Plant Care Abbreviations Decoded: Understanding Nursery Catalog Codes

Nursery catalogs brim with abbreviations—many company-specific, but some are universal. Knowing the basics helps decode plant descriptions.

Common Universal Abbreviations

• cv = cultivar (human-developed, not wild)
• var = variety (naturally occurring)
• sp = species (interbreeding subgroup within a genus)

Variable & Context-Dependent Codes

Beyond these, consistency vanishes. "DT" might mean "drought tolerant" or "dry tropical." "W" could be "wet conditions" or "West." Three+ letter codes are more deducible: "Hum" = hummingbird, "Dec" = deciduous.

Always check the catalog's key. Symbols/pictures also require the specific catalog's legend.

With practice, you'll navigate this confusing but manageable system.