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Plants in the Garden
Common name | Botanical name
Why do we need the botanical name?
Common names are often used in place of a plant’s botanical name; but common names, while easy to say and remember, are not reliable when talking about or tying to find a plant. A common name may refer to several types of plants that may or may not be similar. A botanical name refers to the plant’s genus and species and therefore is the exact name of the plant. When you see a plant you wish to purchase or learn more about, be sure to take the botanical name with you!
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