Perennial Flowers

1. What are Perennial Flowers? Image Source: http://www.kirkdalenursery.co.uk/perennial-flowering-plants.html Perennial plants live for more than two years. They are coming back year after year and continue growing until they reach adult development, which differs by plant but usually averages three to five years. The term "perennial" refers to herbaceous (“green”) plants since arboreal plants, such as trees, are perennial by definition. Unlike annuals, perennials are likely to bloom for just a short time, one to three weeks each year. Examples of popular perennial flowers include lilies, tulips, asters and black-eyed susans. Perennials generally do not have to be replanted each year. However, some gardeners choose to replace certain perennials, such as the perennial flowers every three to five years if they start to decline. Hardier perennials might return year after year for 20 years or more. Perennials have a good structures, such as bulbs and rhizomes, which let them to stay alive for many years. Perennials can be divided into two categories. Deciduous perennials the perennial flowers that grow part of the year and fall dormant the rest of the year. Evergreen perennials, such as pine trees, grow year round. Perennials - Plants that persist for many growing seasons. Generally the top portion of the plant dies back each winter and regrows the following spring from the same root system (e.g. Purple Coneflower). Many perennial plants do keep their leaves year round and offer attractive borders and groundcover (e.g. Tickseed, Shasta and Ox-Eyed Daisy).

2. Perennial plants are the pillar of nearly every flower garden. Unlike annual plants, which must be replanted each spring, herbaceous perennials die to the ground at the end of the season, and then regrow from the same roots the following year. People propagate perennial flowers because they are such easy-care, reliable performers and because they provide an enormous variety of color, texture and form. The life expectancy, bloom time, culture and form of perennial plants differs greatly. Some types, such as lupines and delphinium, are so called "short-lived" perennials, with a life expectancy of just three or four years. Others may live as long as fifteen years, or even, in the case of peonies, a lifetime. Bloom time may last for only two weeks each year, or may lengthen over two or three months. Perennials are great favorites with gardeners, particularly beginning gardeners because these plants are enduring and easy to take care of.