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About This Quiz
Can you distinguish aster from anemone, or lilac from larkspur, in just one glance? Are you able to identify any of the 100-plus species of roses from one another without checking the little plant markers? If you've got a good eye for flowers, you might have what it takes to earn a perfect score on this quiz!
There's no question that flowers are nature's gift. Whether arranged in a vase or growing in the garden, flowers add a pop of color and fragrance, plus they help humans to reconnect with our natural roots.
But the true value of flowers extends well beyond their appearance and smell; many flowers can be used as food or garnish, while others have been used in a variety of medicines throughout the years. Flowers also play a symbolic role, representing love, mourning or celebration as we include them in key life events, such as weddings, funerals and parties.
Perhaps most important of all, however, is the role flowers play in nature itself. They serve as food for deer and rabbits, and they also provide pollen and nectar for bees, wasps, butterflies and other insects. Even below the surface of the soil, the roots of flowering plants are involved in a complicated symbiotic relationship with a variety of bacteria and fungi.
So do you think you have what it takes to tell one flower from another after viewing only a single image? Take this quiz and find out!
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Which flower associated with romance is pictured?
Rose
Roses can be given on many occasions and are not only reserved for your sweetheart. Each color has a meaning and can be given to family, friends and acquaintances.
Morning glory
Pansy
Laurel
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What's the name of this springtime bloom?
Jasmine
Tulip
The word tulip comes from a Persian word, delband, which means turban, probably because the flower is somewhat turban-shaped. The Netherlands is the world's main producer of commercially sold tulips, producing as many as 3 billion bulbs annually, most of which are exported.
Morning glory
Hibiscus
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What brightly hued flower is pictured?
Gerberas
Sunflower
Sunflowers didn't originate in Europe, they were cultivated in North America. They were brought to Russia by royalty because sunflower oil was the only oil that wasn't banned during Lent.
Anemone
Crocus
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Can you identify this flower that mostly grows in the northern hemisphere?
Lily
Lilies can be white, yellow, orange, red, purple or pink in color and can be covered with different types of freckle patterns. Only white and tiger lilies are known for their smell; other lilies are odorless.
Hydrangea
Gerberas
Violet
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What's the name of this iconic yellow bloom?
Anthurium
Bouvardia
Hydrangea
Daffodil
Some people who raise chickens believe that daffodils prevent hens from laying eggs, so they avoid planting daffodils on their land. Ancient Romans cultivated daffodils and believed that the sap extracted from the flowers possessed healing properties.
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Can you name this flower that's known for repelling insects?
Marigold
Marigolds are also known as calendula, which is a modern Latin diminutive of "calendae," meaning “little calendar,” “little clock” or “little weather glass.” Marigolds have been grown in European gardens since the 12th century.
Poinsettia
Anthurium
Peony
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Which common bouquet flower is pictured?
Morning glory
Carnation
Each color of a carnation has a unique meaning — for example, white symbolizes purity, while pink represents a mother’s love. Carnations are sometimes used as flavor agents in beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages.
Anthurium
Bouvardia
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Can you identify this pretty purple flower?
Iris
Iris means "rainbow" in the Greek language. The name refers to the iris's ability to produce flowers in a variety of colors. Iris rhizome, also known as "orris root," is used commonly in perfumes and deodorants.
Hydrangea
Apple Blossom
Rose
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Can you identify this flower that's native to southern Italy?
Sweet pea
Sweet pea is highly susceptible to viral, bacterial and fungal infections, which can decrease the harvest of the plant profoundly. Sweet pea flowers are used in the perfume industry for the manufacture of soaps and lotions.
Poinsettia
Queen Anne's lace
Laurel
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What is this flower that's a common symbol of the southern United States?
Bird of paradise
Pansy
Magnolia
Mississippi's state flower is the magnolia. Magnolia flowers don't produce nectar but they do produce large quantities of pollen, which beetles use for food.
Amaryllis
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Which uniquely scented flower is pictured here?
Anemone
Lavender
The name lavender comes from the Latin verb "lavare," which means to wash. Lavender was used in Egypt during the mummification process over 2,500 years ago. The scent of lavender is known to deter mice, flies, mosquitoes and other pests.
Bird of paradise
Anthurium
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Can you name this delicate bloom?
Hibiscus
Bird of paradise
Queen Anne's lace
Queen Anne's lace is a wild carrot in many ways. If you were to dig up the roots, they would smell just like cultivated carrots that we all eat today. But be very careful with this plant — while it may not be toxic itself, it looks very similar to poisonous hemlock varieties.
Gerbera daisy
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What is this flower associated with the Christmas season?
Hibiscus
Poinsettia
The main attraction of a poinsettia is not its flowers, but its leaves. The flowers of the plant are the yellow clustered buds in the center, and the leaves change color in response to the flowering of this plant. Red is the most popular color, accounting for roughly three-quarters of all sales nationwide, followed by white and pink.
Bird of paradise
Cherry blossom
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Can you identify this tall, colorful flower native to rocky areas of the U.S., Europe and North Africa?
Snapdragon
Snapdragon is known scientifically as antirrhinum. Flowers come in just about every color of the rainbow, including red, pink, white, yellow, orange and lavender. Some of these flowers are also bicolored.
Lavender
Iris
Lilac
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What is this flower that's also know as a prairie gentian?
Peony
Hydrangea
Lavender
Lisianthus
Lisianthus is found mostly in the warm regions of the southern United States, as well as Mexico, the Caribbean and northern South America. Lisianthus is mostly used in horticulture as an ornamental decoration and as a potted indoor plant.
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What is this perennial flower that can grow up to 6 feet tall?
Delphinium
The name delphinium comes from the word for dolphin in Latin, which originally came from Ancient Greek. It's named for the plant’s bud and spur that actually resembles the shape of a dolphin. There are over 400 species of delphinium.
Hydrangea
Daisy
Aster
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What is this flower that's native to Mexico and Central America?
Snapdragon
Hydrangea
Bouvardia
Bouvardia was named after Charles Bouvard, the personal physician of Louis XIII and the superintendent of the Royal Gardens in Paris. Modern varieties of bouvardia are called Pink Luck, Albatross and Royal Katty.
Heather
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What is this common yard flower called?
Daisy
Daisies belong to one of the largest families of plants in the world. They are found everywhere on earth, except for Antarctica. The daisy family, which scientists have named Compositae, was classified in 1792.
Ranunculus
Lisianthus
Snapdragon
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Can you name this colorful, globe-shaped flower?
Freesia
Hydrangea
Lovers of hydrangea beware: Do not eat them, they are moderately toxic. Lana del Rey mentions this flower in her song "Old Money." In Asia, giving someone pink hydrangeas symbolizes that you are the beat to their heart.
Ranunculus
Rose
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Can you identify this fall-blooming flower?
Queen Anne's lace
Aster
The aster belongs to the sunflower family. More than 600 species of plants were known as asters before the implementation of modern and molecular methods of analysis. The name "aster" originates from the Greek word "aster," which means "star."
Protea
Freesia
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The name of this distinctive tropical flower is:
Lotus
Queen Anne's lace
Iris
Bird of paradise
Bird of paradise, scientifically called Strelitzia reginae, is one of the most recognized tropical plants. Its orange sepals and purple petals emerge from light green stalks which resembles its namesake, a colorful bird with long feathers.
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What is this evergreen flowering shrub from the genus Calluna?
Heather
A common form of heather was used as a source of yellow-orange pigment for coloring wool in the past. Heather is used as a flavoring agent in the making of beer, wine and tea. Honey made of common heather has jelly-like texture and a strong taste.
Apple blossom
Carnation
Queen Anne's lace
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Can you identify this flower native to Asia and northeastern Europe?
Delphinium
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum is a compound inflorescence. It is made of many individual flowers, called florets. Florets in the center of the flower are called disk florets, while the ones that surround the center are ray florets.
Iris
Morning glory
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Which bright tropical flower is pictured?
Anthurium
The Greek meaning of the word "anthurium" is "tail flower." The heart-shaped open flower symbolizes hospitality. Other names for anthurium, due to a specific shape or color, are painted tongue, tail flower, flamingo lily, boy flower and painter’s palette.
Apple blossom
Statice
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What is this flower that usually blooms in white, pink or red?
Daisy
Camellia
The fruit of the camellia is a dry capsule which is divided into as many as five segments. Each segment is filled with one to eight seeds. Japanese camellia is the state flower of Alabama. The leaves of camellia are used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat asthma.
Iris
Orange blossom
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Can you name this flower that belongs to one of the largest families of flowering plants?
Anemone
Orchid
Orchids produce several million seeds per flower. Orchids also have the largest variety of flowers, with more than 25,000 officially documented types. Each orchid flower is bilaterally symmetric, which means that it can be divided into two equal parts.
Anthurium
Freesia
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What is this stunning springtime bloom?
Lisianthus
Anthurium
Crocus
Peony
Cooked and sweetened petals of peony are eaten in China as a dessert. Fresh peony petals can be eaten in a salad or used as a garnish for drinks such as lemonade. Peonies are one of the most popular flowers used in wedding bouquets. It's also the official flower for the 12th wedding anniversary.
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This flower that's part of the iris family is called:
Crocus
People started cultivating crocus flowers around 500 BC. The flowers can be used as a spice, medicine and dye. The vast majority of crocus species are found abundantly in the wild. Sadly, however, certain species are threatened by habitat loss.
Orchid
Camellia
Azalea
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What is this flower that's native to South Africa?
Amaryllis
South Africa and Holland are among the greatest producers of amaryllis in the world. Amaryllis is also called "naked lady" because it produces flowers before its leaves on the "naked" leafless flowering stalks.
Orchid
Sunflower
Rose
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What is this flower that's also know as the Peruvian lily?
Apple blossom
Chrysanthemum
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Alstroemeria
Alstroemeria is also commonly called the Peruvian lily, lily of the Incas or parrot lily. It is a South American genus of about 50 species of flowering plants mostly from the cool, mountainous regions in the Andes. Alstroemeria stops producing flowers if it gets too hot.
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Can you name this fragrant, edible flower?
Pansy
The reasoning behind the pansy being the symbol of forethought is in both the flower’s name and appearance. The pansy derives its name from the French word "pensée," which means thought. The French also believed that the pansy resembled a human face.
Gladiolus
Ranunculus
Lavender
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What is this flower associated with the arrival of spring?
Cherry blossom
Cherry blossoms are Japan's national flower. These pale blooming flowers are a symbol of spring, renewal and hope. Having a picnic beneath these trees is a Japanese tradition.
Sweet pea
Gladiolus
Carnation
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Can you identify this flower of a fast-growing vine?
Cypress
Cypress is native to Mexico, Central America and the northern tropics of South America. Cypress has many names. The flowers are called morning glories, star glories, cupid flowers, cardinal creepers, cardinal vines and hummingbird vines.
Lotus
Sweet pea
Magnolia
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What is this flower that's also known as a water lily?
Daisy
Lisianthus
Lotus
The lotus is considered a sacred flower in Buddhism. It's also the national flower of India, and is most commonly seen in white or pink.
Freesia
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Name this springtime bloom with fragrant funnel-shaped flowers:
Anthurium
Daisy
Anemone
Freesia
Freesia is a herbaceous plant that belongs to the iris family. It originated from the tropical regions of South Africa. Freesia is named after Dr. Friedrich Freese, a German physician who studied this and other plants.
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What is this colorful flower associated with tropical regions?
Dahlia
Lotus
Daffodil
Hibiscus
The flower of hibiscus is edible and has a tangy, citrusy taste. It is considered a delicacy in Mexico. Certain species of hibiscus are also beginning to be used more widely as a natural source of food coloring. It is a popular natural diuretic.
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What is this many-petaled flower native to Mexico?
Poinsettia
Dahlia
Dahlias were originally grown as a food crop by the Aztecs because of their edible tubers. People have suggested that they taste like a cross between carrot, celery and potatoes. Dahlias belong to the Asteraceae (Aster) family, which also includes daisies and sunflowers.
Crocus
Anemone
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Name this perennial flower that grows wild in Europe, North America and Japan:
Anemone
In many regions of the world, the anemone flower is thought to be a harbinger of spring. According to the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus, this coincided with the return of the swallow every year. The anemone is also sometimes called the windflower.
Camellia
Lilac
Iris
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What is this flower with rose-like blossoms?
Ranunculus
Ranunculus also includes a species known as the "swamp buttercup." That species of ranunculus lives on the side of streams and ponds and can suffer if there is not adequate rainfall or water nearby. It's an important flower for bees.
Laurel
Statice
Anthurium
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What is this flower that is also sometimes called the sword lily?
Bouvardia
Gladiolus
An ancient name for the gladiolus was xiphium, which originated from the Greek word for sword. The gladiolus is the birth flower for August. Some parts of the gladiolus plant are poisonous if ingested.
Snapdragon
Poinsettia
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Can you name this flower known for its fragrant scent?
Marigold
Tulip
Daffodil
Jasmine
Jasmine is a type of flowering plant that belongs to the family of olives. The scent of jasmine produces calming and relaxing effects on one's psyche and has sedative properties. Jasmine can survive 15 to 20 years in the wild.
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What is this flower that blooms early in the day?
Morning glory
In the language of flowers, morning glory signifies unrequited love and affection. Its seeds are used as a laxative in traditional Chinese medicine. The seeds of some species contain toxic compounds that can induce hallucinogenic effects when consumed in large doses.
Bird of paradise
Tulip
Anthurium
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Can you identify this flower that is also one of the colors of a rainbow?
Heather
Bouvardia
Violet
Violets have been cultivated for centuries, with the earliest known use of the flowers dating back to Ancient Greece in 500 B.C. The Greeks used violets in their wine, food, and medicine, and loved the flower so much that it became the symbol of the city of Athens.
Bird of paradise
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What is this flowering shrub native to the eastern United States?
Lilac
Cherry blossom
Laurel
The laurel flower is the official Pennsylvania state flower. The mountain laurel is considered one of the most beautiful native American shrubs. The mountain laurel plant was originally brought to Europe as an ornamental plant during the 18th century.
Morning glory
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Name this brightly colored flower that's popular in bouquets:
Morning glory
Rose
Gerbera
Gerbera flowers are named after Traugott Gerber, a German botanist and physician from the 1700s. Gerbera daisies are the fifth most-used flower in cut arrangements and bouquets, after roses, carnations, chrysanthemums and tulips.
Heather
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This is best-known for its pale purple flowers, although it blooms in seven official colors:
Lilac
Lilacs have one of the shortest flowering periods — they only flower for about three weeks in spring. Some varieties of lilac, however, bloom multiple times a year, like the Josee and the Boomerang. Thomas Jefferson loved lilacs.
Poinsettia
Bird of paradise
Hydrangea
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This distinctive flower is the national flower of South Africa:
Protea
King protea blooms during the warmest time of year. Its flowers are a rich source of nectar, which attracts many different kinds of animals, including sunbirds, sugar birds, honeybees, monkey beetles, rove beetles and scarab beetles.
Bouvardia
Laurel
Violet
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What are these flowers that grow on trees that produce a common fruit?
Cherry blossom
Apple blossom
The apple blossom is both Michigan's and Arkansas's state flower. The flower was chosen as the state flower by the Michigan legislature in 1897, and the variety is Pyrus coronaria, or crabapple, because it is native to Michigan.
Delphinium
Lilac
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Can you identify this flower that is also known as sea lavender?
Violet
Alstromeria
Crocus
Statice
The statice is an exotic flower that belongs to the family Plumbaginaceae. Statice flowers are popular in dried flower arrangements.
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What is this highly scented flower that's popular in gardens?
Stock
The stock flower is a native of southwestern Greece and southern Albania, in the Mediterranean. The stock flower is a low-branching annual herb. Stock flower is also called the Virginia stock flower.
Pansy
Freesia
Laurel
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