Poinsettia quiz

In this fine Christmas season, it seems that poinsettias are everywhere. They can be found at grocery stores, big box stores, garden centers, nurseries, banks, offices, civic gatherings, etc. Poinsettias are very interesting plants, with hundreds of varieties, shapes, colors and sizes.

Knowing that many of you love a challenge, I have compiled a quiz to test your knowledge of the poinsettia and its influence here in America. Answers are at the end of this article.

1.Poinsettias are native to which country?

A. Mexico B. Brazil C. U.S. D. Canada

2.Poinsettias are members of which genus?

A. Acer B. Cissus C. Euphorbia

Hint: Many plants in this genus ooze a milky sap from their leaves and stems.

3.T F In nature, poinsettias are perennial flowering shrubs that can grow as high as 10 feet tall in sub-tropical areas.

4.The showy colored parts of poinsettias are the

A. leaves B. flowers C. lenticels D. stems

5.T F It has been proven that poinsettias are deadly toxic to humans if consumed.

6.T F The poinsettia is the best-selling flowering potted plant in the U.S.

7.Poinsettias were introduced into the U.S. in 1825 by

A. the Aztecs B. South Carolinian Joel Robert Poinsett C. Albert Ecke D. the Creek Indians

8.Poinsettias are grown commercially from

A. seeds B. rooted cuttings C. bulbs

9.A nurseryman would most likely start his poinsettia crop in which month?

A. April B. December C. August D. October

10. Poinsettias are

A. long day plants B. short day plants C. day neutral plants

11.T F Poinsettias set flower buds according to their response to the duration of light.

12.T F Poinsettias must be kept in a dark place 24 hours per day for six consecutive weeks in the fall in order for them to color up.

13.T F Poinsettias can easily be grown outside all year long here in middle Georgia.

14.In the southeast, the number one insect pest of poinsettias is the

A. aphid B. thrip C. whitefly

15. By an act of Congress, which day each year is set aside as National Poinsettia Day?

A. Nov. 28 B. Dec. 1 C. Dec. 12 D. Dec. 25 Answers:

1. A 2. C 3. True 4. A 5. False 6. True 7. B 8. B 9. C 10. B 11. True 12. False 13. False 14. C 15. C

Tim Lewis is a Georgia Green Industry Association certified plant professional, gardening writer, former Perry High School horticulture instructor and former horticulturalist at Henderson Village and Houston Springs. He and his wife, Susan, own and operate Lewis Farms Nursery located on Highway 26, two miles east of Elko, where he was born and raised. He can be reached at (478)954-1507, timlewis1@windstream.net or LewisFarmsNursery.com.

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