Mispronounced plant names

[Yamadori]

I've come across a few doozies in my time, but I was in the garden centre this morning and as I went in I passed two ladies chatting. One of them said "I want to get a Thunderbill".

Er... a what? Ten minutes later I came across them both again, strolling around the shrubs section. She was clutching a Berberis thunbergii. 😁

Has anyone else heard any good ones?

My nana, mum's side, was half Welsh. I used to know a few Welsh words but have forgotten most and my pronunciation is generally ofnadwy 😃.

. The online translator is unreliable but generally gives reasonable pronunciations.

Welsh pronunciation is easy if you know the sounds. Many of the sounds are almost impossible if you aren't a native speaker.

A friend's grandfather was from Swansea and the friend uses some of the sayings but is saying them how they were heard so they don't really make sense.

Oh, I’m saying nothing about Monty beyond his pronunciation of ”secateurs” being radically different to my dear mater’s!

Nothing, except that it’s called Aubrieta 😄

https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/84647/aubrieta-purple-cascade-cascade-series/details

I’ve realised I pronounce loads of plants incorrectly as I’ve Mis-learnt them
from my mum.

Maternal mispronounciations out of pure stubborn bloody mindedness reminds me of my mother and forrin words. Specifically French cheese. Camembert, she insisted on pronouncing the 't'. So Camem - bert, just like Bert in Bert and Ernie. She was quite annoying! 😂

Gyp is as bad as Americans calling Snapdragons Snaps.

@PleasantPedant is your mother from Gower? I know starved is used to mean cold in the old Gower dialect. My family originate from there.

Cotoneaster is the one that makes me laugh.

No, but MIL was.
I think it's Wales not a specific region because I've heard someone from North West Wales say it too.
I notice you say Gower not 'the Gower'. MiL didn't like people saying the Gower or saying Dylan as Dillun.

Gower is beautiful.

Late DM used to do a lot of church flower arranging. The word 'Gyp' is a flower arranging / floristry term. Nobody bothers saying the full thing.

I've always said ghee-um (I blame my Latin teacher).
Now it seems it should be pronounced jee-um.
Can someone set me right?

Is it ce-an-OH-thus or ce-AN-o-thus?

I feel like Hermione “it’s leviOHsa, not levioSAH”

@EdithStourton , jee-um.

Yes, jee-um. They don't like my garden

@AllyOhly emphasis on the third syllable .

What about gerbera? I've always said jerbera but I've heard it with a hard g, which sounds as odd as my Home Economics teacher back in the day calling it margarine as in Margaret.

Why is Margarine 'Marjarine'?

I disagree with DH on the correct pronunciation of Rowan, I pronounce it roe-un (row like propelling a boat), he pronounces it rOW-un (row like arguing) I believe they’re both correct but neither of us will compromise and say it the wrong way.

You're right, @InMySpareTime , he's wrong.

Thanks to @PleasantPedant and @NebulousSadTimes

Re ceanothus I pronounce it ce-an-O-thus with the o rhyming with Joe, and DH pronounces it with the o rhyming with moth.
Any views as to which of us is right me of course? 😂

ce-an-O-thus

The Grammarphobia Blog: I can’t believe it’s not margerine!

My husband always called clematis chlamydia and no amount of correction helped. I caught his game when he smiled once as I said CLEMATIS dammit.

He also freaked out when I planted some pachysandra under the maple tree, he had an ex named Sandra who was kinda crazy so a big patch of pachysandra scared him 😂. He much preferred the vinca I put in nearby solely due to the name.

Oh, I love vinca, although it likes my garden a bit too much. I don't mind, it's easily dealt with.

Who knew margarine was that old! You can't beat butter though.

Well, actually ... that's a whole other thread 🍰

I say rowan as in cow, I'm Scottish if that makes a difference.

Perpetual frustration with DH, so I'm asking all you lovely people what you think...

Is it paraSEEtamol or paraSETTERmol?

😁

Para-sett-amol this house