What is the Difference Between Annual and Perennial Flowers?

Annual flowers grow for one long season, often into the fall, then die with the onset of freezing weather. Perennials come back year after year, with some plants that live just a couple years and others that continue growing for decades. Some perennials die back to the base before winter and reemerge in spring; other perennial plants keep their above-ground growth throughout the whole year. 

Both annuals and perennials can add color, interest, and variety to a garden. Annuals are a great way to change the look of your garden from year to year, and they tend to have a longer flowering period than perennials. Perennials, on the other hand, require more maintenance, but can become stunning features or the perfect background to annual flowers in your garden.

Let's take a look at the differences between annuals and perennials, as well as some plants to try in your garden.

Which Annuals Should You Plant?

Popular annual flowers include petunias, marigolds, zinnias, and impatiens. If you're looking for something a little more exotic than these traditional bedding plants, try spider flower (cleome), gazania, vinca, and lisianthus. Some annuals, like coleus, Joseph's coat (Alternanthera), and dusty miller, are grown for their attractive foliage rather than flowers. 

Annuals are sadly short-lived and won't be back next year. The good news is that flowering annuals give you brilliant flowers during their blooming season, which is typically longer than most perennial plants, making them a great way to add color to your garden. Since they won't be back, you have space to try something new next year! They can also fill in empty spaces in your garden until your larger perennial plants reach their mature size.

Try Perennials, Too

Perennials come in an endless array of colors, textures, and sizes. Some of the most popular perennial flowers include daylilies, hostas, lavender, and peonies. For a spikey show of purple, plant liatris (aka blazing star). For a delicate bouquet of yellow, you can't beat the threadleaf coreopsis. For dramatic late-season color, try black-eyed Susan and purple coneflower.

Perennials are a diverse group of plants that includes flowering plants, shrubs, and trees. Most garden perennials are herbaceous and die back before winter, but you'll also find woody and semi-woody perennials that don't die back. Perennials can also be categorized as hardy or tender.

• Herbaceous perennials: This group includes most garden perennials. Herbaceous perennials die back all the way to root stock at the end of the year. You may need to help these plants out by cutting them down yourself (always check your plant tag for specific instructions). 
• Woody Perennials: Trees and many shrub plants are woody perennials—they don't die back and keep their branches or stems intact throughout the year. In the garden, these plants often require pruning in early spring or fall. 
• Semi-Woody: These plants don't have completely hardened stems like woody perennials, but they don't die back every year like herbaceous perennials. Think lavender and rosemary shrubs.
• Hardy Perennials: Hardy perennials can last the winter and freezing temperatures without needing to be covered. 
• Tender Perennials: Tender perennials can live for several years but need to be covered to survive cold temperatures—or to come inside altogether. They are often called annuals in colder climates, but they are not true annuals.

Perennial plants may require a little more planning since, ideally, they'll be a feature in your garden for many years to come. Flowering perennials give you stunning blooms, but remember that their blooming seasons are typically shorter than most annuals. Finally, be prepared to do a little maintenance—whether cutting back, pruning, or sheltering against cold—to keep your perennials looking their best year after year. 

Weighing Your Options

Thankfully, there's no need to pick one or the other for your garden. Annuals and perennials can be combined in your planting design to reap the best of both. Annuals are hard to beat in terms of showy, season-long color while perennials will give you the most value for your money. Since the perennial flowering season is usually shorter, make sure to plant different varieties to keep color going through the season.

When selecting flowers for your garden, the first thing to do is check your USDA Hardiness Zone. Some plants are only perennial in certain zones, and might be planted as annuals in other zones. Other perennials are hardy in warm regions but considered tender in colder zones. Knowing your zone is also important to determining when to plant your more weather-sensitive annual or perennial plants.

You can plant them in containers or landscape beds. Wherever you choose to plant, make sure you're giving your plants the best kind of soil:

• In-Ground Gardens: If you're excited about growing beautiful flowers, use Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil All-Purpose. Organic growers may prefer Miracle-Gro Organic™ Raised Bed & Garden Soil, which is also great if you're growing flowers in your raised garden beds.
• Outdoor Containers: Container plants need a lighter, fluffier soil than in-ground plants to help retain and release water and provide better air flow for plant roots. Miracle-Gro® Potting Mix is a great all-purpose mix for any plant. Try Miracle-Gro® Moisture Control® Potting Mix if you've had problems with over- and under-watering plants in the past. Finally, organic growers will appreciate our compost-enriched potting soil, Miracle-Gro Organic™ Outdoor Potting Mix.

Your flowers need more than just water. They also need regular helpings of just the right plant food to produce those glorious blooms. So, about a month after planting, boost the amount of nutrition your flowers are getting by starting to fertilize regularly with Miracle-Gro® Shake 'n Feed® Rose & Bloom Plant Food. For organic growers, feed regularly with Miracle-Gro Organic™ All Purpose Plant Food. Both options will feed your flowers for up to 3 months.

Whether you fill your garden with annuals, perennials, or a gorgeous mix, you'll have vivid color in your future!