Can You Identify These 40 Plants in 5 Minutes?

By: Cameron Cobb
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Identify These 40 Plants in 5 Minutes?
Image: Gabriel Perez / Moment / Getty Images

About This Quiz

For millions of years, Earth has been growing one pretty impressive garden.

Whether it be bunches of cacti baking beneath the sun, fragrant flowers blooming in colorful fields, or the thousands of acres of trees towering throughout forests, you'd be a-maize-d at all the different types of lush greenery this world has to offer. And as our vital source of oxygen, you could say plants are fairly important to sustaining life for not just humans, but, well, everything.

Scientists determine there are about 391,000 species of plants thriving around the world, making it quite a lot of life to keep up with even for the biggest botany buffs. While many of the world's plants are well known, each kind has its own unique characteristics for you to fern something new. Like what the fastest-growing plant on the planet could be? Or why is it that cats are so drawn to catnip? And how long does a century plant actually live? (Spoiler: it's a lot shorter than you might think).

There is so much to discover about the world's abundance of natural gems. So, wood you be up for the task for naming these 40 plant species in five minutes or less? Test your mental green thumb and challenge yourself to find out how much you really grow about plants!

Bamboo
shutterstock
Can you guess the name of this straw-like species?
Flossflower
English Ivy
Bamboo
Sugarcane
Rose
Enn Li Photography/Moment/Getty Images
This pretty plant is a common symbol of love. What is it?
Globeflower
Daisy
Rose
Carnation
Chrysanthemum
Adél Békefi / Moment / Getty Images
Here's a plant first cultivated in China. Do you know its name?
Almond Tree
Baneberry
Chrysanthemum
Foxglove

Advertisement

azalea
shutterstock
This flower blooms for just a few weeks in spring. What's it called?
Goldenrod
Boston Ivy
Azalea
Fringed Bleeding Hearts
5 Aspen Tree
David Epperson / DigitalVision / Getty Images
What's the name of the tree shown here that can grow to tower over other plants?
Hickory
Maple
Cypress
Aspen
Holly
Shutterstock
Look out for this festive plant around Christmas. Do you know it?
Elm tree
Pine tree
Holly
Ice plant

Advertisement

Catnip
Shutterstock
This certain species is known for driving felines crazy. What's it called?
Catnip
Dogwood
Honeysuckle
Kiwi vine
8 Lemon Tree
Image Source / Image Source / Getty Images
Do you know the name of this tart citrus plant?
Grapefruit tree
Orange tree
Kumquat tree
Lemon tree
Aloe Vera
Shutterstock
This plant has some amazing healing qualities. Can you guess it?
Magnolia tree
Leopard plant
Aloe Vera
Mimosa tree

Advertisement

10 Clover field
aristotoo / E+ / Getty Images
As a common green little symbol of luck, what's this plant's name?
Milkweed
Clover
Moss
Dandelion
Lilac
Diana Haronis/Moment/Getty Images
What's this fragrant flower known as?
Tansy
Sweet alyssum
Purple lilac
Marigold
Mint
Shutterstock
Do you know the name of this refreshing herb?
Mint
Basil
Bay leaf
Sage

Advertisement

13 Mistletoe
AYImages / E+ / Getty Images
Hopefully you're around someone you like when near this plant. Can you guess the name?
Vinca vine
Umbrella pine
Tickseed
Mistletoe
Pitcher plant
Michael Nolan / Getty Images
Unless you're a fly, you should be safe around this plant. Do you know it?
Witch hazel
Yarrow
Eucalyptus
Pitcher plant
Lavender
Raquel Lonas/Moment/Getty Images
This plant dates back to ancient Roman times. What is it known as?
Wisteria
Lavender
Pipevine
Zebra grass

Advertisement

Tulip
Darrell Gulin/Digital Vision/Getty Images
With more than 3,000 varieties, it's no wonder gardens of these flowers attract visitors from all over the world. What is it?
Tiger lily
Orchid
Tulip
Poppy
Poinsettia
Pierre-Yves Babelon / Moment / Getty Images
These are known for their appearance around Christmas time. Do you know the name?
Oswego tree
Peony
Poinsettia
Poplar tree
18 Cherry Blossom
Masahiro Makino / Moment / Getty Images
Shown here is the national flower of one popular Asian destination. What's it referred to as?
Almond tree
Mock orange
Cherry blossom
Pearlbush

Advertisement

19 Palm Tree
Stefano Stefani / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Do you know what this tropical tree is called?
Mango tree
Cherimoya
Palm tree
Morning glory
20 Money_plant_2
Wiki Commons by Dr.Vijayachandar
Thought to bring financial good luck, what's the name of this plant?
Silver dollar plant
Money plant
Clover
Oak tree
21 Century Plant
Wiki Commons by Brady Smith; Coconino National Forest
This is one of several within the Agave species of plants. Can you name it?
Century plant
Parlor palm
Maidenhair fern
Easter cactus

Advertisement

22 Peacock_plant Calathea_makoyana
Wiki Commons by Mokkie
Leaves with such beautiful patterns deem this plant worthy of its colorful name, which is what?
Kentia palm plant
Peacock plant
Madagascar dragon tree
Chinese evergreen
23 Opuntia_microdasys_var_angelwings
Wiki Commons by User:Chrizz
You can rest easy knowing this plant won't hop away. What do you think it is?
Arrowhead
Mexican fortune tree
Bird's nest fern
Bunny ears cactus
24 Aluminum_Plant
Wiki Commons by Cliff from Arlington, Virginia, USA
With silver-spotted leaves, it's no wonder how this plant got its name. What is it?
ZZ plant
Coral cactus
Aluminum plant
Japanese painted fern

Advertisement

rubber plant
shutterstock
You have this plant to thank for your favorite stretchy products! The name of it is?
Eternal flame
Coralberry
Rubber tree plant
Weeping fig tree
26 Flamingo Flower Plant
Pornpimon Lekudom / Moment / Getty Images
The bloom's color gives away the name of this plant! Do you know what it is?
Laceflower
Jolt pink dianthus
Flamingo flower plant
Sunflower
27 Lollipop plant
By Eve Livesey / Moment / Getty Images
Don't mistake this plant for candy! Can you tell what it's called?
Spanish bluebell
Lollipop plant
Pygmy date palm
Appletini coralbell

Advertisement

Sage
Shutterstock
Native to Mediterranean regions, this plant is also known for having healing properties. What is it?
Maiden grass
Sage
Purslane
Lantana
morning glory
Shutterstock
It's always rise and shine for this floral creature! Can you guess what it's called?
Snowdrops
Lamb's ear
Saint John's wort
Morning glory
30 Silk Tree
Graiki / Moment / Getty Images
This tree shares a name with a soft material. Do you know what it is?
Angel wing begonia
Silk tree
Lamb's ear
Moth orchid

Advertisement

christmas cactus
shutterstock
Count on this plant for spreading some holiday cheer. What is it?
Christmas cactus
Urn plant
Tiger jaws
Slipper orchid
32 Rattlesnake Plant
Jenny Dettrick / Moment / Getty Images
Thankfully, this plant won't bite! Think you can guess the name?
Busy Lizzie
Rattlesnake plant
Wandering Jew
Goat's horn cactus
33 Jelly Bean Plant
Firdausiah Mamat / Moment / Getty Images
While it may sound sweet, don't be tricked into giving this plant a taste! What's it known as?
Jasmine
Lollipop plant
Umbrella tree
Jelly bean plant

Advertisement

28 Venus flytrap
Ricardo Kuehn / Moment Open / Getty Images
Shown here is a plant that feeds on more than just nutrients in the soil to survive. Can you tell us what it's known as?
Pincushion peperomia
Venus flytrap
Trailing jade
Swiss cheese plant
35 Apricot Tree
Amir Mukhtar / Moment Open / Getty Images
What is this fruit-bearing tree is known as?
Apple tree
Fig tree
Cherry tree
Apricot tree
Baobab Tree
Kieran Stone/Moment/Getty Images
Do you have any idea what this giant plant goes by?
Juniper
Sequoia
Knotweed
Baobab

Advertisement

37 Kudzu
DKAR Images / Photographer's Choice RF / Getty Images
Can you name this invasive plant species?
Huckleberry
Keek
Bamboo
Kudzu
38 Banana Tree Plant
simonlong / Moment Open / Getty Images
This is one sweet tree-t. Any idea what it's called?
Banana plant
Peach tree
Grapevine
Plum tree
39 Coffee Plant
Christyam de Lima / Moment / Getty Images
Known for helping humans to stay alert, this plant even has its own special kind of cup! What's its name?
Coffee plant
Fennel
Canada root
Cacao tree

Advertisement

40 durian tree
somnuk krobkum / Moment / Getty Images
Be careful where you take this pungent fruit, as its odor is sure to hang around! Can you name it?
Durian
Eytelia
Jackfruit tree
Cabbage