34 Plants With Funny Names To Add Cheer To Your Garden

The garden can be a great source of humor.

Jacky Parker Photography/Getty Images
Jacky Parker Photography/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. When spending time outdoors and in gardens affords the opportunity to learn 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.

Without further ado—in alphabetical order—here are 34 funny plant names that will make you wonder and maybe even laugh a little, too.

Related: The South's Most Iconic Plants

Balloon Flower

Daisuke Oka/Getty Images
Daisuke Oka/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Platycodon grandiflorus

  • Sun Exposure: Full, partial

  • Soil Type: Well-draining, rich, loamy

  • Soil pH: 5.5-7.5

Balloon flowers bloom in an intense blue-violet shade throughout the summer in 2- to 3-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. They thrive in sun, which increases their flower production. While members of the bellflower family, these perennials do not resemble bells. They start as balloon-like buds.

Bear’s Breeches

Neil Holmes/Getty Images
Neil Holmes/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Acanthus mollis

  • Sun Exposure: Full, partial

  • Soil Type: Well-draining, moist

  • Soil pH: 5.6-7.8

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. Grow in most soils except very wet ones. They prefer some shade in hotter climates.

Bleeding Heart

<p>Getty Images</p>

Getty Images

  • Botanical Name: Lamprocapnos spectabilis

  • Sun Exposure: Partial shade, full shade

  • Soil Type: Well-draining, fertile

  • Soil pH: 6.0-7.5

This plant gets its name from the heart-shaped pink or white flowers that dangle from its long, slender branches. Each heart has a petal emerging from the heart shape, which is why it is called “bleeding.” The woodland plant has fern-like foliage that dies back after blooming in hotter climates and returns each spring. Perfect for shady gardens, bleeding hearts like moist soil but can tolerate some drought. Be careful where you plant bleeding heart as all parts of it are toxic to people and pets.

Bugleweed

Federica Grassi/Getty Images
Federica Grassi/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Ajuga reptans

  • Sun Exposure: Full, partial

  • Soil Type: Well-draining, moist

  • Soil pH: 6.5

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 10 inches tall.

Butcher’s Broom

Valter Jacinto/Getty Images
Valter Jacinto/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Ruscus aculeatus

  • Sun Exposure: Full, partial, shade

  • Soil Type: Loamy, clay, sandy

  • Soil pH: 5.6-7.8

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. It adapts to most soils and tolerates drought.

Candytuft

Vaivirga/Getty Images
Vaivirga/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Iberis sempervirens

  • Sun Exposure: Full, partial

  • Soil Type: Well-drained

  • Soil pH: 5.6-7.8

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 in the spring in colder areas. These plants reach maturity in about five to 10 years.

Cupid’s Dart

Troyka/Getty Images
Troyka/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Catananche caerulea

  • Sun Exposure: Full

  • Soil Type: Well-drained, loose, loamy, sandy

  • Soil pH: 5.8-6.8

Cupid's Dart, belonging to the daisy family, appears with grass-like, grayish leaves and small cornflower-like blooms. These flowers, blooming from summer to fall, have prominent blue-purple petals that radiate from their royal purple centers. These flowers are relatively easy to grow, deer-resistant, and resistant to most pests. They can grow in full sun with poor soil and little water, making them relatively easy plants. Loose, sandy soil that is well-drained will make them happy.

Dame’s Rocket

dieter1freier1/Getty Images
dieter1freier1/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Hesperis matronalis

  • Sun Exposure: Full, partial

  • Soil Type: Well-drained, sandy

  • Soil pH: 6.0-7.5

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. Plant in full sun in moist, well-drained soil.

Dancing Girl Ginger

Chayanan/Getty Images
Chayanan/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Globba genus

  • Sun Exposure: Partial, indirect, shade

  • Soil Type: Well-drained, rich, moist

  • Soil pH: 6.6-7.3

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 2 to 3 feet tall in containers or gardens. This plant adds a tropical flair to any garden, even when not in bloom. Give them lots of bright, indirect light.

Drumsticks

KarenHBlack/Getty Images
KarenHBlack/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Craspedia globosa

  • Sun Exposure: Full

  • Soil Type: Well-drained, clay

  • Soil pH: 5.8-6.5

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 can last a long time in a vase, making it ideal for crafts or cuttings. Drumsticks easily adapt to dry soil and tolerate drought better than other plants, but they do prefer some moisture.

Firespikes

liuyushan/Getty Images
liuyushan/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Odontonema strictum

  • Sun Exposure: Indirect, shade

  • Soil Type: Well-drained, moist, rich

  • Soil pH: 6.5-7.0

Firespikes are spiky blooms in bold colors attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. The combination of large green leaves topping the tall ruby-red-hued flowers creates a visually appealing plant in any garden. However, these plants tend to be cold-tender, so plant them well after the last frost in rich, moist soil with good light for best blooming.

Foxglove

<p>Getty Images/Irina Pislari</p>

Getty Images/Irina Pislari

  • Botanical Name: Digitalis purpurea

  • Sun Exposure: Full, partial

  • Soil Type: Moist, well-drained

  • Soil pH: 5.5-6.5

These tall flowers make a statement in the garden. Tubular flowers grow on tall, bushy spikes. Foxgloves are biennials so plant them in the spring and they’ll bloom the next year. Plant in soil that drains well and doesn’t stay soggy as foxglove is prone to crown rot. Provide some shade in hotter regions. Foxglove is toxic to people and pets.

Related: Get Dramatic Height With Easty-To-Grow Foxglove

Goat’s Beard

Flowerphotos/Getty Images
Flowerphotos/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Aruncus dioicus

  • Sun Exposure: Full, partial

  • Soil Type: Moist, rich, loamy

  • Soil pH: 5.6-7.8

Goat’s Beard is a perennial with tiny cream-colored flowers covering fuzzy or feathery branches in the summer. These plants spread up to 4 feet wide and grow 4 to 6 feet tall. Goat’s Beard grows in woodlands and is an excellent garden border plant. It can take full sun in cooler growing zones, but prefers some shade.

Hens and Chicks

Elizabeth Fernandez/Getty Images
Elizabeth Fernandez/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Sempervivum tectorum

  • Sun Exposure: Full

  • Soil Type: Well-drained, sandy

  • Soil pH: 7.0

Hens and Chicks is the moniker for this succulent with rosette-formed 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. Full sun gives them brightly colored foliage, but they can live in a variety of lighting conditions.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

db_beyer/Getty Images
db_beyer/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Arisaema triphyllum

  • Sun Exposure: Partial, shade

  • Soil Type: Moist, rich

  • Soil pH: 5.5-7.0

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. Direct sun can scorch its leaves, so plant it in partial to full shade. Plant in early fall or early spring in moist or wet soil. This plant is toxic to humans and pets.

Leopard’s Bane

skymoon13/Getty Images
skymoon13/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Doronicum

  • Sun Exposure: Partial, shade

  • Soil Type: Well-drained

  • Soil pH: 6.0-6.5

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. Plant in partial shade in moist, slightly acidic soil.

Lion’s Tail

OpaqueFifty/Getty Images
OpaqueFifty/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Leonotis leonurus

  • Sun Exposure: Full

  • Soil Type: Well-drained, loamy, sandy

  • Soil pH: 5.5-6.5

Fuzzy stems with spherical, whorled orange flower clusters in summer and autumn create the Lion's Tail appearance. This plant is excellent for attracting pollinators, such as birds and butterflies, as the red-orange 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.

Lobster Claw

Dana Edmunds/Getty Images
Dana Edmunds/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Heliconia

  • Sun Exposure: Partial, shade

  • Soil Type: Well-drained, moist

  • Soil pH: 6.0-6.5

Large bract clusters that look like lobster claws are this plant's calling card. While they grow best in tropical environments, some species of Lobster Claw can also develop as a houseplant in the right conditions. Give them warm temperatures and bright, indirect light for at least eight hours per day. A humidifier can help increase moisture. The flower stem forms extremely colorful waxy leaves, and it's from here that the flower groups emerge.

Lords and Ladies

Christophe LEHENAFF/Getty Images
Christophe LEHENAFF/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Arum maculatum

  • Sun Exposure: Partial, shade

  • Soil Type: Well-drained, moist

  • Soil pH: 6.1-7.8

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. This perennial likes full sun to partial shade. All parts of this plant are toxic to pets and people.

Love-in-a-Mist

RedA&Co/Getty Images
RedA&Co/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Nigella damascena

  • Sun Exposure: Full, partial

  • Soil Type: Well-drained, moist

  • Soil pH: 6.5-7.0

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. Give it good sun exposure and well-drained, fertile soil.

Mother-in-Law's Tongue

<p>Getty Images</p>

Getty Images

  • Botanical Name: Dracaena trifasciata

  • Sun Exposure: Partial, shade

  • Soil Type: Well-drained

  • Soil pH: 5.5-7.5

Also known as snake plant, this easy-care plant is known for its tall sword-like leaves. It doesn’t need much light so it’s a good indoor plant for rooms that don’t get a lot of sun. It tolerates irregular watering and drought. Plant in well-draining, slightly acidic, or slightly alkaline soil. Mother-in-law’s tongue, so-called to symbolize the sharp tongue of a mother-in-law, can grow to 6-12 feet tall. It is toxic to pets.

Related: How To Grow And Care For Snake Plant

Nodding Ladies’ Tresses

David Clapp/Getty Images
David Clapp/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Spiranthes cernua

  • Sun Exposure: Full, partial

  • Soil Type: Moist, clay, loamy, sandy

  • Soil pH: 6.1-6.5

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.

Obedient Plant

Marcia Straub/Getty Images
Marcia Straub/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Physostegia virginiana

  • Sun Exposure: Full

  • Soil Type: Well-drained

  • Soil pH: 5.5-7.0

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. Full sun helps them produce more flowers.

Ostrich Fern

Katrin Ten Eikelder / EyeEm / Getty Images
Katrin Ten Eikelder / EyeEm / Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Matteuccia struthiopteris

  • Sun Exposure: Partial, shade

  • Soil Type: Moist, clay

  • Soil pH: 5.0-6.5

This plant's bountiful, broad fronds with a narrow base can reach 4 feet long. Ostrich Fern will go dormant in the winter and is best grown in natural sites, such as woodlands, wild gardens, or bordering streams or ponds. Once established, this plant will spread rapidly.

Piggyback Plant

Anne Hyde/Getty Images
Anne Hyde/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Tolmiea menziesii

  • Sun Exposure: Partial, shade

  • Soil Type: Moist, well-drained

  • Soil pH: 5.0-7.0

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 leaves where the stem attaches to the leaf. This plant grows indoors throughout the year in bright, indirect light.

Pincushion Flower

Achim Mittler/Getty Images
Achim Mittler/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Scabiosa

  • Sun Exposure: Full

  • Soil Type: Moist, well-drained

  • Soil pH: 5.8-6.2

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. They do best in full sun and make good cuttings to display in a vase indoors.

Polka-Dot Plant

Julio Ricco/Getty Images
Julio Ricco/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Hypoestes phyllostachya

  • Sun Exposure: Partial

  • Soil Type: Moist, well-drained

  • Soil pH: 6.1-7.3

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 1 to 2 feet tall and wide.

Ponytail Palm

James Young/Getty Images
James Young/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Beaucarnea recurvata

  • Sun Exposure: Full

  • Soil Type: Well-drained, sandy

  • Soil pH: 6.5-7.5

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.

Red-Hot Poker

Neil Holmes/Getty Images
Neil Holmes/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Kniphofia

  • Sun Exposure: Full

  • Soil Type: Well-drained

  • Soil pH: 6.0-7.0

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. This flower grows in most soils, but it doesn't grow well in soil that stays wet and soggy.

Scarlet Pimpernel

Robert Pickett/Getty Images
Robert Pickett/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Lysimachia arvensis

  • Sun Exposure: Full

  • Soil Type: Clay, loamy, sandy

  • Soil pH: 5.5-8.0

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 6 inches tall. This flower adds color to sunny spots. Plant in well-drained, sandy soil. This plant is toxic to people and livestock.

Skunk Cabbage

Panoramic Images/Getty Images
Panoramic Images/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Symplocarpus foetidus

  • Sun Exposure: Partial, shade

  • Soil Type: Rich, loamy

  • Soil pH: 5.5-7.5

Excellent for water gardens, the Skunk Cabbage has big, ridged, verdant green leaves that resemble hostas. Expect this perennial plant to grow around 1 to three 3 tall. This bog garden plant goes dormant and flowers in late winter or early spring. It earns its name from its unpleasant odor so it's not a good plant to have in your patio area. It is also toxic to pets.

Sneezeweed

Jacky Parker Photography/Getty Images
Jacky Parker Photography/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Helenium autumnale

  • Sun Exposure: Full

  • Soil Type: Moist, well-drained

  • Soil pH: 5.5-7.0

Daisy-like blossoms with big, dark, yellow-speckled centers characterize Sneezeweed. This plant quickly grows to its mature size of 2 to 5 feet tall and around 2 feet wide in moist, rich soil near swamps, ponds, and wetlands. Attracting butterflies in early summer and fall, this plant is available in different shades of gold, orange, red, and brown. Cut it back early in the summer to encourage blooms and new growth. It is toxic to humans, pets, and livestock.

Toad Lily

Chris Burrows/Getty Images
Chris Burrows/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Tricyrtis hirta

  • Sun Exposure: Partial, shade

  • Soil Type: Moist, well-drained, loamy

  • Soil pH: 4.5-6.5

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.

Turtlehead

Justus de Cuveland/Getty Images
Justus de Cuveland/Getty Images
  • Botanical Name: Chelone obliqua

  • Sun Exposure: Full, partial

  • Soil Type: Moist, rich

  • Soil pH: 5.0-6.8

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.

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