When looking for tips on the care and keeping of your plants, you may run across the terms “Annual”, “Biennial”, and “Perennial” and maybe don’t know what exactly they mean. All you know is you plant it, it grows, it “dies”, and then comes back in the spring without you having to do anything. Easy.
But what IS the difference between these types of plants? Are they cared for differently? These terms actually refer to the life cycle of the plant, describing the length of time the plant lives. There are three different categories – Annual, Biennial and Perennial.
- Annual plants have a life cycle of only one year. These flower types will do it all – germinate, flower and die – in one season and require replanting each year – perfect for the gardener who loves the act of gardening. Some examples of annuals are peas, marigolds, wheat and zinnias.
- Biennials live for two years, with two different growth seasons. When you plant a biennial in your garden, it will spend the first year growing its root system, stems and leaves. During the colder months, it will enter a dormant phase, getting ready for the next season. When spring has sprung, the biennial plant will also spring up, or “bolt”, growing much taller or longer. It will flower, produce its fruits and seeds, and then die. Plants such as parsley, sweet William and carrots fall into this category.
- Perennials are those plants and flowers that live through at least two seasons, and generally will live much longer. A lot of the time, the term perennial is used to describe only the plants whose leaves die down to soil level at the end of the season, but many trees and shrubs also fall into this category. These plants will grow and bloom during the spring and summer, but then die down and go dormant over the colder winter, only to grow and bloom again in the spring. The best-known examples of perennials are apples, rhubarb and dahlias.
There are many different categories within these main classifications, whether plants are herbaceous or woody, ornamental annual perennials or true annuals. So if you are unsure about what type of plant you have and how to care for it, don’t hesitate to contact one of our helpful and knowledgeable consultants at Boesen the Florist!
