Flowers named after people: the stories behind the names

Magnolia, gerbera, fuchsia, begonia — behind many familiar flower names are real people: botanists, physicians, explorers and diplomats. Naming plants after scientists became established in the 18th century, when Carl Linnaeus and his followers systematised the plant world. Here are the stories behind the best-known “named” flowers — a great idea for an unusual gift.

Flowers with a story: spray roses and potted plants.

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The best-known named flowers

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The stories behind the names

• Magnolia — after French botanist Pierre Magnol, director of the botanical garden in Montpellier.
• Dahlia — after Swedish botanist Anders Dahl; its Ukrainian name, zhorzhyna, honours botanist Johann Georgi.
• Fuchsia — after 16th-century German botanist Leonhart Fuchs.
• Gerbera — after German physician and botanist Traugott Gerber.
• Begonia — after Michel Bégon, a French administrator and patron of botany.
• Poinsettia — after Joel Poinsett, the first US minister to Mexico, who brought the plant home.

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A few more names

• Camellia — after missionary and naturalist Georg Joseph Kamel.
• Gardenia — after physician and naturalist Alexander Garden.
• Freesia — after German physician Friedrich Freese.
• Zinnia — after botanist Johann Gottfried Zinn.
• Bougainvillea — after navigator Louis Antoine de Bougainville.
• Lobelia — after botanist Matthias de l’Obel.

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A gift idea

A bouquet of “named” flowers with a card telling the story of the name makes an unusual gift for a botany lover, a biology teacher or anyone curious. Gerberas with the story of Traugott Gerber, for example — see Gerbera bouquet.

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FAQ

Why were plants named after people?

It was how 17th- and 18th-century botanists honoured colleagues, patrons of science and explorers who discovered new plants.

Are any flowers named after women?

Yes — the genus Lapageria honours Empress Joséphine (née de La Pagerie), and many rose cultivars bear the names of famous women.

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

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