Perennials

The length and severity of the winter, particularly how deep the ground freezes, is the prime factor in determining what plants are perennials. There are two types of perennials:

Herbaceous perennials usually flower and set seed in spring and summer then die to the ground at the end of the growing season but send up new shoots the following spring.

Woody perennials, such as trees and shrubs, do not die back to the ground but get larger each year. Perennials usually produce one flower crop each year, lasting anywhere from a week to a month or longer. It is generally grown as a nearly permanent fixture in a garden and typically grows as a clump that expands outward through time, (either by runners or re-seeding to self propagate).

New perennials are typically made by dividing the clumps though some grow easily from seeds. Dividing clumps creates new plants and helps keep the old clump growing and flowering vigorously. Perennials can be obtained from garden centers and by mail order. Choose the species, variety and color carefully since they are more expensive than annuals and are replaced less often. It is a common practice to grow annuals and perennials together to provide color throughout the growing season. Another strategy is to grow a variety of perennials with different blooming seasons.