A Purple Garden Trivia Quiz

Answer: Butterfly bush

This is a photo of a buddleia, or buddlejia, which was named for the clergyman and botanist, Adam Buddle. The plant is often used in gardens, but is also considered to be an invasive species. The seeds are distributed by wind, and buddleias can be found growing on many areas of waste ground.

Its name of butterfly bush reflects the fact that many species of butterfly are attracted to its flowers, although bees and other insects also visit the plants.

Answer: Spring

If you know your etymology, you might have recognised that Pasque refers to Easter, which falls in the early spring in the northern hemisphere. The flower belongs to the Pulsatilla genus and different varieties of it are the official flowers for Manitoba, in Canada, South Dakota in the USA, the counties of Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire in the UK and Oppland in Norway. Be careful if you grow the flower in your garden as it is highly toxic and ingesting it can cause low blood pressure.

Answer: Allium

The alternative name for this variety of Allium is the ornamental onion, and the flowers are particularly attractive and striking. As well as garlic and leeks, the genus includes onion, shallots, chives and scallions. The plants grows from a bulb and while most of them are harmless to humans, they can be toxic to domestic pets such as cats and dogs.

Answer: Buttercup

Clematis is one of the most popular garden plants, since most of them are climbers and cover what might otherwise be rather ugly fences and walls. The flowers come in a wide variety of shades, but (naturally) I've chosen a purple variety to illustrate this question. In the UK there are wild varieties known by names such as 'Traveller's Joy' and 'Old Man's Beard'.

As well as clematis and buttercups, the ranuncula family includes aconites and Aquilegia, which is also known as 'granny's bonnets' and columbine.

Answer: Cat

The photo shows catmint, or catnip, one of the plants which cats are attracted to. The nepetalactone which the plant contains makes cats feel very happy, so don't plant it if you're not a cat lover. The same chemical acts as a deterrent to mosquitoes and flies. Catmint can be made into a herbal tea and used as a flavouring in cookery.

The other options listed do have plants named for them, in the dog rose, snapdragon and horsetail.

Answer: Sage

Salvia officinalis is the official name for sage, which has been used as a herb from ancient times - Pliny the Elder, the Roman author, mentioned it in his writings. It is a member of the mint family, and its leaves can be used as a flavouring, often in combination with other items, for many dishes. It also has medical uses, particularly in treating digestive problems and has also been used to add fragrance to soaps and other cosmetics.

Thank you to Simon and Garfunkel for coming up with the answer options for this question.

Answer: Lilac

This is Syringa vulgaris, or the common lilac, which belongs to the same family as the olive. The colour lilac is named for the usual shade of flowers on the plant. It is grown in many gardens for its scent. The flowers appear in the early part of the summer in the northern hemisphere.

Answer: Delphinium

While all the flowers listed can be associated with an English country garden, the picture is of a delphinium, a member of the Ranunculus genus. The name comes from the same root as the dolphin, as the parts of the flower bear a resemblance to the fin of the mammal. The flowers can range from dark blue to white, with some varieties being red, although the blue and purple shades are the more traditional ones found in the UK.

Wisteria is also usually a shade of purple, but the flowers hang downwards. Hollyhocks come in varying shades, while dianthus is commonly known as the carnation or pink.

Answer: France

This is a distinctive variety of Lavandula, with the flowers growing from bracts. The scent of the French lavender is often described as being stronger than the more common varieties. It is less hardy than the usual lavenders and more at risk from the cold winters of the UK. Despite being considered an attractive garden plant, in some parts of the world it is seen as a weed.

Answer: Iris

The iris shares its name with the Greek goddess of the rainbow, and comes in a wide variety of shades of colour. The purple variety is probably the most common, though. In the UK, it normally flowers in the early part of the summer and is sometimes known by the alternative name of flag, or even flag iris.

The plants grow from rhizomes, and are perennials. They will spread, so can be dug up and split if you want to add extra colour to your garden without spending any money.