Q. I believe you made an error last week about the
Chinaberry tree. You said it “is also called Persian lilac and in the
United States we sometimes call it the Texas umbrella tree.” I do not
believe that the Persian lilac is related at all to the umbrella tree. We had
both in our yard years ago, and they were quite different.
Chinaberry tree. You said it “is also called Persian lilac and in the
United States we sometimes call it the Texas umbrella tree.” I do not
believe that the Persian lilac is related at all to the umbrella tree. We had
both in our yard years ago, and they were quite different.
A. Thanks for your comment and you are right, there is
more than one plant called “Persian lilac”. This is where the common names can
be confusing.
more than one plant called “Persian lilac”. This is where the common names can
be confusing.
The
Chinaberry tree (Melia azedarach) can
also be nicknamed the Persian lilac because of the very perfumy flowers it
produces in spring. You can google any of these names on Wikipedia.
Chinaberry tree (Melia azedarach) can
also be nicknamed the Persian lilac because of the very perfumy flowers it
produces in spring. You can google any of these names on Wikipedia.
There is
another plant, also called Persian lilac (Syringa
x persica), a hybrid lilac very
closely related to common and Chinese lilac which is probably what you were
growing.
another plant, also called Persian lilac (Syringa
x persica), a hybrid lilac very
closely related to common and Chinese lilac which is probably what you were
growing.
We have
the same problem with another plant we call mock orange. Locally, our mock
orange is a Pittosporum tobira (Wheeler’s Dwarf). This is not
the same mock orange known by most of the country. When I was in school, mock
orange was a totally different plant with the scientific name Philadelphus coronarius, a flowering relative
of hydrangea whose flowers were used for garlands because they have a strong
citrus fragrance.
the same problem with another plant we call mock orange. Locally, our mock
orange is a Pittosporum tobira (Wheeler’s Dwarf). This is not
the same mock orange known by most of the country. When I was in school, mock
orange was a totally different plant with the scientific name Philadelphus coronarius, a flowering relative
of hydrangea whose flowers were used for garlands because they have a strong
citrus fragrance.
I do not
to use scientific names in my newspaper column but common names can be confusing for this
reason. I appreciate these comments because I’m sure others were thinking the
same.
to use scientific names in my newspaper column but common names can be confusing for this
reason. I appreciate these comments because I’m sure others were thinking the
same.