How well do you know your plants?

For the past few years I’ve posted a monthly bird quiz. I hope you’ve enjoyed the challenge. This morning, as I identified plant after plant for my GardenCompass.com clients, I suddenly wondered why I have never created a plant quiz—so I did. Now you too can experience the joys and frustrations of identifying random plants.

I’ve attempted to provide you with a realistic demonstration of what I do. Therefore, all I’m telling you is where the photo was taken. (The Garden Compass app has a GPS feature.) I’m responsible for answering questions from all the mountain states, from New Mexico and northern Arizona to Idaho, plus Nebraska and both Dakotas, but for this round, I stuck to plants seen in Colorado.

I’ve made my pictures bigger than the ones we receive. You’re welcome. Not every photo is tack-sharp, but they are more-or-less properly exposed. No silhouettes this time. Because we can contact the client and ask for additional information, I’ve included a second photo for two of the pictures (see links at the end of the quiz).

Finally, the last photo is of a plant that I have not yet identified. Can you figure it out before I do?

Have fun! The answers will be posted next week.

Continue for extra photos of numbers 4 and 11.