Perennials Vs. Annuals - What Is The Difference?

Do you love flowers and the color they add to your garden? Does it make a difference whether you plant perennials and annuals together? What is the difference between them? This article will look at the differences between perennials and annuals.

An annual plant blooms only once. They are adaptable in the garden, typically bright and outgoing flowers. They are easy to start from seed, without waiting for a widespread germination. Annuals live their complete life cycle in one year. Once they begin flowering, they continue blooming, some just until they have produced seeds and others until the weather is incompatible for their growth. A number of annuals come in almost every color of the rainbow, while others focus on tones of one color. Because annuals grow, bloom, and die in one season it appears they require more work than perennials that continue blooming over time. However, one advantage of using annuals in the garden is how available they are. Annuals are favorites of nurseries and garden stores, and appear in the spring with a variety of colors and species. Since they are frequently in bloom when purchased, you can easily visualize how your garden will look with annuals.

Perennials are more variable in their height than annuals for example, there are miniature, low growing, medium, and very tall perennials. If a perennial plant does not survive in the garden and needs replacing, it is often next to impossible to find the species, color, and size you are looking for in nurseries or garden centers. Perennial flowers are not as vivid as annuals, although they will return to bloom repeatedly in future years. Some colors come up short in perennials; such as, fewer flowers in bright red shades, and there are more in subtle and pale colors. Native perennials are sturdier and come back each year. They reproduce, saving time, money, and effort in the long term. You can transplant those you like throughout your yard and garden and share their beauty with family, friends, and neighbors. They may not be as showy as annuals, but they leave a lasting impression.

Perennials can live for several years or longer. Some species of perennials are herbaceous, which means the stems, leaves, and flowers die away at the end of the season. They then leave the crown and roots in the soil resting. Other types of perennials stay evergreen throughout the year, giving some winter interest in the garden. You can take advantage of planting perennials and annuals together to create a dramatic color effect in your garden. Combining the splash of color that annuals provide with the more demure perennials will provide you with lasting beauty that you can cultivate, as you desire.

Annuals and perennials have different branching habits. A few may contain clusters of small flowers on a stem, or a single, flat, or conical blossom on a stem. Perennials are often times difficult to grow. Their germination times are typically longer, and unpredictable. Perennial seedlings are generally extremely small with a thin stem and delicate, except for the sturdiest of varieties.

In summary, perennials live more than two years and continue to grow from season to season. During the winter months, their tops usually die back and produce more blooms during the following season. Typically, they have a three-week bloom period. Perennials are less expensive because you do not have to replant them each year. Annuals complete their life cycle from seed to flower in one year and then die. Their colors are typically more vibrant than perennials and to some, prove more difficult to grow.

For the flower lover in you, go to your local nursery or garden center, you can even search online, for the different color variations that both perennials and annuals offer. You may want to mix and match or you may want to choose only the perennials and not mess with replanting the annuals. Whatever choice you make the beauty of flowers is that you can change your mind at anytime and revamp your garden according to whatever you like. If you choose a particular color in an annual that did not really suit your intentions, you can definitely change it the following year.