Flowers Quiz – Printable Version
20 multiple-choice questions with an explained answer key, ready to print.
Print the sheet (or save it as a PDF from the print window), hand it out, then mark it together using the answer page: every answer is explained. Perfect for a party, a birthday, a classroom, a care home or a team activity.
Name: ………………………………Score: ……… / 20
- Which flower, originally from Central Asia, triggered a famous speculative bubble in the Netherlands in the 17th century?
- A. Tulip
- B. Daffodil
- C. Iris
- D. Peony
- What is the branch of botany that studies flowers and their pollination called?
- A. Anthecology
- B. Floriculture
- C. Palynology
- D. Dendrology
- What is the name of the giant Amazonian water lily whose leaves can support the weight of a child?
- A. Victoria amazonica
- B. Royal Lotus
- C. Water Queen
- D. Titan Water Lily
- In the Victorian language of flowers, what did the white lily traditionally symbolize?
- A. Purity
- B. Jealousy
- C. Betrayal
- D. Wealth
- Which country is the world's leading producer and exporter of cut flowers?
- A. Netherlands
- B. Colombia
- C. Kenya
- D. Ecuador
- Which part of the flower, once fertilized, develops into the fruit?
- A. The ovary
- B. The whole pistil
- C. The stamen
- D. The petal
- Which famous series of paintings by Vincent Van Gogh depicts yellow flowers in a vase?
- A. Sunflowers
- B. Irises
- C. The Starry Night
- D. Poppies
- Which natural pigment gives many flowers their red, pink or purple color?
- A. Anthocyanin
- B. Chlorophyll
- C. Carotene
- D. Melanin
- Which iconic Alpine flower grows in rocky scree up to over 3,000 meters of altitude and is now a protected species in several countries?
- A. Edelweiss
- B. Yellow gentian
- C. Rhododendron
- D. Alpine anemone
- Which dense cushion-forming plant, able to bloom above 4,500 meters in the Alps, owes its cold resistance to a compact shape that traps heat?
- A. Moss campion
- B. Saxifrage
- C. Spring gentian
- D. Alpine rock-jasmine
- Which small white flower can push through a thin layer of snow and bloom as early as late winter, even generating a little heat to melt the ice around it?
- A. Snowdrop
- B. Crocus
- C. Daffodil
- D. Wood anemone
- Which giant cactus of the Sonoran Desert produces large white flowers that open only at night, despite daytime temperatures that can exceed 45°C?
- A. Saguaro
- B. Prickly pear
- C. Desert night-blooming cereus
- D. Yucca
- Which edible orange or yellow flower, with a peppery flavor similar to watercress, is commonly used to garnish and add bite to salads?
- A. Nasturtium
- B. Marigold
- C. Borage
- D. Pansy
- Which purple flower, a specialty of the Toulouse region of France, is traditionally crystallized in sugar to decorate pastries and chocolates?
- A. Violet
- B. Pansy
- C. Lavender
- D. Wisteria
- Which large purplish flower, eaten raw in salads or cooked in soups across Southeast Asia, grows at the end of the banana bunch?
- A. Banana blossom
- B. Lotus flower
- C. Ginger flower
- D. Frangipani flower
- Which North American flower with long drooping pink petals is widely used in dietary supplements to support the immune system?
- A. Coneflower (echinacea)
- B. Aster
- C. Black-eyed Susan
- D. Cosmos
- Which orange flower, also called pot marigold, is well known in cosmetics and herbal medicine for its soothing properties on irritated skin?
- A. Calendula (marigold)
- B. Nasturtium
- C. Dwarf sunflower
- D. Zinnia
- Which vine from the Philippines produces clusters of turquoise-blue flowers, an exceptionally rare color in the plant kingdom, now threatened by deforestation?
- A. Jade vine (Strongylodon macrobotrys)
- B. Blue wisteria
- C. Blue passionflower
- D. Butterfly pea
- Which flower, whose Korean name means 'flower of immortality', is the national flower of South Korea and appears in the national anthem as well as on certain official emblems of the country?
- A. Mugunghwa (rose of Sharon)
- B. Korean plum blossom
- C. Korean chrysanthemum
- D. Korean azalea
- Which stylized floral emblem, likely derived from the iris or the lily, adorned the coats of arms of the kings of France for centuries and remains a symbol of the French monarchy today?
- A. Fleur-de-lis
- B. Tudor rose
- C. Royal thistle
- D. Imperial eagle
Answer key — Flowers Quiz
- A. Tulip'Tulip mania' of 1636-1637 saw the price of some bulbs reach the equivalent of a house, before a spectacular crash.
- A. AnthecologyAnthecology specifically studies flowers and their interactions with pollinators, while palynology focuses only on pollen.
- A. Victoria amazonicaIts round leaves can reach 3 meters in diameter thanks to a very rigid, ray-like structure of ribs.
- A. PurityThe white lily has been associated with purity and innocence since antiquity, a symbol especially common in religious art.
- A. NetherlandsThe Aalsmeer flower market near Amsterdam is the largest flower trading floor in the world.
- A. The ovaryThe ovary, located at the base of the pistil, contains the ovules that become seeds, while its wall develops into the fruit.
- A. SunflowersPainted in Arles in 1888, this series was meant to decorate Gauguin's bedroom and is among the most famous artworks in the world.
- A. AnthocyaninAnthocyanins are water-soluble pigments whose hue varies with the pH of plant cells, from acidic red to alkaline blue-purple.
- A. EdelweissCovered with fine white down that protects it from cold and UV rays, edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum) is a mountain symbol now protected by law.
- A. Moss campionMoss campion (Silene acaulis) forms dense cushions just a few centimeters tall that retain ground heat, a key adaptation for blooming at high altitude.
- A. SnowdropSnowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) can slightly warm the air around them through cellular respiration, helping them push through snow and frozen ground.
- A. SaguaroSaguaro flowers open after sunset and close the following late morning, timing that favors pollination by nocturnal bats.
- A. NasturtiumThe entire nasturtium plant (Tropaeolum majus) — flowers, leaves and seeds — is edible and adds a characteristic peppery note to dishes.
- A. VioletThe Toulouse violet has been cultivated since the 19th century for candy-making and perfumery; its candied petals are a local culinary emblem.
- A. Banana blossomThis large heart-shaped purple bud, also called 'banana heart', is a common ingredient in Vietnamese and Thai cuisine.
- A. Coneflower (echinacea)Used for centuries by Great Plains Native American peoples, echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) remains one of the most popular natural supplements during the winter season.
- A. Calendula (marigold)Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is an ingredient in many creams for sensitive skin, including baby skincare products.
- A. Jade vine (Strongylodon macrobotrys)Its unique turquoise color is thought to result from a blue pigment combined with the petals' particular pH; in the wild it is pollinated by bats.
- A. Mugunghwa (rose of Sharon)Each mugunghwa flower (Hibiscus syriacus) lasts only a day, but the shrub continually produces new ones for months, symbolizing perseverance.
- A. Fleur-de-lisAdopted as early as the Middle Ages by the Capetian kings, the stylized fleur-de-lis continues to symbolize French royalty and still adorns many coats of arms and flags around the world today.