When I am in a nursery and see a new 'must have' plant that is priced way beyond my budget, it usually has a common name. If I do not know the correct name I read all the fine print and ask questions until I find the botanical name. Sometimes I already know the botanical name. I can look for the plant by its botanical name in catalogs, on the internet or in the same nursery for much less. Example: I once saw a 3' tall plant labeled Black Taro for $79.99. In the same nursery I found a 4" pot with a 9" tall Colocasia Nigra for $4.99. I was pretty sure they were the same plant, bought the small one and in 2 months it was as large and beautiful as their $79.99 version. Another time a friend called and said I just had to get her a tree she just found at a nursery priced over $100. She gave me some ridiculous name common only to that nursery. I told her to go back, read all the fine print on the tag and see if she could find a botanical name. I also suggested 2-3 possibilities from her description of the flowers on the tree. She called the next day with one of the names I suggested and we were able to find her a Bauhina Tree for around $20.00 I found a beautiful plant in a hanging basket for $89.99 at a nursery, again with a common name. It was a plant that is usually grown in the ground, very easily started and grown from seed. So I bought a package of seed, planted it in a hanging basket and in 2 months had one as beautiful as their $89.99 version. It was Cerinthe major purpulescens and if you haven't tried it in a hanging basket, do. It is most beautiful looking up into the flowers rather than down at the nodding blossoms. Just remember to pinch often in the beginning to get it thick and lush. I'm sure you do the same thing, just never thought of it as saving yourself money by knowing the botanical names. It's just a good argument when people harrass me about needing to know the botanical name. Carolyn Craft in Los Gatos, CA