In the context of plants I wouldn’t think racism would come into it? Also in food shops. I accept it was different matter in S Africa. I have a friend from Zimbabwe and she’s never heard of the term.
You're right @Dovefromabove, when it's used about people but I can't see the offence in a flower name, especially one which, as far as I know, has had a change of botanical name in recent years which can be confusing.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
It was used about the plant because it was a ‘native’ of South Africa ... as were the people it was named after who were called Kaffirs during apartheid by the racist white rulers. The plant was named after the people as an intentional insult.
It’s a racist term ... no two ways about it. South African friends, and a friend who grew up in Zimbabwe when it was Rhodesia, say they find it extremely offensive.
It’s like when my son in law is called the ‘N’ word to his face ... or someone goes out of his way to describe a colour as ‘n***er brown’ in his hearing, then looks at him and smirks.
If you or a loved one have never been treated like that day after day maybe you can’t imagine what it’s like.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Maybe then, you need to tell the RHS not list the name on its website. I would never use the term for a person and have difficulty understanding why Thai lime has that epithet but I don't have a problem with it for a lily. I was born in what is now Tanzania and have spent some time in Zambia and Rhodesia before it became independent and I do know about racism.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Maybe I’ll do just that. It’ll probably take more than me ... but if people stopped using the term it’d drop out of usage and could be seen purely as an historical name.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I expect there are some historic common and regional names for British plants that would cause offence to modern day sensibilities.
I've experienced racism from both sides - white on black and shades in between plus black on white and also white on white nationalism. I do think we have more to worry about than a historic plant name.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
It's a beautiful plant for sure. It's important to keep context in mind when talking names. It's quite obvious that if used in the wrong way many words can be offensive. Kaffir in the case of this common name refers to it being a native species and is as far as I can tell in no way meant to be derogatory.
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I have a friend from Zimbabwe and she’s never heard of the term.
It’s a racist term ... no two ways about it. South African friends, and a friend who grew up in Zimbabwe when it was Rhodesia, say they find it extremely offensive.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I've experienced racism from both sides - white on black and shades in between plus black on white and also white on white nationalism. I do think we have more to worry about than a historic plant name.
Personally I'd sooner just enjoy the plants.