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What is a perennial plant? -

Perennials are plants that continue growing for more than two years, and they often grow flowers.

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A huge variety -

Perennials can be woody or non-woody, including some trees, many fruits, vegetables, and flowering plants. Non-woody plants don't develop wood, while woody plants do. 

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They come back in spring -

Perennials are typically cold-hardy plants that will return each year in the spring. These types of plants grow during the winter, or at least remain healthy and dormant.  

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Some are short-lived -

A few perennials are considered to be short-lived, lasting only two to three years. For example, rose campions (pictured) are short-lived perennials.

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Others last for decades -

Other perennials, like peonies (pictured), have been known to last for more than 100 years. However, it can take several seasons before they establish.

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Hardiness zones are important -

Not all perennials are hardy in all areas. Some can be killed by freezing temperatures or excessively dry conditions. Others can also experience growing problems.

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Look up which flowers will survive in your garden -

Knowing what zone you garden in will allow you to determine what plants will survive in your area. For example, tender perennials, like begonias (pictured), may survive mild winter climates, while areas with cold temperatures can kill the plants entirely.

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Types of perennials -

The term perennial is often used for flowery plants, but plants such as ornamental grasses, tropicals such as canna, and vegetables including rhubarb and artichokes (pictured) may also be perennial.

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Herbaceous perennial -

Then there are herbaceous perennials, which are plants with soft, green stems that die back to the ground (when the roots remain alive) over winter.

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Trees and shrubs -

Trees and shrubs are woody or non-herbaceous (such as agave, cactus, and ferns) perennials. They may lose their leaves in winter, but their roots, stems, branches, and buds remain alive.

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Perennial identification -

It's not always easy to tell a perennial from an annual, which are plants that complete their life cycle within one growing season. But beside the life span of perennials, there are a few other distinguishing factors.

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Their bloom is shorter -

Perennial plants bloom for shorter periods of time than annuals.

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They're slow growers -

Perennials grow slower than annual plants, so you have to have patience!

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They may produce fewer blooms in their early years -

Perennial plants may produce fewer blooms in their early years versus the showier blooms of annuals.

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Evergreen perennials -

Evergreen perennials usually keep their leaves year-round and don't die in the winter like a herbaceous perennial.

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Caring for perennials -

Though perennials require different maintenance methods than annual plants, that doesn't mean they're carefree.

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They need care to survive -

Most require at least some pruning and feeding to survive years into the future.

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Division -

While you don't need to replant perennials, eventually most of them do need to be dug up and divided to maintain vigor.

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Division can multiply your plants -

Some plants need dividing every couple of years and some, like peonies, virtually never, unless you want more plants.

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Pest control -

Make sure to regularly monitor your perennials throughout the growing season for pests and diseases.

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Deadheading -

Some perennials repeat bloom if you deadhead the spent flowers. Even deadheading the flower stems of non-repeat bloomers, like hosta (pictured), helps the plant direct its energy to its roots and leaves rather than to setting seed.

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Seasonal cleanup -

Prune and remove the old foliage from herbaceous perennials that die. This is to tidy the plant up before the new growth begins.

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Choosing perennials for the garden -

Observe the sunlight and shade patterns of the area you are planning to plant your perennials. This way you'll correctly select plants that require sun or shade.

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Keep wildlife in mind -

Think about your wildlife population, too, because you may prefer growing deer-resistant perennials, such as lavender (pictured).

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Perennials galore -

Besides the plants already mentioned, click on for a few more examples of perennials to choose from.

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Flowers -

For flowering perennials with longer bloom times than the average perennial, go for coneflowers (pictured), ice plants, or Shasta daisies.

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Grass -

Most ornamental grasses are perennials, such as fountain grass or pink muhly grass (pictured).

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Groundcovers -

There are also different types of perennial groundcovers. Sweet woodruff (pictured) and creeping thyme are the flowering kind, and the Japanese pachysandra is a non-flowering perennial groundcover.

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Shrubs -

Azaleas (pictured) and peonies are flowering perennial shrubs. Wintercreeper and false cypress are non-flowering perennial shrubs.

Sources: (The Spruce) (Good Housekeeping) 

See also: Tips to turn your garden into a wildlife sanctuary

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