Festive Gardener's Quiz
Whether you're a gardening guru or simply have a soft spot for beautiful blooms, this quiz is a fantastic way to have some fun over the festive season. Gather your family and friends, pour a drink and put your flower and gardening knowledge to the test!
1. Which much-loved winter bloomer is often nicknamed the Lenten Rose?
a.) Cyclamen
b.) Camellia
c.) Hellebore
d.) Winter Aconite
2. Which member of the Royal Family is credited with popularising the decorated indoor Christmas tree in Britain?
3. In pruning, what name is given to the point along a stem where buds - dormant or active - can form new growth?
a.) Cambium
b.) Node
c.) Spur
d.) Crown
4. Many shrubs bear colourful berries through the winter months. Name the plant each of these berries belong to:
5. Unscramble this festive plant name:
HTSMASIRC TCSACU
6. The plant known botanically as Ilex is a classic part of Christmas décor. What do we commonly call it?
7. What term describes a plant that grows leaves in its first year and flowers or fruits in its second before dying?
8. This distinctive wintery bark belongs to which tree species?
a.) Yew
b.) Norway Spruce
c.) London Plane
d.) Silver Birch
9. Frost alters the flavour of hardy winter vegetables such as parsnips and Brussels sprouts. How does the taste change?
10. Which of these plants flower during winter?
a) Potentilla
b) Spirea
c) Forsythia
d) Sarcococca
11. Why are Christmas trees terrible at knitting?
12. Which of the following is the correct genus for the common snowdrop?
a.) Narcissus
b.) Galanthus
c.) Snowdenia
d.) Gagea
13. Cyclamen thrive in across three seasons, but in which season do they not flower?
14. This striking, trumpet-shaped flower is often associated with Christmas and brightens winter windowsills. What is its name?
A. Amaryllis
B. Poinsettia
C. Schlumbergera
D. Lily
15. The Twelve Days of Christmas features a partridge in a pear tree. Pear trees are sometimes trained flat against a wall to save space and encourage fruit growth. What is this technique called?
A. Espalier
B. Pollarding
C. Topiary
D. Coppicing
16. If a plant is described as having “trifoliate” leaves, what does this mean?
17. The genus Cornus is well known for its colourful winter stems. What is its common name?
a.) Dogwood
b.) Red Robin
c.) Willow
d.) Acer
18. What is the name of this rosette-forming succulent, known for its star-shaped symmetry and hardy nature?
19. Bedford Fillbasket, Cromwell and Wellington are traditional varieties of which classic British vegetable?
20. Why does Father Christmas need three gardens?
TIE BREAKER
The world’s tallest cut Christmas tree ever displayed was erected outside a shopping centre in December 1950 in Seattle, USA.
How tall was it?
Closest answer wins!