Hello Blossom! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Perennial

Asters are beautiful, star-shaped flowers that earned their name for that very reason, dubbed by Carl von Linnaeus. There are about 180 species in the genus.

They can be found in blue, white, red, yellow, or pink colours, and flower on short one to three inch stems (overall the plants grow two to four feet). They like full sun and rich soil, blooming from mid-summer until the first frost.

Answer: Biennial

Foxglove plants are tall, slender biennials that grow between two and five feet in height and just one to two feet wide. Many tubular, usually flecked flowers bloom on a spike and range in colour from purple to white.

In its two-year cycle, leaves form a rosette that grows close to the ground in the first year, and in the second year it grows into the aforementioned spike with blooms. Foxglove plants bloom in the early summer months, and they prefer full sun or partial shade in well-drained, humus-rich acidic soil.

Answer: Perennial

Daffodils are a sure sign that spring has arrived. When first planted as bulbs in the fall, daffodils will bloom in late winter/early spring. The flowers are typically yellow or white with six petals and a trumpet-shaped central corona.

They like full sun or partial shade, and prefer to be planted in fertile, well-drained (neutral to acidic) soil that is moist during the growing season.

Answer: Annual

Impatiens are terrific bedding plants that like shade and moisture. They come in a wide variety of bright, cheerful colours. When their seed pods are ripe, they can burst open and shoot seeds out at the slightest touch (hence the name 'impatiens').

Interestingly, the closer impatiens plants are, the taller they will grow, so it is important to space them accordingly when planning your garden. Impatiens plants can grow anywhere between 6 and 30 inches tall.

Answer: Annual

Moonflowers like full to partial sun in the daylight hours, but they keep their blooms closed in the daytime. After sunset, these large and fragrant white blooms open up and glow all night in the moonlight. A vining plant, moonflowers can grow up to 12 to 18 feet tall!

Their seeds can be planted early in the season (after danger of frost has passed) in dry soil with a little mulch. They will bloom in the summer through to the fall.

Answer: Biennial

The common hollyhock is a biennial plant that produces mounds of foliage and perhaps a flower or two in its first year, then flowers in its second year, growing on stalks that can grow to eight or nine feet in height (with some exceptions reaching higher). Due to its ability to easily reseed, hollyhocks are often given to appearing like a perennial.

Hollyhocks range in colour from white to dark red, including pink, yellow and orange. They prefer full sun, and different colours seem to prefer different soil types, from sandy to clay soils.

Answer: Biennial

The origins of the name 'Sweet William' are unclear, but some say it might have been named in honour of Prince William, the Duke of Cumberland (1721-1765). This might be hard to substantiate, however, as the name first appeared in 1596 in botanist John Gerard's garden catalogue.

This biennial grows in dense clusters of up to 30 flowers on stems of a plant that grows between 13 to 92 centimeters tall. Cultivated Sweet William is typically found in white, pink, red, and purple. They like full sun and rich and loose soil that drains well.

Answer: Annual

Black-eyed Susans are commonly seen as wildflowers, but are a popular choice to grace gardens as well. The bright yellow daisy-like flowers have dark brown-purple centers that account for their name.

Black-eyed Susan seeds are best planted between March and May in moist, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. They will bloom between June and September.

Answer: Perennial

Yarrow plants are hardy perennials with flower heads made of many tiny, tightly-packed flowers. These flowers are most commonly found in pink, red, or yellow varieties.

Yarrows commonly grow to between two and four feet tall. They prefer well-drained, average to poor soil and thrive in hot, dry conditions.

Answer: Annual

Pansies are easily recognizable as those flowers with faces. They have one of the widest colour ranges available of any flower, and are a popular choice for beginning gardeners.

Pansies can be planted at any time in the year, if the climate allows for blooming in the winter. Generally, seeds are planted in late winter for early spring and summer flowering, or in the summer for winter flowering. Pansy plants prefer full sun and are known to attract butterflies, adding a special magic to your garden.