Types of Perennials

Perennials are plants that are enjoyed for longer periods of time than annuals, which only live for a year or less. Perennials, on the other hand, are generally considered to be non-woody plants that survive for longer than two years. Generally, perennials are known to grow and flourish during the warmer spring and summer months, blooming before being generally reduced to their roots during late fall and winter. There are many different types of perennials, which behave differently based on the climate zone in which they are grown.

Evergreen perennials are one type of perennials that benefit from being able to withstand mild winters without dying back. Examples of evergreen perennials include coral bells, lavender, and English ivy. Not only are these perennials capable of looking great during the winter in most climates, but they are rather easy to care for. Both coral bells and lavender will grow easily if you decide to do some winter container gardening, as well as growing well in containers year round. Ivy does not generally even need to be watered, so plant it if you don't mind that it spreads quickly and may need to be trimmed back once in a while.

Monocarpic perennials are a rare type of perennial that only bloom once, dying after their first and only bloom. Perhaps the most prominent monocarpic perennial is the century plant, an agave plant native to Mexico. Though it now grows in a number of regions worldwide today, the century plant is remarkable for the number of years in which it takes to bloom, ranging anywhere from around 20 years to over 60 years. The bloom itself is spectacular, resulting in a flowery spike growing tens of feet high. The century plant is used for many purposes, including in the production of mezcal, a spirit similar to tequila, and agave syrup. Another example of a monocarpic perennial is Orostachys spinosa, a plant native to Northeast Asia.

Many other types of perennials exist and add beauty and longevity to any garden. If you would like to discuss other types of perennials, please join the PerennialFlowerGardening.com community and participate in the forum.