Image: Pixabay by Foto-Rabe
About This Quiz
For some of us, our knowledge of flowers stops at the Valentine's Day bouquet we receive each year at work. For others, the idea of having a green thumb is as ingrained in our lives as eating, sleeping or breathing. Apart from their undeniable beauty and enchanting fragrances, flowers have medicinal properties, significance in historical and mythological circles and modern-day symbolism of ideas like love, grace and purity.
Consider the rose, for example; it's perhaps the most popular flower in any garden or bouquet. A red rose symbolizes love, while its yellow counterpart represents friendship. It's used for providing scent in lotions and perfumes, to add flavor in teas and recipes and as an herbal remedy in folk medicine to relieve pain and treat cancer. And here you thought it was just a beautiful addition to a floral arrangement! This multipurpose flower isn't alone, though; many of its floral friends bear similar roles and responsibilities.
This quiz is like a walk through a well-tended garden with flower facts and photos from 40 popular species. See how many of these flowers you've received ... or maybe grown! Test your bloomin' brain power by matching clues to the appropriate flower. We'll give you two big (green) thumbs up if you know a bunch!
Iris
The iris is where you'll notice an individual's eye color, and the plant version of the iris is similarly colorful, appearing in shades of purple, blue, white, yellow, red and more. The iris is a hardy spring flower.
Dahlia
Pansy
Crocus
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Hollyhock
Daffodil
The brilliant daffodil comes from the narcissus family, and although it's most common in bright yellow, it may also appear in white. This flower represents friendship or chivalry.
Sunflower
Primrose
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Tulip
Rose
Shakespeare's quote about the rose is one of the more memorable lines from his play "Romeo and Juliet." Roses today are one of the most popular for gifting for Valentine's Day and anniversaries.
Lily
Peony
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Columbine
Lily of the valley
Marigold
Carnation
The scientific name for the carnation is "dianthus," a combination of Greek words "dios," which references Zeus, and "anthos," which means "flower." Carnations come in many colors, each with its own special meaning.
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Hydrangea
Sunflower
The sunflower is appropriately named for sure! Its behavior of heliotropism means that it turns its face toward the sun, which allows it to make the best use of sunlight for its growth.
Honeysuckle
Daisy
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Hyacinth
The hyacinth, native to the Mediterranean, is one of the first flowers to bloom when springtime is upon us. Typically planted in the fall, it's a nice sight to see when they pop out of the ground in March or April.
Snowdrop
Rose
Violet
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Alyssum
Wisteria
Cosmos
Dahlia
Named for the Swedish botanist Anders Dahl, the dahlia was first discovered in the mountains of Mexico. The official flower of Seattle, these blooms are best suited to a temperate climate.
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Buttercup
Buttercups, with the scientific name "ranunculus," are mostly found near bodies of water. The word "ranunculus" is Latin for "little frog." Since frogs are also found near water, the flower's name is a perfect fit.
Lantana
Sage
Snapdragon
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Begonia
Primrose
Lily
The lily, which symbolizes purity and beauty, is a large, fragrant flower that shares its name with the female name "Lily." The lily family contains more than a hundred different species.
Canna
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Gardenia
Gardenias are both beautifully fragrant as well as incredibly delicate. They are noticeable for their white blooms and dark leaves and prefer tropical climates. They are found growing in the wild in places like Africa and Hawaii.
Anemone
Cyclamen
Camellia
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Sweet pea
Pincushions
Orchid
Historically, the orchid was used to treat illnesses due to its various antibacterial properties. The orchid was also believed to be an aphrodisiac of sorts, making it a common addition to love potions of the day as well.
Passion flowers
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Hydrangea
Impacted by the pH levels in the soil, the hydrangea is one of a unique class of flowers that can change colors automatically thanks to its environment. The colors tend to shift between pink, purple and blue.
Daffodil
Hollyhock
Lavender
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Chrysanthemum
Delphinium
Daisy
The daisy, which might have been initially "day's eye," is so named for its petals that close at night and re-open during the day. Daisies' disk petals are the ones in the center, while the ray petals are the ones that surround the center.
Columbine
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Larkspur
Pansy
Tulip
The bulbs of the tulip plant were used historically during periods of famine, being fairly similar to onions. They have also made a suitable replacement in some recipes. The flowering part of the tulip is cup-shaped and can come in a variety of colors.
Marigold
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Poinsettia
The poinsettia is a top seller in the United States; according to some sources, it outsells all other potted plants combined! It's associated with Christmas and the holiday season and has December 12th named "National Poinsettia Day."
Iris
Tulip
Honeysuckle
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Hyacinth
Chrysanthemum
The chrysanthemum, more commonly known as just "mums," is frequently associated with pumpkins and fall. Most growers, however, would tell you that the right time to plant them is in the spring, for the next fall.
Scarlet beebalm
Ipomoea
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Rosemallow
Crown imperial
Snapdragon
The snapdragon's unique appearance has led to it having many names, including "rabbit's lips" and "lion's lips." Those names, along with its "snapdragon" designation, reference the flower's mouth-shaped bloom.
Dahlia
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Peony
Despite its delicate-sounding name, the peony is a relatively robust plant that requires little maintenance and can bloom year after year once planted. They're resistant to drought-like conditions and are the floral symbol of China.
Daffodil
Rose
Iris
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Rose
Violet
Aptly named for its purple hue, the violet is a perfect accompaniment to February and its purple-tinted birthstone, the amethyst. Violets are a small flower, and some people even consider them to be a weed.
Amethyst
Pansy
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Iris
Tulip
Lilac
The lilac is a beautifully aromatic flower, but its life is short-lived. They bloom for only a few weeks in the spring, but their sizable bush will stay with you much longer. You'll have to wait a while for them to bloom again, however.
Chrysanthemum
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Lotus
The lotus is unique in that it performs best in muddy water, with its bloom emerging above the surface. This flower is a sacred element in religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism.
Crane's bill
Passion flower
Cyclamen
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Daylily
Daffodil
Goldenrod
The goldenrod is a tall plant that replaced bluegrass as the official flower of Kentucky in the 1920s. Goldenrod blooms in bright yellow and the Solidago Gigantea species can grow to be eight feet tall.
Scotch broom
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Sweet pea
When you think of a climbing plant, look no further than the sweet pea which can grow to reach Kobe Bryant height (that's 6'6") in just one season of planting. The sweet pea offers a delicate, fragrant bloom.
Hyacinth
Poppy
Gladiolus
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Foxglove
Lily of the Valley
The Lily of the Valley was believed to have sprung up from the tears Mary cried at Jesus' cross, earning is the name "Our Lady's Tears." Today, these bell-shaped flowers bear dozens of blooms but have only a week-long life cycle.
Lobelia
Nasturtium
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Wisteria
Carnation
Cornflower
The cornflower earned its name for natural appearing in crop fields (not limited to just corn). Its edible leaves are said to taste a lot like cucumbers, and it is sometimes referred to as "bachelor's button," stemming from a time when men would wear a flower in their suit's buttonhole.
Pincushion
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Magnolia
The magnolia bloom can test your patience if you try to grow one from seeds. Using that method, it can take upward of a decade for the plant to start blooming. The magnolia is believed to have pre-historic origins.
Touch-me-not
Canna
Coneflower
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Peace lily
Phlox
Iris
The iris' tall stem with a flowering head is believed to be where ancient rulers derived the concept of the scepter (or staff) from. The iris' three petals are believed to represent wisdom, courage and faith.
Amaryllis
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Cornflower
Rhododendron
The rhododendron usually appears in the form of a large, flowering shrub and is populous in the Appalachian Mountains, which probably explains its state flower designation for West Virginia. Don't eat from the plant, though. Most parts of its are considered toxic.
Stonecrop
Begonia
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Bird of Paradise
The "Bird of Paradise" flower shares its name with the actual colorful bird. Its brightly colored leaves of yellow and blue resemble a tropical bird in flight when it is in bloom. It's native to South Africa.
Snapdragon
Bellflower
Foxglove
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Snowdrop
Scilla
Peony
Wisteria
Wisteria is a beautiful vining plant that produces flowers in shades of white, blue, pink or purple. It grows rapidly and can even grow around nearby structures such as trees and even houses.
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Tulip
Freesia
The sweet fragrance of freesia makes it a popular addition to cosmetics products ranging from lotions to shampoos. A flower that blooms in different colors, the pink and red varieties are believed to produce the most fragrance.
Violet
Camellia
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Primrose
Crocus
Gladiolus
The gladiolus boasts a tall, sword-like shape that probably helped it earn the ancient name "xiphium," which is from the Greek word "xiphos." These flowers come in a spike shape with blooms up and down the stalk.
Columbine
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Queen Anne's lace
A frequent addition to floral arrangements, Queen Anne's lace produces a lace-like appearance among its flat-topped white blooms. It's named after Queen Anne of England who was said to be a skilled lace maker.
Anemone
Hollyhock
Alyssum
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Rosemary
Tumeric
Ginger
When you think about ginger, you probably think first of the spice that frequently appears in spice racks. The ginger flower is both colorful and fragrant, making it a popular addition to Hawaiian leis.
Salt
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Heather
Heather has been useful for many purposes throughout the years, including as a flavoring component for beer and wine, to paint wool and as a fragrance for shampoo, lotion and perfume.
Sweet pea
Carnation
Lantana
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Lantana
Gerbera
Gerberas come in many bright colors. The legend behind these flowers explains that they are derived from a beautiful nymph who sought to get away unwanted attention. She transformed herself into the gerbera flower.
Sage
Lupine
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Rose
Lily
Orchid
Aster
The aster flower takes on a star-like shape, and its name stems from the Greek word for "star." The bloom has mythological meaning, believed to have been created from stardust scattered on the Earth by the goddess Virgo.
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Scotch broom
Bells of Ireland
Bells of Ireland might lead you to believe this bloom originated in Ireland, but it's actually native to areas in Asia. Some people believe it is named for its bright-green appearance, a color frequently associated with all things Irish.
Scarlet beebalm
Kentucky bluegrass
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Devil's claw
Corpse flower
Bleeding heart
Bleeding hearts are an easily recognizable flower with its heart-shaped bloom. It also appears to be "dripping" into a garden where it's present — a nod to the "bleeding" reference in its name.
Witch hazel
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Delphinium
Delphinium translates to "little dolphin," a name earned by the flower for the tiny dolphin shape the Greeks believed they saw in its blooms. Delphinium is poisonous if ingested, although it has been used previously in medicinal treatments.
Hydrangea
Daylily
Wisteria
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