Have you ever gone into a home and garden store and walked up and down the aisles determined to find some plants to put in your yard? If so, then you know how many choices stare you in the face. Sure, there are the easy decisions to make like what colors you would like, how big you want them to be and what kind of leaves you'd like to feature. But what about the more difficult decisions: Which plants are best for the region I live in? Which plants would live best in the shade and which in the sun? And exactly what is the difference between perennials and annuals? What do those terms even mean?
It can be an incredibly daunting task, but one that can be made easier with the help of HowStuffWorks. By definition, a perennial is a plant that lives longer than two years. It blooms in the spring and summer, and then it dies again every fall and winter. Then again in the spring, the blooms come out to greet the warmth and sunshine. While perennials have to live longer than two years to qualify as one, some have been known to live as much as 3,000 years. Now you won't be around that long to see if your plant thrives, but there are some things you need to know to make sure your plant has the best life possible.
Visit HowStuffWorks to wade your way through all things perennial, from which plants are considered part of the family to how to care for them properly. We'll take the guess work out of your yard, so you can spend your time digging your cares away. So get those shovels and sprinklers ready as we take a trip through perennial paradise.
The encyclopedia of perennials helps you select and care for perennials. Learn all about your favorite perennials in the encyclopedia of perennials.
The foliage and seed heads of ornamental grasses help to extend the garden season through winter. These perennials usually have feathery or plumelike flowers. Learn more about ornamental grasses for the garden. See more »
Lenten rose, or hellebore, is one of the earliest perennials to bloom. Flowers are white or plum and will appear as early as late winter. Read about the uses for this plant.
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Leopard's-bane has bright yellow, daisylike flowers that bloom in the spring. Read about using this perennial flower as a border plant in front of low walls or as an excellent cut flower.
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Liatris, also known as blazingstars or gayfeathers, are good garden perennials. Their small fluffy florets are set along tall spikes, flowering from the top down, which makes them unusual cut flowers. Learn about liatris.
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Ligularia is a bold perennial for garden use. The plants bear sprays or spires of yellow or orange flowers in summer, on strong stems. Find out more about the ligularia.
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Mallow is a bushy soft green perennial with 5-petaled flowers that bloom in full sun or shade. Learn to grow this easy-care perennial, mixing it with ornamental grasses for a beautiful garden layout.
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Mayapple is great perennial for a woodland setting and a wonderful three-season plant. After they spread out, white flowers appear and are followed in autumn by rounded fruits. Find out more about this American native and its needs.
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Meadow rue is moderately easy to care for in moist soil, and fits naturally in a wild garden. Learn to use meadow rue as background in a flower bed or in a bouquet.
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Meadowsweet, also called queen-of-the-prairie, can grow to seven feet with large clusters of tiny pink flowers reminiscent of a ball of cotton candy. Learn to use meadowsweet against a dark background in your garden.
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Merrybells are tall perennials whose dainty bell-shaped flowers start blossoming in spring. They do well in a woodland area or a habitat garden. Learn about this hardy and graceful woodland plant.
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Moss phlox has dark green, prickly leaves with groups of flat flowers held above the foliage. It blooms in April and May when spring weather has come to stay. Read about this great ground cover.
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Most gardens have a variety of colors, but you may not want to plant different types to get that effect. Learn about multicolor perennial flowers and the wide range of color they lend a garden.
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The popular musa, or banana plant, is neither a tree nor a palm but a perennial. It's bright green foliage grows quickly and can become quite large. Read about this green giant and how to care for it.
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Northern sea oats is a 3-foot tall perennial that is reminiscent of bamboo. It prefers a partially shady garden spot and will tolerate most climates. Learn about this plant's preferred growing conditions and how to care for Northern sea oats.
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Ornamental onion is only one of over 500 species of onion. It has rounded flowers in various pinkish hues, white, mauve, and green. Use them in groups or with other perennials. Read to learn more.
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Ox-eyes are often called false sunflowers, but bloom earlier in the season. These bright yellow daisies are easy to care for, and are valuable in a bed, border, or wild garden. Learn more about ox-eyes.
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Pachysandra, Japanese spurge, is a popular ground cover that bears small, greenish-white flowers in the spring. Learn to use this perennial flower in shady areas, especially under bushes and along shaded walkways.
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Pearly everlastings are a wildflower common throughout much of the country. They grow two feet tall and have silvery gray leaves in the spring that turn green as the summer progresses. Learn about peraly everlastings.
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A collection of peonies in perennial bloom presents a view of exquisite, huge flowers in many colors. The peony is great in cutting gardens. Find out more about the showy flower.
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Baby's breath is a perennial flower that accents other flowers in cuttings and arrangements or in the garden. In this article, learn about planting, growing, propagating, and using baby's breath.
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Beard tongue is a perennial flower that accents other flowers in cuttings and floral arrangements or in the garden. In this article, learn about planting, growing, propagating, and using beard tongue.
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