brianflay wrote:

Many thanks Pam. The 'Primrose' I have noted might very well have been an
abbreviation for the Evening Primrose. We only use Primrose for our
delightful Primula vulgaris which is a common hedgerow flower in the spring.
Hypericums we can also call St. John's Wort but I've generally heard this as
a name for the wild forms. With no doubt at all our 'Rose of Sharon' is
Hypericum calycinum. Sometimes [rarely] known as Aaron's beard.
Two great nations separated only by their use of English!! Best Wishes
Brian.
"Pam - gardengal" wrote in message
news:9psrb.109478$mZ5.732244@attbi_s54...

"brianflay" wrote in message
...
Thank goodness. You would not believe the research many have made to no
avail. As so frequently stated common~ sometimes uncommon~ names are of
little value.
I feel also that even some very common names differ between the US
and
UK. Primrose and Rose of Sharon seem good examples. In UK they are
Primula
and Hypericum sps. whereas the US seems to be Oenothera and ***[have
forgotten]
Best wishes.

Heck, common names can even differ from region to region within the US.
That
is why there is botanical Latin - so that plant names are universal
regardless of one's native language or location. Rose of Sharon is
Hypericum in the UK?? That is new on on me! Hypericum in the US is
commonly
known as St John's Wort and Rose of Sharon is Hibiscus. And primrose is
still used to commonly refer to primulas here also - 'evening primrose' is
the designator for Oenothera species.

pam - gardengal

LOL and most common one here is Bluebell, which is something different
in Scotland to England;-)

And when you start looking at the rest of Europe, and cultivar names
translated into other languages! LOL.. THe mind boggles;-)

Jim