Everything to know about Perennials

Perennial Plants are a lovely display of flowers that typically bloom annually and have an average live of around two years, meaning they come year after year once planted. Recognizing your growing Zone before choosing perennials is essential, and the USDA Hardiness Zone Map is handy for this purpose.

Planting perennials suggested explicitly for your area helps you achieve better results with a simplified gardening routine because those recommended Perennial Plants adapt to the environment and the growing conditions more impressively. 

Why Plant Perennials?

Let’s discuss the advantages of planting perennials in your lawn:

• Low Maintenance: What could be better than perennials free from the hassle of replanting every year, i.e., the annuals? Only random irrigating and fertilizing can go a long way regarding perennials.
• Variety: Perennials come in different shapes, sizes, and color ranges, literally thousands of variations that cater to a diverse range of people with specific styles and gardening needs.
• Attract Pollinators: If you want to attract pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, etc., to your lawn, then perennials like black-eyed Susans and coneflowers are the answer.
• Adaptability:  One of the best things about Perennials is the adaptability they offer, i.e., quickly acclimated to a diverse range of light and soil conditions, which makes them an excellent choice for diverse kinds of lawns. 
• Value: Perennials is your go-to option if you want to save money ultimately. Since they don’t need to get replanted every year, you only have to bear the initial higher cost (compared to annuals).

What are some kinds of perennials?

You can pick from a wide variety of perennials, such as:

• Herbaceous perennials: This category includes the green stems that die down to the ground during the cold weather. Hostas and daylilies are great examples of this type. Woody perennials: As the name suggests, the perennials with woody stems that stay standing all through the harsh winters are woody. Roses (a fall-blooming perennial) and shrubbery are a few examples.
• Bulb perennials: Cannas, tulips, and daffodils are a few examples of bulb perennials, i.e., perennials that nurture from bulbs. 

Fall-Blooming Perennials

In addition to the perennial varieties mentioned earlier, it’s essential to consider fall blooming perennials to ensure your garden remains vibrant well into autumn. These perennials not only extend the flowering season but also provide a burst of color when many other plants are winding down. Here are some excellent options to consider adding to your garden:

• Asters: These daisy-like flowers come in a range of colors and bloom profusely in the fall, attracting butterflies and other pollinators.
• Sedum: With its succulent leaves and clusters of star-shaped flowers, sedum adds texture and interest to the garden while blooming in late summer and early fall.
• Chrysanthemums: Commonly known as mums, these colorful flowers are a staple of fall gardens and are available in various sizes and colors.

Why Perennials are everyone’s favorite?

Perennial plants and shrubs are called the “gardeners favorites” (rightfully so), and let’s find out why is:

1. Pollinator Habitat – Perennials are excellent pollinators for birds, butterflies, and bees, especially Native ones, i.e., they are exceptional at providing nectar, seeds, pollen, and nesting materials. 

2. Environmental sustainability – Perennials are a great source of reduction in soil erosion and creation of interest on slopes, ditches, along roadsides, and pathways. You can quickly eliminate the need for heavy inputs, i.e., chemical feed, soil amendments etc., extensive watering, etc., by planting native perennials that fit the eco-region of your garden

3. Repeat Blooms – The perennials are an excellent option if you hate spending repeatedly. They are a long-term investment and do not need annual plantation, spreading, or multiplying in the growing season. 

4. Less maintenance – Perennial varieties require way less time than annual maintenance, which means less effort and time spent feeding, tending, and watering your plants. 

5. A season-long statement – If you aim for unparalleled interest that allows you to design or plan your garden to change with each season, then Perennial gardens and meadows are the way to go. Planting perennial swaths around evergreen and dotting your designs with annuals allow you to build a garden with exceptional colors from spring to fall. Is it amazing? 

Choosing the Right Perennials for Your Garden

There are a few factors you must take into account before picking perennials: 

• Climate: Choosing perennials appropriate for your particular climate profile is essential. You can identify your growing Zone by entering your zip code in Hardiness area map.
• Sunlight: It is crucial to assess which parts of your lawn receive more sunlight and vice versa and then choose the plants that can flourish in such circumstances.
• Tip: Shade perennials require four or a few more hours of direct sunlight per day, while the part-shade thrives on 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. The Full-sun perennials need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. 
• Soil: It is crucial to pick perennials, considering the soil’s nutrient levels and pH for better compatibility.
• Space: Only some perennials will fit in some places, as it depends on the plant’s mature size. Consider your designated space and choose a perennial plant whose mature size fits in that space. 

Consider all these valuable insights to decide on the best perennials for your space and let them swoon you away for years.

Perennials Growth: The Complete Process

The winter months are dormant periods for perennials as the plant above ground dies down while the roots remain alive and keep growing and storing energy for the next above-ground growing season. Spring comes, and the plant begins its journey (start growing) by using all the stored energy from its roots and finally producing new above-the-ground growth. 

Some perennials show a specific growth pattern, e.g., bulb plants, which store all the nutrients and energy (required for growth) in the underground storage structures and produce flowers and leaves in the spring by using these stored resources, and tulips and daffodils are a great example of such plants (bulbs). The leaves and flowers die back as their season ends, and the bulb resumes the energy storage cycle (preparation for the next growing season).

Then, herbaceous perennials are prone to dyeing in the winter (to the ground) and re-growing from the same root system in the spring. At the same time, woody perennials remain standing even during the winter and resume new growth in spring (from the same root system).

Maintaining a proper care routine specific to each plant, e.g., watering, pruning, fertilizing, pest and disease protection, etc., is imperative to promote healthy growth and a perfect perennial annual cycle. Our plants come with complete instructions, and our website offers even better information about their development.