Up the Garden Path Trivia Quiz

Answer: Lily of the Valley

Although this is a very pretty flower, it is highly poisonous and if ingested can cause vomiting and acute stomach pain. There is a legend that the flowers sprang from the tears of the Virgin Mary as she watched Christ being crucified and is also known as "Mary's Tears". Finland adopted the lily of the valley as their national flower in 1967.

Answer: Benjamin Disraeli

The flower of the primrose is usually yellow although a pink flower can sometimes be seen. The leaves and the flowers of the primrose are edible and can be used in salads as a substitute for lettuce. The primrose was Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli's favourite flower and on his death in 1881 Queen Victoria sent a wreath of them to his funeral.

Answer: Rose

Roses are a woody perennial plant that has fragrant flowers that can vary greatly in size and colour from white to the deepest red. As well as being grown as ornamental plants used in bouquets and flower arrangements roses have a variety of culinary uses. Rose hips (the fruit of the plant) are high in vitamin C and can be made into rose hip syrup, tea, marmalade and jams. Rose petals are also used as food and are often candied.

Answer: Lavender

Lavender is a fragrant plant that is generally grown for ornamental purposes. It thrives well in full sunshine in dry well-drained gravelly or sandy soil. Lavender is also used in the perfume industry and has several culinary and medical uses. Lavender seeds and flowers are used to sooth and relax and aid sleep.

Answer: Foxglove

Foxgloves are tall plants with clusters of tubular shaped blooms which can come in a variety of colours including pink, white, lavender, purple, red and yellow. They can grow up to six feet in height. Foxgloves are grown commercially for the distillation of the heart medication digitalis. Children and pets should be kept away from the plants as all parts are toxic.

Answer: Buddleia

The buddleia is named in honour of the Reverand Adam Buddle (1662-1715) an English botanist from Essex. It is a large arching bush which produces a mass of flowers from midsummer to autumn. Flower colours include blue, pink, red, violet, yellow, and white and they act as a magnet to butterflies and other beneficial insects.

The downside to having a buddleia is that they spread easily due to the amount of seeds they produce and it is necessary to deadhead the blooms as soon as they are spent to prevent this.

Answer: Rosemary

Rosemary is a hardy plant which can survive a lack of water for several weeks. It is ideal for a rock garden or wall tops. Legend says it got its name when the Virgin Mary spread her blue cloak over a white flowered bush and the flowers turned blue.

The shrub was then know as the "Rose of Mary". The leaves of the rosemary bush can be used fresh or dried for a variety of culinary uses and oil of rosemary is used in shampoos and cleaning products. Drinking rosemary tea is said to enhance memory and concentration.

Answer: Hydrangea

Hydrangeas are native to Japan, China, the Himalayas and North and South America but have been naturalised in compatible climates around the world. The colour of the flowers are affected by the pH of the soil. An acidic soil will produce blue flowers whereas a more alkaline soil will result in pinker flowers.

The age of the plant also affects the colour of the flowers. Hydrangeas make wonderful cut flowers for the house and their blooms may also be dried to be incorporated in floral displays.

Answer: Lilac

The blooms of the lilac bush can vary in colour from pink to purple. However yellow and white varieties are also available. Lilacs were introduced into European gardens in sixteenth century and became a very popular plant in parks and gardens due to its fragrant blooms. According to Greek legend the nymph Syrinx turned herself into a lilac bush to escape from the amorous advances of the god Pan.

In Russia it is said that placing a newly born infant under a lilac bush will give them wisdom.

Answer: Hosta

Hostas originate in the Orient and were brought over to Europe in the 1700s. They are named after the Austrian botanist Nicholas Thomas Host. Hostas thrive almost anywhere as long as they are not grown in direct sunlight. It is important to keep your pets away from hostas as they contain saponins which are poisonous to cats, dogs and horses.