Visit or call us on 01993 850979

  • About
  • Hedging Tips & Advice
  • Hedge Guide
  • Delivery
  • Landscaping
  • Contact Us
  • Visit Our Shop
    • Hedging
      • Fast Growing Hedges
      • Root Ball
      • Smaller Hedging
      • Taller Hedging
    • Lavender
      • Lavandula Angustifolia (English)
      • Lavender Chaytoriae
      • Lavender Intermedia (Dutch)
      • Larger Lavender
    • Topiary
      • Decorative Box Hedges
    • Shrubs
      • Flowering Shrubs
    • Garden / Lawn Edging
    • Planting Packs
  • Hedges
    • Shop Hedges
  • Edging
    • Shop Edging
Hedge Xpress - Buy Online - Hedges and ShrubsHedge Xpress - Buy Online - Hedges and Shrubs
  • Lavender
    • Shop Lavender
    • Larger Lavender
    • Lavender Angustifolia (English)
    • Lavender Chaytoriae
    • Lavender Intermedia (Dutch)
  • Shrubs
    • Shop Shrubs
    • Fast Growing Shrubs
    • Flowering Shrubs
  • Topiary
    • Shop Topiary
    • Box Balls & Cones
    • Yew Box Balls & Cones

Introducing Horticultural Terminology

Hedge Xpress
Aug 5, 2016 Latin Horticulture Terminology 0 Comment

Many groups have their own shorthand or jargon – a secret language that only initiates comprehend. With Horticultural Terminology, it is Latin. But why?

Horticultural Terminology

Swedish scientist Carl LinnæusWell, it’s down to the Swedish scientist Carl Linnæus (1707 –1778, pictured in all his finery) who devised the first universally agreed system for determining how everything in the natural world should be named – what we know as binomial nomenclature. You may think or say ‘so what’ – but it made a big difference…

Take, for example, the hedging plant in the picture above. Now, what is it called? To some, the plant above is the Common Yew, to others the European Yew while many in Blighty prefer the English Yew. Similarly, the Common Box is also known as the European Box or Boxwood. This can cause confusion and waste time (and even money) when researching the plant or trying to buy it. On the other hand, Linneaus’ system gives them both a two part (binominal) name: Taxus baccata and Buxus sempervirens respectively. Clear, unequivocal, universally understood and far more descriptive – baccata is Latin for bearing red berries and sempervirens for always green.

And, don’t forget, just as the same plant can have different common names, so different plants can have the same common name – in Britain Prunus laurocerasus and in America Prunus caroliniana are, confusingly, both commonly called Cherry Laurel – it happens a lot with plants that share certain attrubutes.

Finally, Horticultural Terminology cuts through local names. Where a plant originates can be carried across the world with the plant itself. This can be linguistically challenging for gardeners in the plant’s new home. For example, Pittosporum tenuifolium may be a bit of a mouthful, but this New Zealand native is also known by several Maori or Maori/English names: kōhūhū, kohukohu, tawhiwhi and black matipo!

View Our Recommended Hedges

Box Ball 55-60cm
Quick ViewSelect options

Box Balls, Variable Sizes

Add to Wishlist
Remove from Wishlist
£45.00 – £92.40 inc. VAT
Box cone 90-100cm
Quick ViewSelect options

Box Cones, Variable Sizes

Add to Wishlist
Remove from Wishlist
£52.32 – £79.98 inc. VAT
Quick ViewSelect options

Common Box, Variable Sizes

Add to Wishlist
Remove from Wishlist
£11.94 – £19.19 inc. VAT
Quick ViewAdd to basket

Escallonia Macrantha 45-60cm

Add to Wishlist
Remove from Wishlist
£14.94 inc. VAT
Elaeagnus ebbingei
Quick ViewAdd to basket

Elaeagnus ebbingei

Add to Wishlist
Remove from Wishlist
£16.74 inc. VAT
Quick ViewAdd to basket

Elaeagnus ebbingei Limelight 60-90cm

Add to Wishlist
Remove from Wishlist
£21.00 inc. VAT
Euonymus Fortunei Emerald n Gold 5L 25-35cm
Quick ViewAdd to basket

Euonymus Fortunei Emerald n Gold

Add to Wishlist
Remove from Wishlist
£16.80 inc. VAT
Quick ViewSelect options

Euonymus Fortunei Emerald Gaiety, Various Sizes

Add to Wishlist
Remove from Wishlist
£7.49 – £14.34 inc. VAT
Quick ViewSelect options

Beech, various sizes

Add to Wishlist
Remove from Wishlist
£7.97 – £33.00 inc. VAT
Quick ViewSelect options

Purple Copper Beech Various sizes

Add to Wishlist
Remove from Wishlist
£9.60 – £47.94 inc. VAT
Griselinia Littoralis Variegata 10L 60-90cm
Quick ViewSelect options

Griselinia littoralis ‘Variegata’, Variable Sizes

Add to Wishlist
Remove from Wishlist
£19.74 – £39.54 inc. VAT
Privet ligustrum ovalifolium
Quick ViewAdd to basket

Privet-Ligustrum ovalifilium 60-90cm

Add to Wishlist
Remove from Wishlist
£19.14 inc. VAT
Horticultural TerminologyIntroducing Horticultural TerminologyTerminology
Hedge Xpress

Discovering Oxfordshire YewsPrevious post
Understanding Horticulture TerminologyNext post

Recent Posts

  • Pittosporum tenuifolium flower arangments
  • Why buy a hedge?
  • Bare Root, Rootball vs Container
  • Why Evergreens Are a Great Option for Hedges
  • Winter Hedges: Part 1

Archives

Categories

  • Evergreen Hedging Plants
  • Fragrant foliage
  • Gardens
  • Green management
  • Hedging Plants
  • Latin Horticulture Terminology
  • Native Hedging
  • News
  • Plant Containers
  • Uncategorized
  • Wildlife
  • Winter Weather Hedges
Hedge-Xpress-Logo
  • Buckland Road, Bampton,
    Oxfordshire, OX18 2AA
  • info@hedgexpress.co.uk
  • 01993 850979

SOCIAL CONNECT

facebookinstagrampinterest

OPENING TIMES

  • Monday-Friday 9am until 4pm
  • Closed Bank Holidays
  • The company will not be operating from 23rd December 2021 until 4th January 2022

COMPETITIVE PRICES AND VALUE FOR MONEY

Delivery options are available for orders over £180.00. For more information please click here. For orders under £180.00 a free click and collect service is available. 

Professional gardeners, landscapers and other trade customers are welcome.

TRADE ENQUIRIES

Professional gardeners, landscapers and other trade customers are welcome. Contact us at info@hedgexpress.co.uk or call 01993 850 979.

USEFUL INFORMATION

  • About
  • Landscaping
  • My Account
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map
©2021 Hedge Xpress. All Rights Reserved. Payment Method
Planting packs now available
Click here to order