Perry's Perennial Pages


worldThe Perennial Arcade

Quizzes, Mad Libs, Crosswords, and Word Jumbles on Herbaceous Perennials,  for Kids
Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension Professor, University of Vermont

Perennial Power (Quizzes)

dotPlant Families--  match the family with the traits (new 08/16)

dotPlant Problems--match the symptom to the possible cause   (new 07/16)

dotBee pollinator nesting sites--  list the site/s best for each type of bee  (new 06/16)

dotBest practices for pollinators--  which are good, which are bad?  (new 05/16)

dotTen top perennials--  match the cultivar with description  (new 04/16)

dotSnowdrops--  match the cultivar with description  (new 03/16)

dotNew Perennials--  match the cultivar with description  (new 02/16)

dotPollination terms--  match the term with description  (new 01/16)

dotGardens of the Hudson Valley--  match the garden with description or fact (new 12/15)

dotFlowers of the month for 2015--  match the featured flower with its description (new 11/15)

dotSedum word search-- find the cultivars in the puzzle (new 10/15)

dotAster word search-- find the cultivars in the puzzle (new 09/15)

dotConeflower word search-- find the cultivars in the puzzle (new 08/15)

dotGarden phlox word search-- find the cultivars in the puzzle (new 07/15)

dotPeony word search-- find the cultivars in the puzzle (new 06/15)

dotTulip word search-- find the cultivars in the puzzle (new 05/15)

dotDaffodil word search-- find the daffodil cultivars in the puzzle (new 04/15)

dotPlant Disease terms-- match the term with definition (new 03/15)

dotValentine Plant Names-- unscramble these cultivar names (new 02/15)

dot"B" terms-- match the botany term beginning with "b" with its description (new 01/15)

dotGardens of 2014 and New England-- match the garden with its description (new 12/14)

dotGrape Hyacinths-- match the cultivar of this minor spring bulb with its description (new 11/14)

dotFall Foliage-- match the term with its definition/description (new 10/14)

dotFruit terms-- match the term with its definition (new 9/14)

dotClematis-- match the cultivar with description of these popular perennial vines (new 8/14)

dotTough coneflowers-- match the cultivar with description of these top survivors from the brutal 2013-14 winter (new 7/14)

dot"A" botany terms-- match the term beginning with "A" with it's definition (new 6/14)

dotTulips-- match the cultivar with description (new 5/14)

dotDaffodils-- match the cultivar with description (new 4/14)

dotHellebores-- match the cultivar with description (new 3/14)

dotFlowers in Spanish-- match the Spanish with the English names (new 2/14)

dotFronds and other Fern terms-- match the term with the description (new 1/14)

 dotPlants of the Year for 2013--  match the name with the description, from those featured on this site  (new 12/13)

dot Plant Names and their Legends--  match the name with its legend (new 11/13)

dot Flowers in French--  match the English name with its French counterpart (new 10/13)

dot State Flowers--  match the state with its official flower (new 09/13)

dot Phlox cultivar word jumble--  unjumble these cultivars of the tall garden phlox (new 08/13)

dot Public Gardens--  match these top gardens to events or features (new 07/13)

dot Peony cultivar word jumble--  unscramble these popular cultivar names (new 06/13)

dot Plant names and their legends- match the plant to its legend (new 05/13)

dot Shapes and habits name meanings- match the name to its meaning (new 04/13)

dot Color name meanings- match the name to its meaning (new 03/13)

dot Location name meanings- match the name to its meaning (new 02/13)

dot Species name meanings- match the name to its meaning (new 01/13)

dot Plants of the Month for 2012- match the plant featured this past year to a trait! (new 12/12)

dot Miscanthus word jumble- unscramble these names of perennials from this genus (new 11/12)

dot Switchgrass (Panicum) word jumble- unscramble these names of perennials from this genus (new 10/12)

dot Grass family word jumble- unscramble these names of perennials from this family (new 09/12)

dot Aster family word jumble- unscramble these names of perennials from this family (new 08/12)

dot Lily family word jumble- unscramble these names of perennials from this family (new 07/12)

dot Buttercup family word jumble- unscramble these names of perennials from this family (new 06/12)

dot Mint family word jumble- unscramble these names of perennials from this family (new 05/12)

dot Perennial families- match the perennial with its family (new 04/12)

dot Family Name pairs- can you name the families of these pairs of perennial genera? (new 03/12)

dot Family Names word jumble- sort out the scientific names of these families (new 02/12)

dot Pioneers of American Landscapes- match the person with a fact on their importance (new 01/12)

dot Plants of the Month for 2011- match the plant featured this past year to a trait! (new 12/11)

dot Perennial References- match the author to the book, learn some great references! (new 11/11)

dot Asters-- match the cultivar with the trait (new 10/11)

dot Bluestars-- match the species or cultivar of Amsonia with the trait (new 09/11)

dot Public Gardens-- match the garden (from those featured on this site recently) with a fact on it (new 08/11)

dot Coreopsis Old and New-- match the cultivar with description, some classics, some brand new  (new 07/11)

dot Heirloom Hardy Dahlias-- match the cultivar with description, learn some great classics  (new 06/11)

dot Heirloom Hardy Tulips-- match the cultivar with description, learn some great classics  (new 05/11)

dot Heirloom Hardy Daffodils-- match the cultivar with description, learn some great classics  (new 04/11)

dot Heirloom Hyacinths-- match the cultivar with description, learn some great classics  (new 03/11)

dot Hardy Perennials-- match a new perennial with its description  (new 02/11)

dotOzark Bluestars-- how well do you know this Perennial Plant of the Year?  (new 01/11)

dot Perennials of the Month for 2010-- match the plant from this year's pages to the description  (new 12/10)

dot Coralbells-- word scramble of some choice new cultivars (new 11/10)

dot Coneflowers-- match the name with description for these new cultivars (new 10/10)

dot Influential Dates-- match the date with the significant event (new 9/10)

dot Gardening milestones III-- match the date with the significant event (new 8/10)

dot Gardening milestones II-- match the date with the significant event (new 7/10)

dot Gardening milestones-- match the date with the significant event (new 6/10)

dotButterfly perennials- match the genus with the common name of perennials that attract butterfliesl  (new 05/10)

dotAnimal names- match the genus with the plant named after an animal  (new 04/10)

dotInfluential Persons of Horticulture- can you identify who these people are?  (new 03/10)

dotRain garden perennials- match the genus with species or choice cultivar  (new 02/10)

dotFalse Indigo- which statements are true about this Perennial Plant of the Year for 2010?  (new 01/10)

dotOrnamental Sedges (Carex)- match cultivars to their descriptions  (new 12/09)

dotNative Sun Perennials- word scramble, good choices of native perennials for full sun  (new 11/09)

dotOrnamental grasses- word scramble, unscramble genus names  (new 10/09)

dotNew Perennials- match the cultivar to genus of these choice relatively new plants (new 9/09)

dotHibiscus- match the cultivar to description of these popular plants (new 08/09)

dot"Deer-resistant" perennials- some good choices, unscramble the genus names (new 07/09)

dotButterfly perennials- some good choices, unscramble the names (new 06/09)

dotLate Spring Flowers-- some good choices for flowering then, unscramble the names (new 05/09)

dotWhat Plant, What Need?-- match the perennial to bloom/height/flowers (new 04/09)

dotPerennials for Wetlands-- which perennials are suited for wetlands?  True/False (new 03/09)

dotWord Scramble, Ferms-- unscramble names of common fern genera (new 02/09)

dotPerennials of the Year-- match these popular new cultivars with their descriptions (new 01/09)

dotSeeing Red Sedum-- match these popular new cultivars with their descriptions (new 12/08)

dotSalt tolerance-- see how well you know which perennials tolerate winter deicing salt (new 11/08)

dotFood Names-- some perennials are named for foods; match the name with the plant description (new 10/08)

dotPerennials for Fallscaping-- match the cultivars with their descriptions (new 9/08)

dotSmall hostas for small spaces-- match the cultivars with their descriptions (new 8/08)

dotConeflowers-- learn new cultivars by matching names with their descriptions (new 7/08)

dotSummer bulbs-- match cultivars with their genera and descriptions (new 6/08)

dotPerennials for Containers-- match cultivars with their genera, and example combinations (new 5/08)

dotPulmonaria-- match some of the newer cultivars of lungwort to their descriptions (new 4/08)

dotBotanic Gardens-- match some of our countries premier public gardens to facts on them  (new 3/08)

dotColorful Perennial Groundcovers for Dry Habitats-- some great perennial groundcovers for the Southwest  (new 2/08)

dotRozanne perennial geranium-- learn what's true or false on this perennial plant of the year  (new 1/08)

dotDrink to these perennials-- cultivars with beverage names  (new 12/07)

dotChoice perennials-- new or underutilized, as featured on this website (new 11/07)

dotLow water use perennials, names-- match the common and scientific names (new 10/07)

dotPerennial families-- know which family some common perennial genera belong to? (new 9/07)

dotPerennial habitats, sun-- match the genus to its soil moisture preference (new 8/07)

dotHeuchera-- test your knowledge of new cultivars of this popular genus (new 7/07)

dotAll in the Families-- match the perennial to its family (new 6/07)

dotWhen to Divide?-- see if you know how often these perennials usually need dividing (new 5/07)

dotMeet the Aster family-- match the cultivars with the genera in this big and important perennial family (new 4/07)

dotPerennial habitats--heavy clay soils quiz-- match the names of these plants suitable for this site (new 3/07)

dotChocolate flowers quiz-- test your knowledge of flowers with "chocolate" names (new 2/07)

dotWalker's Low Catmint-- how much do you know about the Perennial Plant of the Year for 2007? (new 1/07)

dotHoliday Herbaceous Names-- match the seasonal cultivar name with the genus (new 12/06)

dotBlack Plants for Green Thumbs-- learn some plants with dark foliage (new 11/06)

dotPerennial Habitats, dry shade-- choose which of these perennials fits best in this habitat (new 10/06)

dotPerennial Habitats, boggy soil-- choose which of these perennials fits best in this habitat (new 9/06)

dotSeaside Perennials-- do you know which of these perennials fits best in this habitat? (new 8/06)

dotGarden Math Conversions-- At some point gardening involves mixing or measuring.  How good are you at some basic conversions? There is useful table here as well you may want to save for future reference. (new 7/06)

dotHardy Roses-- can you name the rose classes for some of the hardiest cultivars? (new 6/06)

dotTrollius-- great late spring perennials.  match the cultivar with its description (new 5/06)

dotPerennial Habitats, deep shade-- choose which plants are appropriate for this garden habitat (new 4/06)

dotSoils 102-- match the soil properties and their terms, stuff to know for successful gardens! (new 3/06)

dotNative New England shade perennials-- learn nnes for this habitat while matching common and scientific names (new 02/06)

dotOh Deer!-- how well do you know your deer control methods? (new 01/06)

dotCommon Names to Love-- match the humorous name to the plant (new 12/05)

dotBotany Quiz 401-- a real test of your botany knowledge, in particular of primroses (new 11/05)

dotHorticulture Word Origins and Lore-- learn some interesting facts on where some plant names come from (new 10/05)

dotGardens-- How well do you know where some gardens are located? (new 9/05)

dotWeed names-- match the genus with the common names of common weeds (new 8/05)

dotVeronica-- match cultivars or species with descriptions of speedwells (new 7/05)

dotSalvia nemorosa-- match cultivars with descriptions of this good garden perennial (new 6/05)

dotSoils 101-- match keys and properties of good soils (new 5/05)

dotA genus, a family-- match those genera beginning with "A", with their family (new 4/05)

dotFamous Horticulturists-- do you know influential horticulturists of history?  do this, then the crossword below (new 3/05)

dotSing'in the Blues-- match the genus with cultivar of blue-flowered perennials (new 2/05)

dotSpanish Perennial Names-- match the Spanish name with the English genus (new 1/05)

dotWhich genus, which cultivar part II?-- newer cultivars than the previous, perhaps harder? (new 12/04)

dotWhich genus, which cultivar?-- match the two (new 11/04)

dotPeriwinkle cultivars--  match and learn some new Vinca minor choices  (new 10/04)

dotGerman Perennial Names--  match and learn translations of these German perennial names  (new 09/04)

dotCanadian Explorer Roses--  learn who the people are that some of this hardy series were named after (new 08/04)

dotAstilbe-- fill in the letters of cultivars of this great summer perennial for moist shade (new 07/04)

dotDavid Austin Roses-- match the description with one of these popular, common cultivars from this series  (new 06/04)

dotTulips-- match the common tulip cultivar with its class or grouping (new 05/04)

dotShrub Roses-- match the description with the cultivar of this great group of garden roses (new 04/04)

dotDaffodils--  how well do you know some key cultivars? (new 03/04)

dotRose Groupings--  roses are the big flower this month with Valentines.  match the rose cultivar with its classification group (new 02/04)

dotFlowers at the Zoo-- match the flower name with its "animal" relation (new 01/04)

dotOrnamental Grass Cultivars-- match the cultivar with the genus (new 12/03)

dotFlora trivia--  interesting facts, some better known than others, from the reference Flora(new 11/03)

dotOrnamental Grasses-- match the scientific and common names for this great group of generally low maintenance plants? (new 10/03)

dotFerns for Fun-- usually an underutilized group of perennials; how well do you know them? (new 9/03)

dotIn the Eye of the Daylily-- for the real daylily enthusiast, eyezone daylilies (new 8/03)

dotPatriotic Perennials-- match the patriotic name with the description (new 7/03)

dotBegin with the letter "P"--  match the genus name with the common name (new 6/03)

dotGeraniums (not Pelargoniums)-- match the name with the description? (new 5/03)

dotYellow in the Garden-- how well do you know the yellow-flowering perennials? (new 4/03)

dotHeuchera by the Dozens-- there are so many new cultivars out there, how well do you know them? (new 3/03)

dotCultivars of Love-- cultivar names related to the them of Love (new 2/03)

dotPerennial Geraniums-- just that! match the description to the cultivar (new 1/03)

dotDon't Mow the Grass Quiz-- ornamental grasses  (new 12/02)

dotPG-rated Perennials Quiz-- suggestive names perhaps?  match them (new 11/02)

dotLiliaceae Quiz-- trivia and facts on members of the lily family (new 10/02)

dotGo for the Gold-- a matching quiz on gold-leaved hostas? (new 9/02)

dotFood for Thought-- know perennials with food names? (new 8/02)

dotCannas-- check your knowledge of this group (new 7/02)

dotAnything but Green-- a quiz on variegated and bordered hostas (new 6/02)

dotDrought Quiz-- plants and practices for drought conditions (new 5/02)

dotBlue Without You--a quiz on blue hostas (new 4/02)

dotWho Was ___? Pioneers of Horticulture Quiz (new 12/01)

dotGarden History Trivia Quiz (new 12/01)

dotTest Your Botany Knowledge-- on the basics of plant classification and structure, multiple choice

dotHow Well Do You Know Your Perennials?-- A quiz for "beginners".  (redesigned 3/00)

dotPerennial Trivia-- For the advanced perennial enthusiast. (redesigned 3/00)

dotPerennials and Places-- How well do you know your perennials and geography? This quiz hotlinks you around the world of perennials.

dotPerennials and Persons-- Do you know who discovered specific plants or lent their names?

dotPerennials and States-- Check your knowledge of geography, learn some places to visit.

dot Who said that?-- Try and match the quotes with the authors.

dotPerennial Origins and Garden History Quiz-- some famous gardens, plant origins

dotPerennial Plant Names Quiz--match the name with its name origin

dotEdible and Useful Perennials Quiz-- lore and perennials used over the centuries

dotAn A-Z of Plant Names Quiz-- roots and etymology of plant names

dot Who were these perennial persons? -- breeders and other associated with perennials

dot Interactive Perennial Quiz #1--The Genera-- multiple choice, for java-enabled browsers

dot Interactive Perennial Quiz #2--Plant Structure-- multiple choice, for java-enabled browsers

dot Interactive Perennial Quiz #3--Perennial Geraniums-- multiple choice, for java-enabled browsers
 

Mad Libs
Fill in the blanks for the words called for, then submit to see what story you've just completed.  These are always humorous, and if you haven't done one before you may be in for a surprise!

dotA Mad Visit to the Flower Show (new 1/03)

dotThe Mad Bookstore (new 1/03)
 
 

Perennial Crossword Puzzles
These puzzles can be played easily by several methods.

A) some puzzles created with Crossword Weaver can be either printed to fill in with pencil, or played online if links are given.

B) downloading the free Across Lite software, for those puzzles so noted, then
1.access the puzzle through your browser by clicking the title above
2.if the puzzle opens and you can play, fine. If not, merely save this .puz puzzle file onto your computer using your brower's buttons or from drop-down menus (look for "Save As"). Then from the Across Lite program installed on your computer, access this file you just saved on your computer and you should be able to play.

C) if the above doesn't work, OR you don't have time or disk space for software downloads, OR you like the "old-fashioned" way of doing crosswords, go to the photo file of the puzzle if given which you can print out and then play, with pencil! Or you can print the Adobe Acrobat version if you have this software (download Acrobat free).

Crossword Puzzles
NEW 4/06--Native Plants
NEW 3/06--Perennials for heavy clay soils
NEW 2/06--Meet the Aster family
NEW 1/06--Potentially Poisonous Perennials
Famous Horticulturists
Horticulture Origins and Lore
Soil Terms
Weed Names | play online
More Plant Terms: easiest done when printed, answers linked
Plant Terms: easiest done when printed, answers linked
Perennial Plant Culture: Across Lite puzzle | photo puzzle to print
Perennial Plant Names (harder): Across Lite puzzle | photo puzzle to print
Perennial Plant Names 2: Across Lite puzzle | photo puzzle to print
Perennial Latin Names: Across Lite puzzle | photo puzzle to print | Adobe Acrobat version

Crossword Answers
Perennial Plant Culture
Perennial Plant Names
Perennial Plant Names 2
Perennial Latin Names | Adobe Acrobat version
 

Find-the-Word, Word Jumbles, Word Search
In this familiar word jumble puzzle type, you'll find a grid of letters in which to circle words either horizontal, vertical or diagonal and either forwards or backwards. These you should print out to play.

new 1/05-- Soil terms
To grow perennials well you must know soils.  Test your knowledge here, perhaps learn some new terms.
Color terms
Many plant names, especially species, are terms for color.  How well do you know these?
Famous Persons of Horticulture
This is a real test of your history knowledge.  Search for the persons who have had an impact on our history, practices, and plants of horticulture.  Articles are linked just in case you need them!
Perennials for Cold Climates
Search for the 25 perennial genera.
Perennial Culture
Words relating to perennials, their growth, and culture.

for Kids
Ariannah's Garden Puzzle (word jumble)
A word jumble puzzle as above you can print out and play, created by my daughter Ariannah when 9 years old. Good for the novice gardener as well as for kids.
Ariannah's In-the-Park Puzzle (word jumble)
A word jumble puzzle as above, created by mydaughter Ariannah. Words are things you find in a park. Good for the novice gardener as well as for kids. Print and play!

Print and color: hummingbird and columbine, butterfly, geranium, garden beetle




Where am I?  Perry's Perennial Pages |  Perennial Arcade