Perennials: The Plants That Just Won’t Quit (And How to Help Them Thrive in Your Garden)

Caring for plants is so rewarding. It’s even more fun when they last longer than a season. If you want a long-term garden that will be with you through the years, it’s time to consider perennial plants. They’re great options for people with newly formed gardening skills and experienced plant enthusiasts. Learn more about them to see if perennials are going to be your next favorite garden addition.

What Are Perennial Plants?

Perennial plants are a type of plant that lives for more than two years if it finds the right home and gets proper care. They’ll fade into withered leaves above the soil, but their root system remains active until the proper growth conditions return next year. They come in all shapes and sizes, which makes them even more beloved.

Perennial vs. Annual Plants: Most Important Differences

People compare perennial vs. annual plants when they’re about to bring a new leafy friend home. If you’re ready to make a garden blueprint, researching which types of plants you’ll grow is crucial. 

Perennials can live a few years or longer. Annuals last one season and wilt into beautiful memories when that season is over. Perennials want to survive long-term, while annuals just want to bloom and reproduce.

Annuals also can’t typically stand cold weather. Perennials are ready to tough it out. They might need some assistance depending on how cold it gets, but they typically bounce back afterward. It depends on where you live.

If you see perennials at a local nursery, just remember that they’ll live a long time with enough love. Ask a store representative to find the right options for your region. They’ll likely recommend specific perennials based on your hardiness zone, which explains the temperatures your plants will need to tolerate to survive.

Examples of Perennial Plants People Love

Ready to get inspired for your future garden? Check out a few examples of perennial plants to figure out what you want to care for next.

Peonies

Peonies are romantic, beautiful flowers that are more hardy than you might suspect. They’ll bloom between spring and summer, but the bush they grow on will stay alive throughout the fall and winter. Just keep giving it water to watch your peonies return next year.

Lavender

You can grow lavender in your garden during warm weather months, but this flower doesn’t do well in cold and wet times of the year. You’ll have to repot your lavender flowers and bring them indoors for the winter to keep them healthy.

Coneflowers

Plant coneflowers where they can get at least eight hours of sun each day and they’ll thrive. The blooms will turn brown during fall and winter, but don’t worry. Trim away the dead flower heads at the end of winter and they’ll grow back when spring arrives.

Mint

You might have only expected flowers to be examples of perennial plants, but herbs can grow year-round too. Mint is infamously easy to grow and sleeps through winter. Just contain it within a pot or cut it back frequently. It spreads quickly, easily taking over whole yards if left unsupervised.

Ferns

Those ferns you want to add to your front porch are perfect perennials. Bring them into your garage during the winter and water them to keep them alive. They’ll stay green and healthy until warm weather invites them back outside in the spring.

Best Perennial Plants for Shade

If you have a shady yard, there’s no need to worry. Plenty of perennials thrive in the shade because they’re so tough. Consider options like:

• Hostas
• Bleeding hearts
• Coral bells
• Ostrich ferns
• Jacob’s ladder

Comparing the best perennial plants for shaded spots will give you more options than you may have anticipated. Take your time considering the best options based on the size of your garden, if you’ll keep your plants indoors and how much time they need in the sun. You’ll pick the best options without breaking a sweat.

Easiest Perennials to Add to Your Garden

Although a moth orchid might catch your eye and provide medicinal benefits, it’s not as easy to care for compared to many perennials. If you want perennials that will thrive alongside your beginner gardening skills, select easygoing options like:

• Lily of the valleys
• Clematis
• Meadow rue
• Daylilies
• Peonies

As you browse examples of perennial plants that are easy to grow, make a list of everything you love. You’ll narrow down your potential garden additions as you consider factors like your hardiness zone, how much sunlight they’ll get and what sized plant you want to bring home.

Tools for Maintaining Perennial Plants

You’ll need some helpful tools when it’s time to start caring for your perennials. Check out some of the leading options to prepare yourself with the best gardening supplies.

1. Trowel Set

Whether you’re investing in perennial plants for shade or want smaller plants that bloom, you’ll need a trowel set to create homes for them in your garden. Use the sharper trowel to remove any weeds or grass that’s in your way. The more rounded tool will remove the dirt just before your plants settle into place.

$9.99 from Amazon

2. Watering Can

You never know when you might need a watering can. Even if you have a hose that reaches your garden, it might start leaking. Get a watering can to care for your perennials in the case of an emergency. You’ll also feel glad that you have it if you decide to rehome your plants into plastic pots before bringing them inside for the winter.

$25.46 from Amazon

3. Long-Lasting Fertilizer

Annuals can use fertilizers that feed them over a period of days. Their growth seasons are much shorter. Perennials need a long-lasting fertilizer that feeds them over months. Apply a fertilizer after planting your new perennials so it kickstarts their growth and gives them potential nutrients your soil is missing. You can also schedule calendar reminders to reapply your fertilizer every three months as needed.

$19.49 from Amazon

Develop Your Gardening Skills This Year

After learning the meaning of perennial plants and which options are best for beginners, you’re ready to start gardening. Add gorgeous perennials to your outdoor or indoor garden this year with confidence. They’ll remain some of your favorite plants in upcoming years if they get enough food and water.