Irises Trivia: 10 Questions With Answers

The iris takes its name from the Greek goddess of the rainbow, and irises trivia shows why the flower became a royal emblem. Explore the fleur-de-lis of France, Van Gogh's famous Irises painting, the orris root used in perfume and the iris that appears on the flag of Florence.

Start Irises Trivia

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Goddess
Which Greek goddess gives the iris its name?
Fleur
Which royal symbol is thought to be based on the iris?
Van Gogh
Where did Van Gogh paint Irises in 1889?
Orris
What is orris root used for?
Florence
Which Italian city has a red iris on its emblem?
Parts
What are the drooping petals of an iris called?
Bearded
What are bearded irises named for?
Rhizome
What do bearded irises grow from?
Tennessee
Which US state has the iris as its state flower?
Price
How much did Van Gogh's Irises sell for in 1987?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Which Greek goddess gives the iris its name?
Answer: Iris, goddess of the rainbow
Irises come in many colors.
Q2: Which royal symbol is thought to be based on the iris?
Answer: Fleur-de-lis
It was used by French kings.
Q3: Where did Van Gogh paint Irises in 1889?
Answer: At an asylum in Saint-Rémy
He painted it in his first week there.
Q4: What is orris root used for?
Answer: Perfume
It comes from dried iris rhizomes.
Q5: Which Italian city has a red iris on its emblem?
Answer: Florence
It is often called a lily.
Q6: What are the drooping petals of an iris called?
Answer: Falls
Upright petals are standards.
Q7: What are bearded irises named for?
Answer: Fuzzy hairs on the falls
The beard guides pollinators.
Q8: What do bearded irises grow from?
Answer: Rhizomes
They spread near the surface.
Q9: Which US state has the iris as its state flower?
Answer: Tennessee
Purple iris is most common.
Q10: How much did Van Gogh's Irises sell for in 1987?
Answer: About $53.9 million
It was a record at the time.

Irises Trivia – The Rainbow Flower

Irises are flowering plants with about 300 species, named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow because of their many colors. They grow from rhizomes or bulbs across the Northern Hemisphere, in meadows, marshes and gardens.

An iris flower has three upright petals called standards and three drooping petals called falls. Bearded irises have fuzzy beards on their falls that guide bees to nectar. Iris rhizomes are dried to make orris root, a valuable ingredient in perfume.

The iris has long been a symbol of royalty and is thought to inspire the French fleur-de-lis. Florence's emblem is a red iris, and Van Gogh's Irises, painted in 1889, became one of the most expensive paintings in the world when it sold in 1987.

What This Quiz Teaches

Art lovers and gardeners will enjoy these questions.

Where the name comes from
What the fleur-de-lis is
What orris root is
How iris flowers are built
What Van Gogh painted

Did You Know?

Yellow flag iris grows in wetlands.
Japanese irises have flat blooms.
Irises represent faith and wisdom.
Some irises bloom twice a year.
Dwarf irises bloom in late winter.