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Pronunciation Guide
Sometimes trying to pronounce a plant name can be frustrating. More than once we have learned a plant's name only to find out later that we weren't saying it correctly and then had to learn it correctly. By using this guide you can go to the nursery and talk to the gardener without feeling sheepish about saying the name.
| NAME | PRONUNCIATION | COMMON NAME or EXAMPLE |
| Achillea |
uh-kuh-LEE-uh or ak-ill-EE-uh |
Yarrow |
| Actinidia | ak-tih-NID-ee-uh | Kiwi |
| Agapanthus | ag-uh-PAN-thus | Lily of the Nile |
| Alcea | al-SEE-uh | Hollyhock |
| Alchemilla | al-keh-MILL-uh | Lady's Mantle |
| Alstroemeria | al-stree-MEER-ee-uh | Peruvian Lily |
| Amaranthus | am-uh-RAN-thus | Amaranth |
| Amsonia | am-SO-nee-uh | Blue Star |
| Anemone | uh-NEM-oh-nee | Anemone |
| Angelica | an-JEL-ik-uh | Angelica |
| Angelonia | an-jel-OH-nee-uh | Angelonia |
| Anisodontea | an-iss-oh-DON-tee-uh | African Mallow |
| Antirrhinum | an-tihr-RYE-num | Snapdragon |
| Aquilegia | ak-wee-LEE-jee-uh | Columbine |
| Arctotis | arc-TOH-tiss | African Daisy |
| Argyranthemum | ar-jer-AN-theh-mum | Marguerite Daisy |
| Aristolochia | uh-riss-toe-LOW-kee-uh | Dutchman's Pipe |
| Artemisia | ar-the-MEEZ-ee-uh | Artemisia |
| Aruncus | uh-RUN-kus | Goatsbeard |
| Asarum | uh-SAH-rum | Wild Ginger |
| Asclepias | uh-SKLEE-pee-us | Milk Weed |
| Aster | ASS-ter | Aster |
| Astilbe | uh-STILL-bee | Astilbe |
| Astilboides | ass-till-BOY-dees | Astilboides |
| Astrantia | uh-STRAN-tee-uh | Masterwort |
| Baptisia | bap-TIZ-ee-uh | Baptisia |
| Begonia | beg-OWN-ee-uh | Begonia (surprised aren't you?) |
| Bergenia | ber-GEN-ee-uh | Bergenia |
| Brugmansia | brug-MAN-zee-uh | Angel's Trumpet |
| Calamintha | kal-uh-MIN-thuh | Calamint |
| Calibrachoa | kal-ih-bruh-KO-uh | Calibrachoa |
| Campanula | kam-PAN-yew-luh | Campanula or Bellflower |
| Campsis | KAMP-sis | Trumpet Creeper |
| Centaurea | sen-taw-REE-uh | Centaurea |
| Cephalaria | sef-uh-LARE-ee-uh | Giant Scabious |
| Chrysanthemum | kris-ANTH-eh-mum | Mum or Chrysanthemum |
| Clematis | KLEM-uh-tis or kleh-MAT-tis | Clematis |
| Cleome | klee-OH-me | Cleome or Spider Flower |
| Coleus | KO-lee-us | Coleus |
| Convallaria | kon-vuh-LAIR-ee-uh | Lily-of-the-Valley |
| Coreopsis | ko-ree-OP-sis | Coreopsis or Tickseed |
| Corydalis | kor-RID-uh-liss | Corydalis |
| Cruciferous | crew-siff-furr-is | broccoli, cabbage, mustard family |
| Cypripedium | sip-prih-PEE-dee-um | Lady's Slipper |
| Dahlia | DAH-lee-uh | Dahlia |
| Darmera | dar-MER-uh | Umbrella Plant |
| Delphinium | del-FIN-ee-um | Delphinium |
| Dianthus | dye-AN-thus | Dianthus or Pinks |
| Diascia | dye-ASS-ee-uh | Twinspur |
| Dicentra | dye-SEN-truh | Bleeding Heart |
| Dictamnus | dik-TAM-nus | Gas Plant |
| Digitalis | dih-jih-TAY-liss | Foxglove |
| Doronicum | doe-RON-ih-kum | Leopardbane |
| Dracocephalum | dray-koh-SEF-uh-lum | Dragonhead |
| Echinacea | ek-in-AY-see-uh | Coneflower |
| Echinops | EK-in-ops | Globe Thistle |
| Erodium | ee-ROW-dee-um | Heron's Bill |
| Erungium | er-IN-gee-um | Sea Holly |
| Eupatorium | yew-puh-TOR-ee-um | Boneset and Joe Pye Weed |
| Fritillaria | frit-i-LAIR-ree-a | Crown Imperial |
| Fuchsia | FEW-shuh or FUKE-see-uh | Fuchsia |
| Gaillardia | gay-LAR-dee-uh | Blanket Flower |
| Glaucium | GLAW-see-um | Horned Poppy |
| Galium | GAY-lee-um | Sweet Woodruff |
| Geranium | jer-AY-nee-um | Geranium |
| Gomphrena | gom-FREE-nuh | Globe Amaranth or Gomphrena |
| Helenium | hel-EE-nee-um | Helenium |
| Helianthus | hee-lee-AN-thus | Sunflower |
| Helichrysum | hel-ih-KRY-sum | Helichrysum |
| Heliopsis | hee-lee-OP-sis | False Sunflower |
| Heliotropium | hee-lee-oh-TROH-pee-um | Heliotrope |
| Helleborus | hel-eh-BOR-us | Hellebore |
| Hemerocallis | hem-er-oh-KAL-iss | Daylily |
| Heuchera | hue-ker-ah | Coral Bells |
| Hosta | HOS-tah | Hosta |
| Hydrangea | hye-DRAN-jee-uh | Hydrengea |
| Ipomoea | ip-oh-MEE-uh | Sweet Potato |
| Inula | IN-yew-luh | Inula |
| Iris | EYE-ris | Iris |
| Kirengeshoma | jir-en-geh-SHOW-muh | Waxbells |
| Lantana | lan-TAY-nuh | Lantana |
| Lamium | LAY-mee-um | Dead Nettle |
| Lapinus | loo-PIE-nus or loo-pines | Lupine |
| Lavandula | lav-AN-dew-lah | Lavender |
| Lavatera | lav-uh-TEER-uh | Tree Mallow |
| Liatris | lye-AT-riss | Gayfeather |
| Liriope | lir-RYE-oh-pee | Lilyturf |
| Lobelia | lo-BEE-lee-uh | Lobelia |
| Lilium | LIL-ee-um | Lily |
| Lysimachia | lye-sim-AK-ee-uh | Loosestrife |
| Malva | MAL-vuh | Mallow |
| Mentha | MEN-thuh | Mint |
| Mertensia | mer-TEN-see-uh | Bluebells |
| Mimulus | MIM-yew-luss | Monkey Flower |
| Monarda | mo-NAR-duh | Monarda or Bee Balm |
| Nepeta | NEP-eh-tuh | Catmint |
| Nicotiana | nih-ko-she-AH-nuh | Nicotiana or Tobacco Flower |
| Oenothera | ee-no-THEE-ruh | Evening Primrose |
| Osteospermum | oss-tee-oh-SPUR-mum | Osteospermum |
| Papaver | puh-PAY-ver | Poppy |
| Pennisetum | pen-nih-SEE-tum | Fountain Grass |
| Penstemon | PEN-stee-mon | Beard Tongue |
| Pentas | PEN-tass | Pentas |
| Perovskia | per-OFF-skee-uh | Russian Sage |
| Petunia | peh-TOO-nee-uh | Petunia |
| Phlomis | FLOW-miss | Jerusalem Sage |
| Phlox | floks | Phlox |
| Platycodon | plat-ee-KO-don | Balloon Flower |
| Plectranthus | plek-TRAN-thus | Plectranthus |
| Polianthes | pol-ee-AN-theez | tuberose |
| Polygonatum | po-lig-oh-NAY-tum | Solomon's Seal |
| Pontentilla | po-ten-TILL-uh | Potentilla |
| Primula | PRIM-yew-luh | Primrose |
| Pulmonaria | pul-mo-NAIR-ee-uh | Lungwort or Pulmonaria |
| Rosaceae | roh-ZAY-see-ee | Rose |
| Rudbeckia | rud-BEK-ee-uh | Rudbeckia |
| Salvia | SAL-vee-uh | Salvia |
| Saponaria | sap-oh-NAIR-ee-uh | Soapwort |
| Scabiosa | skab-ee-OH-suh | Scabious |
| Scaevola | skee-VO-luh | Scaevola or Fan Flower |
| Sedum | SEE-dum | Sedum |
| Sidalcea | sih-DAL-see-uh | Prairie Mallow |
| Sisyrinchium | sis-er-INK-ee-um | Blue-eyed Grass |
| Solanum | so-LAY-num | Nightshade |
| Spiranthes | spy-RAN-theez | Lady's Tresses |
| Stachys | STAK-iss | Betony |
| Stokesia |
STOKE-see-uh or stoh-KEE-zee-uh |
Stokes Aster |
| Strobillanthes | stroh-bill-AN-theez | Persian Shield |
| Stylophorum | sty-LOFF-or-um | Celandine Poppy |
| Thymus | TIE-mus | Thyme |
| Tiarella | tee-uh-REL-uh | Foam Flower |
| Tradescantia | trad-es-KAN-tee-uh | Purple Spiderwort |
| Tricyrits | try-SER-tiss | Toad Lily |
| Tunica | TOO-nik-uh | Tunic Flower |
| Verbena | ver-BEE-nuh | Verbena |
| Veronica | veh-RON-ih-kuh | Speedwell |
| Viola | vie-OH-luh | Violet |
| Wisteria | wis-TEER-ee-uh | Wisteria |
| Zantedeschia | zan-the-DESK-ee-uh | Calla Lily |