Perennial or Annual?
Annuals are known for their all-out display for a single year, while perennials come back to grace your landscape year after year. There are positives for either, depending on what you like in your garden—we bet that you might even have a few of each blooming right now! But how well do you know your plants? Can you tell the difference between these annuals and perennials?
Coneflower
Coneflowers are not only perennials, but they are also native to the Midwest! Theses are the perfect plants for gardeners that want something incredibly hardy, a little unique looking, but still knockout gorgeous.
Perennial
Annual
Marigolds
Marigolds themselves are typically single-season blooms, making them an annual. However, their ability to self seed makes them easy to mistake for a perennial as new blooms might pop up in the same area next season! We always welcome their cheerful golden glow in the garden, especially thanks to their ability to repel some pests.
Perennial
Annual
Canna Lily
Cannas are a tuber that can reliably bloom for many years, but only if overwintered properly. Dig the tubers up in fall after the foliage has browned, dry, and store packed in peat in a dark, dry place until next spring when the danger of frost has passed.
Perennial
Annual
Begonia
Begonias are a favorite annuals in our gardens where they look amazing in beds, containers, and hanging baskets. While they're considered annuals because they can't make it through Midwest winters, you can actually save yours inside over the winter!
Perennial
Annual
Pansy
Pansies have an incredible cold tolerance that makes them able to survive the winter in some temperate areas, but in our area, they will struggle to endure a sustained winter. These annuals are the perfect choice for spring or fall blooms where their cheerful faces brighten up the garden in chillier temperature the rest of your annuals don’t like.
Perennial
Annual
Daylily
The daylily is a prized flower in gardens across America, known for their impressive blooms that might only last a short time. But they are consistently followed by more flowers—each more impressive than the last. Surprisingly versatile for a perennial, choose from different varieties to suit your landscape best, from bedding plants to edging.
Perennial
Annual
Impatiens (Busy Lizzie)
Impatiens are beautiful annuals, whether you grow them as a houseplant or outside in a container or bed! Their beautiful blooms come in a wide range of colors to enjoy. For the eager gardener that doesn't want to say goodbye to their impatiens at the end of the season, try overwintering by repotting them indoors.
Perennial
Annual
Petunias
Petunias are adored as one of the staple annuals in gardens across America, thanks to their prolific blooming in every shade and pattern imaginable. These powerhouse bloomers are designed to give it their all for one season and then be done, so they’ll be exhausted at the end of the fall and won’t be up for another year.
Perennial
Annual
Calibrachoa (Million Bells)
Calibrachoa earns its nickname of "Million Bells " with the overflowing blooms that it produces in a summer. Looking like tiny petunias, this annual classic is more of what you love! Use it as a "spiller" plant in containers and planters, and enjoy their enthusiastic blooming for their one season of growth.
Perennial
Annual
Yarrow
This hardy perennial is ready to bloom in your garden with no care whatsoever. Native to the Midwest, they are ready to thrive in any condition, and even overwinter without a hitch. Yarrow is a great way to get reliable color into your landscape.
Perennial
Annual
You got {number correct}/{number of questions} correct answers
You still need to brush up a bit on your plant knowledge to tell the perennials from the annuals, but that’s okay! Enjoying your garden and blooms is the first step, and we’re ready to help point you in the right direction otherwise.
You got {number correct}/{number of questions} correct answers
You’re on your way to being a plant pro, but you’re still working on knowing the differences between some of the plants in your garden.
You got {number correct}/{number of questions} correct answers
You’re a plant pro! You know all the plants in your garden well and can easily tell the differences between those that are perennials and those that are annuals. A bit of know-how goes a long way towards a beautiful garden that is ready to be enjoyed!