Understanding the difference between annuals and perennials can be confusing. Trying to remember which plants come back every year or last only a season isn’t intuitive by the names. You might think an annual plant returns every year. But, it’s actually perennial plants that bloom year after year. An easy way to remember the difference is to think annuals typically last at most a year while perennials are persistent and come back.
Now, if you know anything about annuals, you probably think annuals are supposed to last only one season, not up to a year. But, narrowly defining annuals as living only a season doesn’t accurately describe their life span. Some annuals can actually survive during several seasons. Annuals, therefore, would be better grouped into three main categories to better reflect their life span across several seasons: cool-weather, warm-weather, or half-hardy.
Annuals
Cool-weather annuals thrive in colder/cooler temperatures and do well during late fall through winter to early spring. Warm-weather annuals enjoy warmer temperatures and perform best during late spring, summer, and early fall. While half-hardy annuals can tolerate more varied temperatures and may last a year or longer. Their extended life span depends on the climate and the self-sowing ability of the plant.
The other differences between annuals and perennials are how they look and their growth rate. Annuals usually have large, bright flowers providing immediate gratification because they bloom quickly. They also grow faster because they have a limited window of survival based on the weather conditions. Annuals are an excellent way to create variety in a garden. These plants can be put into pots or dug directly into the ground to temporarily fill in bare areas around perennial and other annual plants.
Perennials
On the other hand, perennials usually have smaller flowers, more green leafy structures, and blossom slower because of their longer life span. Perennials are a good long-term investment both monetarily and in terms of effort. Once established, most perennials are easy to care for and require only watering, pruning, and shaping.
No matter which type of plant you choose, both annuals and perennials serve a need in your garden. As mentioned in our post, How to Have a Garden That Blooms All Year, perennials and annuals can help you create a beautiful garden providing lasting benefits year-round.
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