Join Me in My Flower Gardens Trivia Quiz

Answer: Alyssums

Alyssum flowers are native flowers to Africa, Asia and Europe. There are approximately one hundred to one hundred and seventy different varieties of this plant. The leaves of alyssum plants are a food for caterpillars and particular lepidoptera such as the Gem moth (Orthonama obstipata). Alyssum plants come in both annual (grow one year only) and perennial (grow each year) types. Colors include white, yellow, pink and purple.

Answer: Coleuses

Though native to Africa, Asia and Australia, these plants grow well in many parts of the world. The foliage of the coleus plants come in an array of colors and patterns making them dress up and compliment any garden. The coleus plants are perennials with many hybrid varieties.

They tolerate sun and partial shade alike and can grow anywhere from six inches in height up to two feet in height. The plants do not do well in areas that have frost so even though they are perennials, the gardener will have to purchase and plant new ones each year.

Answer: Dahlias

Dahlias are native to Mexico for the most part. They are also found in Central America and Colombia. Their size varies from two inches in diameter up to one foot in diameter. Dahlias are octoploids, meaning they have eight sets of homologous chromosomes. Most plants only have two sets.

Their height ranges from twelve inches to as tall as six to eight feet. Their colors are quite diverse as well as bright. In 1963 Mexico declared the dahlia to be their national flower.

Answer: Hostas

There are twenty-three to forty-five different species of hosta. The hostas are also known as plantain lilies and also by the Japanese name giboshi. They are classified as Liliaceae and also Hosta "Undulata". Native to northeast Asia, hostas are found in gardens around the world.

These broad or ovate leafed plants come in a variety of sizes. The hostas produce a flower on erect scapes (long internode). The flowers will be much taller than the leaves. These flowers are most often pendulous with six tepals (outer part of flower including petals and sepals) of white, lavender or violet.

Answer: Impatiens

There are anywhere from eight hundred and fifty to one thousand species of impatiens. The species that are annuals bloom from late spring/early summer until frost comes. Perennial impatiens can flower all year in milder climates. The largest type of impatiens can reach an amazing seven feet in height but most are much smaller.

Many garden varieties, which are typically hybrids of the walleriana and hawken, need sun, shade and moist soil.

Answer: Petunias/double petunias

Originating in South America and related to plants such as tobacco, tomatoes, deadly nightshades and chili peppers, petunias are from the Solanaceae family. Petunias are an annual plant and most garden varieties are hybrids. These tubular shaped flowers are a favorite of some Lepidoptera species like the Hummingbird hawk moth. Petunias can tolerate harsh and hot conditions.

They require plenty of sunlight and to be watered every two to five days. If the climate is hot and dry watering is required daily.

Answer: Roses

Roses belong to the Rosaceae family. They are a woody perennial with well over one hundred different species They can be erect shrubs and can be climbing plants as well, but roses are most often equipped with thorns, which are sharp and prickly. Although most species are native to Asia there are some that are native to Europe, North America and northwest Africa. Roses are both beautiful and fragrant ranging from miniature to climbing up to over twenty feet.

Answer: Carnations

Carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus) are native to the Mediterranean. They have been cultivated extensively so the range of where the carnation grows is not known. This herbaceous perennial can grow up to thirty-one inches tall. Their fragrance is sweet and the flowers can grow as a single flower or in a cyme (cluster) of up to five flowers. Carnations originally came in a bright pinkish-purple but nowadays there are many colors including red, yellow and white, among others. Full sun is best when growing carnations. Carnations are the birth flower of people born in January.

"A White Sport Coat (and a pink carnation)" was a hit song by Marty Robbins in 1957.

Answer: Vivaces

Vivaces grow in large clusters of fragrant and brightly colored flowers. They are dwarf in size and are very resistant to disease. They will bloom all summer in areas with full sun.

Answer: Day lilies

Day lilies (Hemerocallis) can tolerate droughts as well as grow well in full sunshine. The lighter shades of these lilies need the sunshine to bring out their colors which range from pinks to yellows to orange and more. Some varieties bloom in the spring while others bloom in the summer and some other varieties bloom in the fall. Hybrids of the day lilies have been made in the United States of America and England.