Annuals vs. Perennials- Do You Know the Difference?
Annuals and perennials have some differences. Are you aware of what they are? And then there are also biennials. Are you confused yet?! Read on to familiarize yourself with the difference kinds of flowers. Once you know the differences you can then make sure to buy and plant the right varieties for your garden! You don’t want to buy a flower that is not good for your climate or soil or worse yet, plant it at the wrong time and have it die on you!
Annuals
An annual flower is grown from seed. It blooms and sets seed, and then it dies off. Annuals last for only one season at a time. You will need to replant annuals every spring season. There are plenty of types of annuals, and most bloom and stay lovely from spring right through to the autumn. Some examples of annuals include impatiens, snapdragons and zinnias.
Perennials
Perennials live for three seasons and sometimes more. One way to remember the difference between a perennial and an annual is to take note of the first letter- p. P stands for permanent and that is how you can differentiate between the two.
Perennial flowers are not always mature enough in their first year in order to bloom fully. Perennials generally need to be replaced and/or rejuvenated every three to five years. There are many types of perennials that are very beautiful. Unfortunately their season to shine is very short. Perennials only bloom for a brief period of time throughout the calendar year. On average they bloom for only one to three weeks at a time. For that reason they must be enjoyed when their time arrives!
Biennials
A biennial is a flower that grows vegetation during its first year of life. It remains alive during the wintertime and then it blossoms during its second season. It will then bloom, set seed and die. Some examples of biennials include pansies, hollyhocks and foxgloves.
There are also other types of flowers that do not fit comfortably into any of the aforementioned three categories. For example, the osteospermum is a half hardy annual. In general, half hardy annuals are half and half. In other words, they are considered to be perennial flowers if grown in warmer climates but are also versatile enough to be grown as annuals in colder climates.
Talk about confusing! When in doubt speak to someone at your local nursery or greenhouse for help.
