An Orange Garden Trivia Quiz

Answer: California

Eschscholzia californica comes in shades of yellow, orange and red, with pink making an occasional appearance. It has been California's state flower since 1903 and is also known as the cup of gold or California sunlight. It is native to Mexico and several states of the USA, not just California. In the wild, it can form huge swathes of colour during the summer months.

Answer: Corm

Montbretia provides a lovely splash of colour in the garden, but it does spread very readily and needs to be kept under control. In the UK it is an offence to plant them in the wild or dispose of them in a way that allows them to colonise wild areas. Crocosmia x Crocosmiiflora is the scientific name and the plant originated in Africa but was bred in France, becoming popular in Britain in the late nineteenth century.

Even though some websites, even those selling plants, refer to bulbs, corms is the correct answer and is the reason the plants spread so readily as corms spread underground.

Answer: Calendula

The calendula is a member of the daisy family and has been cultivated for many years both for decorative purposes and for medical use. Its use as a type of herb dates back to the times of Ancient Greece and Rome and it was also used historically in India. The flowers are edible and have been used as a source of dye for fabric.

They are called pot marigolds or Scotch marigolds in some areas.

Answer: Watercress

Tropaeolum is the official name of the nasturtium which comes in various shades of yellow, orange and red. Its flowers taste similar to watercress, Nasturtium officinale, so the name has been transferred to the flowering plant. In cookery, nasturtiums can be used as flavouring in salads, with all parts being edible.

It can also have uses in herbal medicine, especially in the treatment of urinary infections. Nasturtiums can also be used for pest control, keeping insects away from other food crops, so it sounds as if every garden should have some.

Answer: Umbel

The lantana is native to the tropics, including those of the Americas and Africa, but has adapted to grow in other areas such as India and Australia. A member of the Verbena family, the flowers come in shades of red, orange and yellow with some varieties having blue and white flowers. The florets, officially called umbels, change colour over time so the heads of the flowers can have different shades showing at the same time.

The weather related clue was to the umbrella, with the botanical name dating from the late sixteenth century and given due to the resemblance to umbrella ribs. The other terms have no botanical meaning, to the best of my knowledge.

Answer: Africa

Among the common names for the gerbera are the African daisy and the Transvaal daisy. Orange is not the only colour - yellow, white, pink and red are also found. In the norther hemisphere they are grown as annuals, as they do not survive frosts, although hardy varieties are available. Even they need protection to get through the winter, though.

The genus was named for a German medical doctor and botanist named Traugott Gerber who lived in the eighteenth century.

Answer: Tiger lily

This specific type of lily originates from Asia, mainly China, Korea and Japan. The common name derives from its colouring and the attractive flowers make it a popular choice as an ornamental plant. In its native areas, the bulbs are sometimes used as a source of food. According to some sources, once cooked they taste similar to turnips (which are far less attractive).

The bulbs are also widely used in herbal medicine for a wide range of ailments, including coughs and heart disease.

Answer: Tagetes

Native to the Americas, from the south-west of the USA and ranging down as far as South America, marigold flowers can be yellow or orange. They grow very easily and can be found in many parts of the world, including Asia. Among the many varieties available are the French marigold (Tagetes patula) and the African marigold (Tagetes erecta).

Narcissus is the genus of the daffodil, Vinca is the periwinkle and Ranunculus is the butterup.

Answer: Red hot poker

Native to South Africa, these plants ere given their scientific name after an eighteenth century botanist named Johan Kniphof. The common name comes from the appearance of the flowers, which are upright and resemble the pokers used on open fires. As well as the colours pictured, other varieties can be an even more vivid orange, with other shades of red, pink and yellow being available.

Answer: Potato

Physalis alkekengi has various common names, including bladder cherry and winter cherry as well as Chinese lantern. Looking at the photo, it's easy to see where this name came from as the seed pods do closely resemble the lanterns sent into the sky in various celebrations. Native to Europe and much of Asia, the plant is popular in gardens with white flowers followed by the brightly coloured papery husks.

Solanaceae is a wide ranging family which includes several edible plants such as tomatoes, peppers and aubergines, as well as potatoes. It also covers others which shouldn't be touched, like deadly nightshade and henbane.