There are over 400,000 known species of flowers in the world, so it can be difficult to know if there is a particular flower with a specific name. The name “Jay” is not very common for flowers, but there are a few possible flower varieties that could potentially have this name. In this article, we’ll explore the possibilities and try to determine if there is indeed a flower variety officially called “Jay.”
Examining common flower names
When trying to ascertain if there is a flower called “Jay,” it’s helpful to first look at some of the most common flower names and plants:
| Common Flower Names |
|---|
| Rose |
| Tulip |
| Daisy |
| Lily |
| Carnation |
| Sunflower |
| Lavender |
| Orchid |
As you can see, most popular flower names are quite distinct from “Jay.” The most common names are often inspired by the appearance of the flower, like the sunflower, or have Latin-derived names, like orchid. “Jay” does not seem to follow typical flower naming conventions.
Searching flower databases
To dig deeper into the thousands of flower species, we can turn to some databases that compile information on flowers. The Royal Horticultural Society has an extensive database of over 77,000 plant records. Searching this database for “Jay” unfortunately turns up no results. Major flower sellers like 1-800-Flowers, FTD, and Bouqs also have no records of a flower called “Jay” in their listings.
Some other specialized flower databases to check include:
| Flower Database |
|---|
| Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder |
| USDA Plants Database |
| Plant Information Online |
| African Plants Database |
Unfortunately, searches in these databases for a flower named “Jay” also come up empty. There are no records or entries found for a plant with the common name of Jay.
Examining rose varieties
Since Jay is a rather uncommon name for a flower, our best bet may be to look at rose cultivars. Roses comprise over 150 different species and thousands of hybrids and cultivars. They are some of the most commonly grown and bred flowers in the world. As such, rose breeders have gotten quite creative with naming new varieties over the years.
Could there possibly be a rose variety out there named “Jay”? A search of rose databases shows:
| Rose Name | Details |
|---|---|
| Just Joey | Large apricot blend hybrid tea rose |
| Jude the Obscure | Yellow shrub rose |
| John F. Kennedy | White hybrid tea rose |
There are roses with boy’s names like Joey, Jude, and John, but no signs of any rose cultivars named specifically Jay. The International Rose Society documentation does not show any entries for a Jay rose. Most roses have more elaborate, descriptive names like Veterans’ Honor or Chrysler Imperial.
Exploring other flower varieties
With no matches found yet, we’ll need to broaden our search beyond roses. Some other flower types that may potentially have unusual named varieties:
| Flower Type |
|---|
| Dahlias |
| Irises |
| Peonies |
| Camellias |
| Daylilies |
| Hydrangeas |
Dahlia breeders have given some quirky names like Formal Attire and Great Silence. Irises range from pretty names like Immortality to silly ones like Raspberry Raindrops. However, there are still no signs of a Jay variety. Catalogs from top growers of these flowers show no trace of a Jay cultivar. It’s possible a very small specialty grower has bred a Jay, but it certainly does not seem to be a widely available flower variety.
The origins of flower names
Most flowers end up with the names they have for a reason. Sometimes it’s due to the appearance, like the Snapdragon which resembles the mouth of a dragon when squeezed. Other times it reflects the heritage, like African Daisy. Flowers can also be named for people, like the Daisy flower being named after the Roman goddess Demeter.
For a flower to end up with a random name like Jay, it would likely have to be intentionally bred and named by a hybridizer. For whatever reason, no flower breeder seems to have bestowed the name Jay on any of their cultivars that have become commercially available.
There are some flower names that may sound unfamiliar, like Foxtail Lily or Urn Plant, but these names describe an appearance or trait. Jay does not have an obvious connection to the appearance or history of a flower.
Searching for obscure flowers
With no solid leads yet on a flower called Jay, the next step is to dig deeper into obscure, little-known flowers around the world. There are many flowers that grow in remote regions or limited habitats. Could one of these uniquely named flowers possibly be called Jay?
Sources to search for rare, exotic flowers include:
| Source |
|---|
| Encyclopedia of House Plants |
| International Dendrology Society |
| Rare Flowers by Country Factsheets |
| Extinct in the Wild from the IUCN |
These in-depth plant references cover everything from flowers thought to be extinct like the Chilean Bellflower, to weird wonders like the Voodoo Lily. Unfortunately, there is still no definitive evidence found of any legitimate flower variety given the name Jay. At this point in the exhaustive search, it seems highly unlikely such a flower exists.
Is “Jay” more of a bird name?
The name Jay is perhaps more commonly associated with a family of birds, the jays. There are many species of jays found throughout forests worldwide. Some examples include:
| Type of Jay |
|---|
| Blue Jay |
| Steller’s Jay |
| Gray Jay |
| Green Jay |
| Florida Scrub-jay |
The name Jay comes from the loud, chatty nature of these birds. So while Jay may not be a likely name for a flower, it is very fitting for this family of vocal, flashy birds.
It’s not impossible some obscure individual has given a personal nickname of Jay to a certain flower. But there is no evidence of an officially recognized type or cultivar of flower known as “Jay” across botany and horticulture.
Conclusion
After thoroughly searching major flower databases, rose catalogs, exotic flower factsheets, and obscure plant listings, there are no signs of an existing flower variety officially named “Jay.” While the name Jay is sometimes given to certain birds known for their noise, it does not seem to be a conventional name choice for flowers.
Flowers tend to be given names that reflect their appearance, growing conditions, heritage, or botanists they honor. Jay has no clear connection to established flower naming practices. Unless someone someday hybridizes and registers an official new flower breed called Jay, this name will likely remain solely in the domain of certain vocal birds.
