow and have parallel veins. Plant the Toad Lily in an area protected from harsh weather, particularly strong winds. Botanical Name: Tricyrtis hirtaSun Exposure: Partial, ShadeSoil Type: Moist, Well-drained, LoamySoil pH: 4.5-6.5 31 of 31 Turtlehead Justus de Cuveland/Getty Images Turtlehead is a slow-growing plant that blooms for three to six weeks in late summer or early fall. The plant has small, puffy flowers with pointed, two-lipped petals reminiscent of turtle heads, giving it the Turtlehead moniker. This plant works well in bog gardens or areas with moist soil and filtered sun. Botanical Name: Chelone obliquaSun Exposure: Full, PartialSoil Type: Moist, RichSoil pH: 5.0-6.8 Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit