Perennials are very popular with hobby gardeners due to their perennial nature and the often impressive flowers. But which species actually exist?

There are countless types of perennials

A brief portrait of perennials

Interesting: The term "perennial" does not come from botany. It is mainly used in gardening.

Perennials are perennial herbaceous seed plants and ferns. These are plants whose above-ground parts do not become woody. This is an essential difference to woody plants (trees, bushes).

Perennials come in the form of flowers, ferns, vegetables, climbing plants, herbs, rose plants, pond plants (aquatic plants) and houseplants.

In the case of deciduous perennials, the above-ground parts die off at the end of the growing season. Hibernation is usually by tubers, rhizomes or bulbs. In the new growing season, the plants will sprout again. Evergreen perennials do not shed their aerial parts at the end of the growing season (such as ground cover perennials).

Perennials play an important role in rock garden and garden design. They are also used as potted or tub plants on the balcony or terrace.

Note: You can find a large selection of perennial seeds and perennial assortments in nurseries, in garden centers and in (online) plant shops.

Types of perennials at a glance

Perennials can essentially be divided into the following types:

  • deciduous versus evergreen/evergreen perennials
  • large/tall versus small/low perennials
  • small-leaved versus large-leaved perennials
  • native versus exotic perennials
  • demanding versus easy-care perennials
  • toxic versus non-toxic perennials
  • summer hardy versus hardy perennials
  • Ornamental perennials (e.g. flowering and ornamental leaf perennials with eye-catching leaves - in terms of shape, pattern, colour)
  • fragrant perennials (e.g. fragrant flowers and herbs)
  • Fruit and fruit trees
  • Vegetable perennials (e.g. celery)
  • Spice plants (e.g. kitchen herbs, wild herbs, salad herbs)
  • fern perennials
  • Open space, woody and forest perennials

Subdivision by flowering

Perennials can also be differentiated by the characteristics of the flower:

  • Flowering yes/no: flowering versus non-flowering varieties
  • Duration: short versus long flowering perennials
  • Frequency: once per year versus twice flowering (repeating) perennials
  • Time: summer versus winter flowering perennials (spring, summer, autumn flowering)
  • Colour: for example blue, yellow or white flowering perennials

Subdivision by location/site

There is also the possibility of distinguishing perennials according to their location or place of use:

  • alpine perennials (e.g. alpine flowers)
  • bedding perennials
  • Cemetery perennials (e.g. grave flowers)
  • climbing perennials
  • border perennials
  • rock garden perennials
  • Water perennials/pond perennials

Basically, you can also differentiate perennials for sunny, semi-shady or shady locations.

Note: It makes no sense to separate annuals and perennials because perennials are perennial herbaceous plants by definition.

Category:

Care tips