A Yellow Garden Trivia Quiz

Answer: Alyssum

Alyssum is a low growing plant and is often used along the edges of borders or paths. The white variety was originally named Alyssum maritimum although it has been reclassified as Lobularia maritima. The original name is still used for its everyday name. The yellow version shown was Alyssum saxatile and has also been renamed as Aurinia saxatilis.

Lobelia comes in blue or white, periwinkle is purple and nasturtiums come in a variety of colours.

Answer: Laburnum

The laburnum is feared by some gardeners as every part of it can be toxic - the bark, leaves, wood, roots, buds, flowers and seed pods all contain cytisine. The main danger is to children, as the seed pods can look similar to pea pods. Poisoning is rare, though, and no fatalities were reported in the UK, at least, in the twentieth century.

The flowers dangle from the stems, giving the tree its common name.

Answer: Lent lily

The name of Lent lily is particularly applied to the wild daffodil, Narcissus pseudonarcissus, which is paler in colour than many garden varieties and rather smaller. It is easy to buy them for your garden, from reputable sources, although care needs to be take to prevent cross pollination with garden varieties. The wild daffodils are native to many parts of western Europe and most countries now have schemes to protect them.

Spring vetch is a type of sweet pea, while spring saffron is Colchicum bulbocodium, which looks similar to a crocus. As far as I can ascertain, there is no Easter rose, but there is a Christmas rose.

Answer: Forsythia

Forsythia is a shrub in the olive family, native primarily to Asia. Its was named for William Forsyth, who was one of the founders of the Royal Horticultural Society in 1804. Forsythia is quite striking, as the flowers appear first, on bare stems, with the leaves appearing later.

The fuchsia is named for Leonhart Fuchs, a German botanist. Banksia recognises Sir Joseph Banks, who was the botanist who travelled with James Cook. Montbretia takes its name from a French botanist, Coquebert de Montbret.

Answer: Primula

The photo shows Primula vulgaris, the common primrose, which has a pale yellow flower. The original plant has been developed into various colours, including purples, reds and golds, which are usually known by the name polyanthus.

Dianthus includes pinks and carnations, Perlagoniums are called geraniums and Oxalis includes the various sorrels.

Answer: Sunflower

The scientific name of the sunflower is Helianthus, a combination of the Greek words for the sun and flower - helios and anthos. The flowers can grow very tall, and competitions are sometimes held to see who can grow the tallest. Some varieties can reach as much as four metres in height. Van Gogh was particularly fond of sunflowers, and painted two series of paintings featuring them.

Answer: Stromboli

The rose named 'Stromboli' is a vivid scarlet floribunda rose. The clue is in the name, referencing the volcano of that name on an island off the Italian coast, near Sicily.

Sunsprite and Friesia are a deep yellow floribundas, while Golden Showers is a climbing rose, developed in 1956.

Answer: Olive

The yellow flowered variety shown is Jasminum nudiflorum, or the winter jasmine, as it provides a splash of bright colour in the northern hemisphere's winter. Both the winter and summer jasmines are climbers,

Answer: Tuber

Most begonias derive from Begonia × tuberhybrida and are recommended for baskets and tubs. They bear both male and female flowers and can be lifted at the end of the season to be replanted the following year. They need to be protected from frost, so many people treat them as annuals and buy new plants each year. Potatoes are another plant which grows from a tuber.

Examples of plants from corms are crocuses, while tulips and daffodils grow from bulbs. Grafting is often used to propagate trees and can also be used for some vegetable crops.

Answer: Marigold

Rather confusingly, there are two distinct families for which the common name is marigold, with the common name for both being the same since the flowers look similar. Calendula officinalis is the one you are more likely to see in the United Kingdom, with flowers ranging from yellow to shades of orange.

Very few gardeners would welcome dandelions, or even buttercups, which are more of a wildflower. Yarrow can also be considered a weed, although some varieties are cultivated.