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Annuals/annuals -vs- perennials

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Expert: - 7/27/2007


Question
Please tell me the difference between annuals and perennials.  I live in Southeast Florida and would like to grow flowering plants that will endure the intense sun and flower year round.  Thank you for any information you can provide.

Answer
Becky,
Perennials come back year after year, and usually flower for anywhere between three weeks to eight weeks or more.  Some perennials are low-maintenance, but many spread, self-seed or require other attention so that a perennial garden is frequently the most high maintenance garden you can plant.

Annuals must be planted in the spring (or late winter where you are) and usuaully flower for a longer period.  They have to be planted every year.

 To confuse the issue a bit, some plants that are annuals in the north, such as impatiens or pentas, can be perennials in the south.  (Pentas, by the way, is a long-flowering plant that is wonderful.)

Your best bet is to ask both at nurseries in your area, and at the Cooperative Extension Service closest to you - for example, check out this website for information about plants for your area:
http://miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/Pubs_LnG2.shtml   

I hope this helps!
C.L.

Annuals

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C.L. Fornari

Expertise

Annuals suggested for specific situations (sun, shade, windowboxes etc) New or unusual annuals are a particular interest of mine, and I grow many of these from seed. I am happy to help problem solve, answer questions about maintenance, and guide you to sources of unusual plants.

Experience

I am a garden writer/speaker/consultant and host of a weekly gardening radio program in the Northeast. I have been gardening all my life for my own pleasure, and started as a professional gardener and garden communicator 15 years ago. I work part-time at a garden center, selling and tending shrubs/trees/annuals/perennials...and doing some propagation and design work. I often think that all these professional activities serve to put a somewhat legitimate framework around a serious case of plant-lust.

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