I don't know about you, but I get all tongue tied when pronouncing certain botanical names. Let's face it, botanical names can be intimidating! And then there is the whole "to-MAY-toe"/"to-MA-toe" thing that can make certain pronunciations regional.
As gardeners, we know that botanical names are so very important. One man's culinary oregano is another man's ornamental marjoram. Without botanical names, you never know if you have the one that should be used in Italian cooking or flower arrangements or both! But the botanical name cuts right through all that and identifies the plant without any doubt.
I love to listen to certain experts spout off the botanical names. The words just roll off their tongue so beautifully. But I hate it when people use botanical names to be superior. You know the type. They throw the names out there to see how "smart" you are and smile smugly if you hesitate with doubt about what they are talking about. Don't you just want to smack those people?
Plain and simple: Some botanical names are difficult to pronounce. Well, Fine Gardening Magazine has come to our rescue. They have a pronunciation guide right here. Click on the botanical name and a sweet voiced lady says the name for you. How nice…problem solved!
About the Author
Theresa Loe blogs here about taking the garden full circle while striving for a more local, fresh-from-the-garden lifestyle. She is a TV producer, video host, freelance garden writer and a wrangler of chickens and children. (Not necessarily in that order.) For more information on these topics, you can subscribe to her free monthly newsletter.
Theresa Loe is the award- winning Co-Executive Producer & Canning Expert on Growing A Greener World TV. She blogs here about Living Homegrown®, local and fresh-from-the-garden. 
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That’s a great tip. Thank you. I’ve bookmarked it and intend on impressing all my plant nerd friends.
Jim-
Great. We won’t tell the secret of how you learned to pronounce so well!
~Theresa
Thanks for sharing this! There are some plants for which I’ve heard varying pronunciations, so it’s great to have a definitive source.
So very cool! Is there a similar guide for trees? We’ve always wanted to know how to pronounce the “vitae” part of arbor vitae. :>
Good tip. Hearing the word certainly helps. I still run into words that when someone finally says it a little light goes off and I realize that’s how it’s pronounced.