Ornamental and Turf Pesticide Applicators Practice Exam

Which of the following is classified as a winter annual?

1. Carolina geranium

2. Common ragweed

3. Spanish needle

4. Quackgrass

The correct answer is: Carolina geranium

A winter annual is a plant that germinates in the fall, overwinters as a seedling, and then flowers and produces seeds in the spring or early summer before dying. Carolina geranium fits this definition, as it often germinates in the fall and grows during the cooler months, making it a typical example of a winter annual. In contrast, common ragweed is primarily a summer annual, germinating in the spring and completing its life cycle before the fall. Spanish needle is also a summer annual, following a similar growth pattern to common ragweed. Quackgrass, while a perennial, does not fit the classification of either annual type, as it can grow year-round and has a different life cycle that allows it to survive from year to year under various environmental conditions. Thus, the explanation of lifecycle patterns demonstrates why Carolina geranium is categorized correctly as a winter annual.