Plants are named through a hierarchical system that starts with genus and species, but the story does not end there. Once a plant is identified down to the species level, it can be divided further into cultivars and varieties, two terms that describe distinct ways a plant can deviate from the species standard. Those deviations can show up in bloom size, leaf color, fragrance, growth habit, or disease resistance. Gardeners and landscapers who understand the difference make better purchasing decisions, and the comparison works much the same way as a homeowner weighing appliance choices such as impeller washers versus agitator washers when deciding which option fits their needs. This article explains what each term means, how these plants are produced, and what the distinction means for real landscape projects.
What Is a Cultivar?
A cultivar, short for cultivated variety, is a plant that is propagated through human intervention to develop a desirable characteristic and to ensure the offspring retains the traits of the parent plant. Breeders and nurseries create cultivars deliberately, then multiply them by methods that preserve the exact genetic makeup. The fall color of the ‘Tiger Eyes’ sumac cultivar, a widely planted landscape shrub, is a familiar example of a trait selected and fixed through cultivation.
Construction professionals apply the same idea when they separate varieties of masonry construction by material and technique, because each class behaves differently on site. Plants behave the same way: a cultivar is a named selection with predictable performance, and that predictability is exactly what landscape contractors rely on when they specify plants for a client.
How Cultivars Are Created
Cultivar development usually begins with cross-pollination between two parent plants to create new seedlings, but it can also start with a chance mutation spotted in a nursery block. Once a promising individual appears, it is multiplied by asexual methods so every copy is genetically identical to the parent.
- Stem cuttings: rooting a section of stem so it forms a new plant with the parent’s traits.
- Grafting: joining a scion of the desired cultivar onto a rootstock, common for fruit trees and Japanese maples.
- Tissue culture: growing plants from small explants in a laboratory, used when cuttings are difficult or disease is a concern.
- Layering: bending a stem to the ground so it roots while still attached to the parent.
Cultivar Naming Conventions
Cultivar names are written with capital letters and enclosed in single quotation marks, such as Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’ or Rhus typhina ‘Tiger Eyes’. The quoted name distinguishes the cultivar from the straight species and from other named selections. In the United States, a cultivar name can be registered with the appropriate authority so that growers and sellers use the same label for the same plant.
Registered Names and Trademarks
Some cultivars carry a trademarked selling name in addition to their registered cultivar name, and the two are not always the same. A trademark identifies the source of the plant, while the cultivar name is the botanical identifier. A plant can be sold under a trademarked marketing name while its true cultivar name appears in smaller print on the tag.
What Is a Variety?
A variety is a naturally occurring subdivision of a species. Varieties develop in the wild through adaptation to local conditions, and they maintain their distinguishing traits when grown from seed. Unlike cultivars, varieties do not require human intervention to arise, although growers certainly collect, name, and propagate them.
How Varieties Arise Naturally
Natural variation happens when a population of plants adapts to a particular climate, soil, or pollinator over many generations. A species growing across a wide geographic range may produce regional forms that differ in leaf size, hardiness, or flower color. Botanists classify these stable wild forms as varieties and record them with the abbreviation var., as in Acer palmatum var. dissectum, the laceleaf maple.
Stability Through Seed
The practical difference shows up in the seed. Seed collected from a variety generally produces seedlings that resemble the parent, because the trait is inherited and stable in the wild population. Seed collected from a cultivar often produces offspring that revert to species traits or show wide variation, which is why cultivars are almost always multiplied asexually.
Key Differences Between Cultivars and Varieties
The table below summarizes the differences that matter when you are reading a plant tag, writing a specification, or deciding how to propagate a plant for a project.
| Comparison point | Cultivar | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Created by human breeding or selection | Arises naturally in wild populations |
| Propagation | Asexual: cuttings, grafting, tissue culture | Seed, and comes true from seed |
| Genetic stability | Identical to parent when multiplied asexually | Stable through natural inheritance |
| Name format | Capitalized, in single quotes (‘Bloodgood’) | Lowercase with var. (var. dissectum) |
| Legal protection | Can be patented or trademarked | Generally no protection |
Why the Distinction Matters for Buyers
When a tag says cultivar, the plant was selected and reproduced for a specific trait, and the buyer can expect that trait to show up consistently. When a tag says variety, the plant is a natural form that may show more variation from plant to plant. Knowing which one you are buying matters for uniformity in a mass planting or a hedge, where mixed forms create an uneven line.
Reading Plant Labels
A typical nursery label lists the genus and species, then adds the cultivar or variety. ‘Bloodgood’ after Acer palmatum tells you the plant is a cultivar; var. dissectum tells you it is a botanical variety. Catalogs sometimes blur the two, so checking the label format is the fastest way to tell them apart.
Nurseries and landscape contractors can turn a well-curated cultivar collection into a competitive advantage. The same guidance that helps construction contractors define who they are and stand out through marketing differentiation applies to plant sellers, who can build a reputation around hard-to-find cultivars, proven performers, and honest labeling.
Propagation Methods and Legal Restrictions
Propagation is where cultivars and varieties diverge in practice. Reproducing a cultivar requires an asexual method, while a variety can be grown from seed. There are also legal restrictions on propagating cultivars that growers and home gardeners must take into account before they scale up a project.
Common Propagation Techniques
Each asexual technique suits different plants and situations:
- Stem cuttings work for many shrubs and perennials and are the cheapest method at scale.
- Grafting joins a cultivar scion to a vigorous rootstock, which controls size and improves disease tolerance.
- Tissue culture produces large numbers of disease-free plants quickly, at higher setup cost.
- Division splits clumps of herbaceous perennials and preserves the cultivar’s traits.
Plant Patents and Trademarks
In the United States, the Plant Patent Act of 1930 allows breeders to protect newly developed cultivars. A patented cultivar cannot be asexually reproduced, sold, or used without the patent holder’s permission for the life of the patent, which is typically 20 years from filing. Trademarked names add another layer: the name itself is protected even after the patent expires, so a nursery cannot market a plant under a competitor’s trademarked selling name.
What Home Gardeners Can and Cannot Do
Propagating a patented cultivar at home for personal use is technically restricted in the United States, though enforcement is directed at commercial nurseries that reproduce patented plants for sale. For unpatented cultivars and varieties, gardeners are free to propagate and share plants. Checking patent status before expanding a propagation operation avoids legal trouble.
Japanese maples in the landscape demonstrate how far cultivar development can go. Hundreds of named cultivars exist, selected for leaf color, form, and size, and the japanese maples in the landscape guide walks through varieties, care, and growing tips for the forms most often specified in residential design.
Selecting Cultivars and Varieties for Landscape Projects
Selection starts with the site, not the catalog. Soil, sun exposure, hardiness zone, and maintenance budget decide which candidates will perform, and the cultivar choice then tunes the ornamental effect.
Criteria for Plant Selection
- Hardiness zone and microclimate exposure.
- Mature size relative to the planting space, including width at 10 years.
- Growth rate and pruning requirements.
- Disease and pest resistance, which varies sharply between cultivars.
- Ornamental traits such as flower color, fall foliage, bark, and fragrance.
- Water needs and tolerance of the irrigation system in place.
Trial Data and Proven Selections
Regional plant trials, arboretum evaluations, and university extension recommendations give landscapers data on how cultivars perform in a specific climate. Choosing proven selections reduces callbacks, because the cultivar’s behavior in local conditions is documented rather than guessed.
Writing a Plant Schedule
Documentation discipline matters here just as it does elsewhere in construction. The way a specification sheet classifies paving slabs and their varieties for construction professionals is a model for plant schedules: every selection gets a botanical name, cultivar or variety designation, container size, and quantity, so the installer and the client are looking at the same list. A plant schedule should list the full botanical name, the cultivar in quotes when one exists, the variety designation, container size, and spacing. Including the cultivar name protects the design intent, because a generic species entry invites substitution with a different form that changes the look.
Practical Takeaways for Gardeners and Landscapers
The difference between cultivars and varieties affects every stage of a planting project, from sourcing to establishment. A few habits keep the distinction useful rather than academic:
A Checklist for Sourcing Plants
- Read the label for the quoted cultivar name or the var. abbreviation.
- Confirm the plant is hardy in your zone before purchasing.
- Ask the nursery whether the plant is patented and whether propagation is restricted.
- Specify the cultivar name in contracts and plant schedules.
- Buy from growers who document their stock, and inspect plants on delivery.
The same principles carry indoors. Houseplant selections are dominated by named cultivars chosen for color, form, and function, and the dracaena plant varieties for indoor spaces identification guide shows how cultivar-level choices, such as leaf variegation and air-purifying qualities, determine whether a plant fits a room. Whether the project is a foundation planting or an office lobby, the cultivar-versus-variety distinction is the first filter for predictable results.