4 Problematic Plant Names and the Importance of Renaming Plants for Inclusivity

Understanding the Need for Change

Plant names tell stories of history, culture, and science, but sometimes these names carry harmful legacies. Many plants in our gardens still bear names rooted in colonialism, racism, or cultural insensitivity. Renaming these plants is about more than semantics—it's about fostering a shared respect for nature and the communities that cherish it.

In addition to promoting inclusivity, learning about the medicinal properties of these plants helps deepen our connection to them and their histories. In Part 1, we explore four plants with problematic names, their new identities, and their medicinal benefits.

4 Renamed Plants, Their Histories, and Their Healing Properties

1. ICE PLANT (formerly Hottentot Fig)

• Problematic Name: “Hottentot” is a derogatory term for the Khoikhoi people of South Africa. The term "Hottentot" comes from the clicks used in the Khoisan language to denote consonants. The clicks were unfamiliar to European ears, so the first Dutch to encounter the Khoisan people called them "Hottentots," which means "stutterers".
• New Name: Ice Plant or Cape Fig.
• Medicinal Use: Ice Plant is celebrated for its cooling properties and ability to soothe sunburns and minor wounds when its gel-like interior is applied topically.

2. GRASS TREE (formerly Black Boy Plant)

• Problematic Name: The plant was called the "black boy" because white settlers thought it resembled a small Black boy holding a spear.
• New Name: Grass Tree.
• Medicinal Use: Aboriginal communities have long used the resin from Grass Trees for wound care and as an adhesive in tools and weaponry.