Quiz: Can You Guess the Bird-Related Plant Names?

The correct answer is C. Hummingbird yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora). Native to the deserts of northeastern Mexico and southwestern Texas, this perennial succulent is a member of the Asparagaceae, or asparagus family. Hummingbirds probe the plant’s bright, tubular flowers for nectar. The hummingbird yucca also attracts butterflies.

The correct answer is B. Mexican feathergrass (Nasella tenuissima). This ornamental grass is native to Mexico and the southwest United States. Birds eat the seeds and also use the plant’s hairlike strands for nesting material.

The correct answer is A. Bird’s foot violet (Viola pedata). This herbaceous perennial is native to the pinelands, sandy prairies, and rocky landscapes of northeastern United States. Its palmately lobed leaves resemble birds’ feet, and its flowers are a source of nectar for the regal fritillary butterfly.

The correct answer is C. Bird’s eyes (Gilia tricolor). A member of the Polemniaceae, or phlox family, this annual wildflower attracts butterflies and readily self-seeds. Light purple fused petals contrast with the dark purple ring at the top of the flower’s throat, giving the appearance of birds’ eyes.

The correct answer is A. Cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum ‘Azure Blue’). This herbaceous perennial, which spreads through rhizomes, has fragrant foliage that turns red after the first frost in fall. Bright pink-purple flowers mature into seed heads that resemble a crane’s head with a long beak.

The correct answer is B. Hens and chicks (Sempervivum ‘Twilight Blues’). A member of the Crassulaceae, or stonecrop family, this succulent has rosettes of pointy leaves. The original rosette (“hen”) produces miniature offsets that are referred to as “chicks.”

The correct answer is B. Hummingbird mint (Agastache ‘Summer Glow’). The tubular, nectar-filled flowers of this herbaceous perennial attract hummingbirds and butterflies.