Commonly Asked Questions about Perennials

Perennial Plants and Flowers

A perennial plant, simply known as a perennial, is a plant that has a lifespan longer than two years. The term is most often used when it's needed to differentiate between plants that have shorter life spans, which are called annuals and biennials. Perennial is also used to describe plants that have little or no woody growth from shrubs or trees. Typically, those perennials for sale, especially the ones that are small and flowering, bloom during the spring and summer and then die every autumn and winter, In which case, they return the following spring and summer and are known as herbaceous perennials for sale. Perennial plants have the same symbol as the astronomical sign for Jupiter.

There are perennial plants that are classified as evergreen and considered to be non-herbaceous, such as Bergenia, subshrubs, Penstemon, and Fuchsia. Bergenias retain their leaves throughout the year. Subshrubs retain their woody structure during the winter. Fuchsia are most often cut down to the ground in the winter to protect them from frosts. Evergreen types of perennials include banana and Begonia, while deciduous perennials include mint and goldenrod; monocarpic perennials include several species of streptocarpus and agave. Pine, apple, and maple are woody types of perennials. Alfalfa is a kind of herbaceous perennial, as is red clover and thinopyrum intermedium. These types of plants can be annual or perennial, depending on what kind of climate and geographic growing conditions they're placed in. For example, an annual/perennial such as a Black-Eyed Susan would be an annual plant if placed in Louisiana, while placing the flower in Ohio would cause the Black-Eyed Susan to act as a perennial plant.

Pure perennial kind of plants bloom year after year with the top portion of the plant generally dying every winter and then regrows the following season from the same root; However, many perennial flowers will keep their leaves all year long which makes for great ground cover and attractive borders.

The most common kind of perennial for sale, which seems to be a favorite among the public, include the alstroemeria (known as the Peruvian lily), the aster x frikartii, the nepeta x faassenii (known as the catmint), the echinacea (known as the Coneflower), the coreopsis (often referred to as 'Mango Punch'), the euphorbia characias wulfenii, myosotis sylvatica (known as the forget-me-not), the gaillardia x grandiflora, the G. lindheimeri (known as the Gaura), the geum chiloense, the rudbeckia hirta (known as the gloriosa daisy), the heuchera, the phlomis fruticosa (known as the Jerusalem sage), lavender, the achillea (known as the 'moonshine' yarrow), the P. gloxinioides (known as the Penstemon), the Wonder of Staffa, the salvia elegans (known as the Pineapple sage), the salvia leucantha, the eryngium amethystinum (known as the sea holly), and the sedum telephium. These are all unfussy perennial kinds of plants that have a long lifespan while showcasing beautiful foliage and stunning flowers year after year. Planting in cooler weather helps this perennial kind of plant get off to a healthy start.

Virginia Bluebells Is A Stunning Perennial Plant

Virginia bluebells is a common name for the flower known as the Mertensia Virginica, which is a flowering plant that comes from the Boraginaceae family. This species of flower is native to the moist woodland in the eastern area of North America, commonly found in rich woods and river floodplains. The Mertensia Virginica is a spring ephemeral plant that has bell-shaped flowers that are sky blue and open from pink buds. The flower's leaves are grayish green and are rounded on stems that are approximately 24in (60 cm) tall at full growth. The bottom of the flower's stem is petiolate, while the top is sessile. In early summer (From about March to April), each of the fertilized flowers produces four seeds within its wrinkled nuts, and then the plant will go dormant, and the foliage dies until next spring.

Butterflies most frequently pollinate the Mertensia Virginica because of the ability to easily perch themselves upon the edges of the flower while still being able to enjoy the plant's nectar. Bumblebees also occasionally pollinate the flower. However, it's rare due to the flower's funnel shape in which the bumblebee must hover. The Virginia bluebells are easily grown in well-drained soil, given either part shade to full shade to sun exposure, and experience no serious rated insect or disease problems. For use in the garden, this flower is best used in clumps around borders and rock gardens. However, since they do go dormant at the beginning of the summer, they will need to be overplanted with either annuals or used in conjunction with flowers known as perennials for sale in the form of either ferns or hostas.

The Blue Lobelia

The great blue lobelia produces a gorgeous and intense shade of blue that only a few blues can match. These edging lobelia are the mounding type and are recommended for planting in rows along beds or borders. There are cascading types of blue lobelia, which are absolutely stunning, almost like a sapphire waterfall, as their foliage spills from their box or pot. This lobelia is at its highest glory in cool weather during the spring and fall. However, they tend not to do as well in such areas in the Pacific Northwest or higher altitudes, even though they produce cool weather in the summer. In the summer, the lobelia will stop flowering and will need to be sheared once that happens, so they rebloom in the coming fall. They can thrive in full sex exposure, partial sun exposure, and in the shade and require low maintenance. In addition to the shade of blue, the lobelias are also pink and white.

Wildflowers Are Perennial Plants

Wildflowers grow in the wild and may or may not have been intentionally planted or seeded to grow there. Examples of wildflowers include but are not limited to, Silene latifolia, Adonis aestivalis, Centaurea cyanus, Viola tricolor, Dianthus barbatus, Anagallis, Digitalis purpurea, Agrostemma githago, Anthemis arvensis, Adonis aestivalis (known as the Summer Pheasant's Eye), Papaver rhoeas, Gypsophila elegans, Eschscholzia californica (known as the California Poppy), and the Coreopsis tinctoria. In 2002, the Wildflower became the official emblem of the United Kingdom after members of the public nominated or voted. Plantlife International did this to spread awareness of the native species and their need for conservation as some species of the Wildflower have become endangered, Such as the Dianthus gratianopolitanus (known as the Cheddar Pink), the champion angustifolium (known as the Rosebay Willowherb), and the stachys alpina (known as the Limestone Woundwort).

Despite being called "Wildflower," that isn't the exact term. Other terms such as introduced species, native species (which means that they're native to the area and naturally occur there), or exotic are more fitting for the flower. Sometimes, they are even referred to as being an invasive species because of how they out-compete both native and non-native flowers. Some species of wildflowers are even labeled as imported, meaning that they've either been deliberately or accidentally introduced to an area. Naturalized wildflowers are those that were introduced to a specific area but are now known as being native to the public. All these terms are more accurate than simply calling them a wildflower.

Twelve types of wildflowers that appear annually are; The Agrostemma githago (known as the Corn Cockle), the Anthemis arvensis (known as the Corn Chamomile), the Atriplex hortensis (known as the Purple Orache), the Centaurea cysnus (known as the Cornflower), the coreopsis tinctoria (known as the Golden Tickseed), the California Poppy, the glebionis segetum (known as the Corn Marigold), the helianthus annuus (known as the Sunflower), the papaver rhoeas (known as Red Poppies), the rhinanthus minor (known as the Yellow Rattle), and the verbena bonariensis which is known as the Verbena.

In some areas, the Verbena is a short-lived perennial. However, those that are located in places that have cold winters are considered to be annuals. Verbenas are tall and slender plants that produce purple-shaded flowers that are held high on multiple stems. Verbenas attract butterflies and bees for pollination while preferring full exposure to the sun and being planted in well-drained soil. The Yellow Rattle is a commonly used plant that is used to reduce the hold of coarse grasses so that other plants may grow in meadows. Their name comes from how their papery seedheads rattle in the wind. They, too, like the Verbena, like full exposure to the sun and being kept in well-drained soil. The Opium Poppy showcases large flowerheads with blueish-green leaves that give birth to either single or double flowers that range in various shades, which include red, white, and purple. Red Poppies are scarlet red in color with jet-black centers with jagged and lobed leaves. Their seeds are quite often used in baking.

The Sunflower showcases large bright yellow flowers, with some growing over 6 feet tall, but there also is a variety of smaller types that are perfect in meadows. Sunflowers are easy to germinate and make an instant impact. Like most of the perennial types of flowers in this type, Sunflowers prefer full exposure to the sun and prefer to be placed within well-drained soil. Corn Marigolds showcase daisy-shaped flowers that are a shade of golden yellow. Marigolds make an instant impact with their grayish-green foliage and their bright colors. These flowers prefer to be placed in either well-drained or moist soil while enjoying the full exposure of the sun. Golden Tickseeds is a stunning flower that features daisy-shaped flowers in an intense shade of yellow with either mahogany or bronze centers. Tickseeds bloom between mid to late summer.

Cornflowers have blue outer petals with purple inner florets, which appear reddish. Although this type of Wildflower was most commonly found on farmlands, their numbers have declined significantly. Purple Oraches are an edible kind of perennial. Oraches showcase reddish and purple foliage with the same shade of flower spikes that make a beautiful contrast when clumped in neighboring flowers. Corn Chamomiles are white daisy-like flowers with disc florets in yellow shades. Chamomiles are commonly naturalized in wildflower meadows and often mixed with other wildflowers such as corn marigolds, corn cockle, and cornflowers. Corn Cockles are large, flowery, five-petaled flowers that are typically magenta-colored and most often found in farming fields. Although corn cockles were once a common wildflower, intense agriculture has caused them to become scarce. Cornflowers, purple orchids, corn chamomiles, and corn cockles prefer partial to full sun exposure while preferring to be placed within moist to well-drained soil.

Hosta Plants

There are approximately 23 to 45 species of plants that are considered to be Hosta plants and are often regarded as being tolerant to shade. This genus is currently a part of the Asparagaceae family and the Agavoideae subfamily, which is native to the northeast area of Asia. They used to be referred to as Liliaceae. The name of the genus comes from Nicholas Thomas Host, who is an Austrian botanist. Funkia was the rejected name; however, it is used as a common name for the genus and can be found in older literature in which the genus is referred to as Funkia. Hostas are also a kind of herbaceous perennial plant that grows from either stolons or rhizomes. Hostas are produced on erect scapes, which are typically taller than leaf mounds.

Each flower on the hostas is pendulous and about 2 to 5 centimeters long with violet, white, and lavender tepals. The tepals are usually scentless. The only strongly scented species of the hosta is the plantaginea. The plantaginea has white flowers, and they can be up to 10 centimeters long. It's a usual species in that the flowers open in the evening but are closed by the morning. This particular species blooms in the late summer, and it's because of this that it's often called an "August Lily." These flowers are very useful in the garden because their foliage is shade-tolerant while also providing a striking focal point. However, they draw the attention of voles, rabbits, deer, snails, and slugs, which can cause extensive damage to a garden if the proper measures aren't taken. However, there are some species of the genus that are more resistant to slugs than others.

The plantaginea originates in China but was introduced by Japan to Europe in the mid-19th century by Philipp Franz Von Siebold. Since then, newer species of the flower have been found. These flowers are quite frequently shown on display at major shows, the Chelsea Flower Show being one example. Some examples of cultivars include but are not limited to, Wide Brim, H. venusta, sieboldiana (known as Blue Angel), fortunei (known as France), H. ventricosa, tardiana (known as Halcyon), ventricosa (known as Aureomarginata), Frances Williams, Sum and Substance, Krossa Regal, Golden Tiara, Sagae, June, and the Royal Standard.

Plants that have become diseased with poxvirus must be destroyed immediately as they can transfer the virus to other plants through contaminated sap and get them infected. The most common symptoms include "ink bleed" marks, which are dark green within the veins of yellow-colored leaves, and collapsing tissue on those veins. Symptoms can take years to show, so any plant that appears to be symptomless in an otherwise infected batch should be considered infected and properly disposed of as soon as possible.

This kind of perennial is also edible for humans in Japanese cuisine. It's called "urui". The parts of the flower that are eaten are dependent on the species. For some, it is the shoots; for others, it's the leaf petiole; and then, for some, it's the whole leaf that's eaten. Younger plants tend to be more tender than older ones, and therefore, they are generally more preferred by those who use them to cook and those who consume them. Their flowers can also be eaten.

Species of this flower include aequinoctiiantha, clausa, clavata, gracillima, hypoleuca, longipes, longissima, minor, rectifolia, rohdeifolia, rupifraga shikokiana, sieboldiana, sieboldii, Montana, nakaiana, Takahashi, takiensis, tardiva, tibae, tsushimensis, nigrescens, okamotoi, pachyscapa, ventricosa, venusta, yingeri, plantaginea, pulchella, pycnophylla, ibukiensis, jonesii, kikutii, kiyosumiensis, laevigata, densa, fluctuans, albofarinosa, alismifolia, calliantha, capitata, and the cathayana species. The order of the species is asparagales as they come from the Monocots and Angiosperms clades and the plantae kingdom.

Daylilies Are A Very Popluar Perennial Plant

The Daylilly, which is a cultivar flower, is the common name for the Hemerocallis genus and is exceptional in color and form when it comes to variety. Thousands of these registered cultivars are currently studied and appreciated by international and local societies that observe Hermerocallis. These flowers have been placed within the Xanthorrhoeacea family and the Hemerocallidoideae subfamily, having formerly been a part of the Liliaceae family, which includes true lilies. Daylilies are perennial plants, and they have gotten their name due to the fact that they typically do not last more than 24 hours. Usually, these flowers open early in the morning and then wither by the following night, while some species of the Daylily bloom at night. This genus is native to Eurasia, which includes Japan, China, and Korea. However, it's a popular genus all over the world because of its hardiness of many kinds and its showy flowers. Over 60,000 cultivars are currently registered.

Although the Daylilly is not commonly used as a cut flower in formal arrangements, they make great cut flowers for other purposes due to the fact that new flowers bloom on cut stems over just a period of several days. Most species of daylily can be found as clumps, detailing their roots, crowns, leaves, and flowers. Daylilies have three sepals and three petals. Their leaves are long and lanceolate. The crown is located between the roots and the leaves, where the white portion is. Some daylilies have thickened roots that allow them to store water and food. Each daylily typically has six stamens, each with a two-lobed anther. After pollination, a capsule is formed on the flower, which is called a pod. Daylilies are often referred to as being "the perfect perennial" because of their brilliant colors and their ability to tolerate drought while also being able to thrive in various climate zones, in addition to only requiring minimum maintenance. Daylilies that are dark in color, such as red and purple, require to be kept in the shade, While those that are lighter in color, such as those that are pink, yellow, and other pastel shades, require more sun exposure to reach their full-color potential.

Daylilies come in various shades, even more so today than back then; due to intense hybridization, they can now be found in nearly every known color except for two: the pure shades of white and blue. They have a relatively short blooming period, a time period that depends on the type. Some types bloom in the early spring, while other types don't bloom until summer or even autumn; most types bloom from between one to five weeks. However, there are some types that are referred to as "rebloomers," which will bloom twice within one season.