Annuals and perennials – what’s the difference?

When planning your garden, you may learn about annual flowers and perennials. Which leads to a very important question – what’s the difference between annuals and perennials? Understanding the difference between these types of plants will help you plan and plant the perfect garden.

The difference

In simple terms, annuals grow and bloom for one season while perennials have a dormant phase and they will bloom year after year. This major difference might make you wonder if there is really any point to planting annuals. Well, there are a number of benefits to planting both annuals and perennials. By including both in your garden, you will enjoy the best of both worlds.

Benefits of planting annuals

Annual flowers are known to have a single bloom season but it is significantly longer and more impressive than that of a perennial. These flowers will have a major impact and they will also attract plenty of insects that aid in pollination. They are also cheaper than perennials so you don’t have to worry about a large expense each year when you replace them. If you are new to gardening, you will also love the fact that they are generally very low maintenance.

Benefits of perennials

As for perennial flowers, you will enjoy the fact that they do not need to be replace each year. If you grow them from seed or buy them as seedlings, remember that they may not bloom during their first year. This is because the plant is not only focused on producing seeds, but also strong roots. Since the plant has more than one season to produce seeds, it’s in no hurry to bloom. The blooming season is also usually shorter and the flowers are generally not as impressive but they are beautiful none the less.

Types of annuals and perennials

If you are still not sure about the best types of annuals and perennials for your garden, here are some examples of each type of plant. Some of the most popular annuals include sunflowers, petunias, marigolds and larkspurs. The top perennials include peonies, chrysanthemums, daffodils and asters. These are just a few, of course, and you can always find many more types of flowering plants at your local florist or nursery.

One thing annuals and perennials have in common is the fact that each plant has its own preferences. Before you choose the plants for your garden, make sure that you understand the conditions of each area of your garden. This will help you choose the best flowers for each spot.