Problematic Plant Names
There are plenty of plants that are well known both within and outside of the plant community by common names — colloquial names that may have little to no relation to the scientific names of the plants. Common names can be cute and easy to remember, but they can also be confusing. How many plants, after all, are known as “money plant”? Certain common names, however, have a darker and more difficult history to reckon with.
When we made the decision to stop using the common name for Tradescantia zebrina, we explained it here. Today we want to take a look at a few other indoor plants that have problematic common names. Many more plants have problematic common names, and even problematic scientific names. The world of botany is a big one, and we couldn’t possibly cover it all here — but we encourage everyone to learn more about the origins of the names of their favorite plants, both indoors and out. When we encounter problematic plant names, we can challenge them and offer up alternative names so that every house plant hobbyist can feel welcome in the plant community!
Dieffenbachia
This plant has traditionally gone by the common name “dumb cane.” The plant contains calcium oxalate crystals. Calcium oxalate is a mineral, a calcium salt to be exact, that’s found in many of our favorite tropical plants and it can cause irritation of the mouth and GI tract if pets or people chew on the plants. The oral irritation and swelling caused by these crystals could render someone “dumb” — an archaic way of saying incapable of speech.
It sounds like a simple nickname based on the science, right up until we learned that these toxic properties were exploited by slavers in the Caribbean and used to punish the people held as slaves. Many of us in the plant community would rather refer to this plant by its scientific name than a name that hearkens back to the enslavement and needless suffering of other people, and there’s been a recent push to stop using the common name.
Additionally, many people also consider this common name to be ableist — all in all, it’s best to use Dieffenbachia.
Citrus hystrix
This versatile plant is known by a variety of names: Thai lime, makrut lime, and Mauritius papeda are three of them. The fourth common name is one that more people are familiar with: “kaffir” lime. While the name is known — especially to those who like to cook and may have seen it listed in recipes — many people don’t know the history behind the word. A quick look at the Merriam-Webster dictionary tells us that the word “is a profoundly offensive and inflammatory expression of contemptuous racism” in South Africa. In fact, it’s so offensive that using it is “sufficient grounds for legal action.”
We learned this from a helpful and informative member in one of our groups several years ago, and immediately committed ourselves to using the scientific name or one of the other, non-racist, common names for this plant.
Clivia minata
Clivia is also known as Natal lily and bush lily — and like Citrus hystrix it’s been saddled with the common name “kaffir” lily. As we’ve already seen, this word is such an offensive racial slur in South Africa that you can get in legal trouble for using it. Beautiful Clivia definitely doesn’t need to be tarnished by that kind of association!
Croton Codiaeum variegatum
This plant is commonly called Croton “Mammy” but we’ve been seeing pushback against this name in the plant community. Mammy, according to Merriam Webster, is either a synonym for mama or — here comes the objectionable part — “a [B]lack woman serving as a nurse to white children especially formerly in the southern U.S.” The mammy caricature is dehumanizing and racist. Personally, we think it’s time for a name change to get this pretty plant out of the shadow of an ugly history.
Crassula marnieriana
This plant is often known as Crassula “Hottentot.” This term is an offensive, racist, colonialist name for a Khoikhoi person. Encyclopedia.com tells us that the only standard modern use for this word is in the names of animals and plants. If we wouldn’t use this word in reference to a person, maybe it’s time to stop using it when talking about plants and animals. We have other names for this striking succulent, such as jade necklace.
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The conversation around these names — and so many others — isn’t a new one, but if you’re new to learning about the histories of some of our favorite houseplants we hope we’ve given you a good jumping-off point to learn more! To join the discussion, get tips and tricks on plant care, or just chat with other plant lovers, join our community on Mesh (our favorite place on the internet!) or join us on Facebook.