What is the difference between annuals and

Spring is officially here at Garden Heights Nursery! As plant and plant care experts, there are some questions that we commonly get from customers, one of the majors ones being, "What is the difference between perennial and annual plants?

So, what's the difference? Perennial plants regrow every spring, while annual plants live for only one growing season, then die off.

Perennials generally have a shorter blooming period compared to annuals, so it's common for gardeners to use a combination of both plants in their yard. We're sharing a little bit about both types of plants below.

Perennial Plants. Dicentra 'Luxuriant' fern-leaved bleeding heart. Unlike their short-lived counterparts, perennials are typically cold-hardy plants that will return again in the spring. Their life span is variable, and some may live for only three to five years. Perennials also vary greatly in terms of their care and maintenance.

Some may need to be pruned and divided regularly to maintain their vigor and keep them tidy, while others are tough and undemanding, seeming to thrive on neglect. Shop perennials online from Proven Winners. Spring or early fall is best. It is difficult for plants to become established during the heat of the summer.

They thrive early and late in the season, when temperatures are too cool for most tender annuals. A great addition to containers or a garden full of perennials, adding nearly instant color when perennials have stopped blooming for the season.

Provide a sense of continuity from year to year. Although they typically bloom for just a few weeks, their foliage and form contribute to the beauty of the garden throughout the year. The most common annual used in containers and flower beds are petunias!

While petunias do die after the first frost, they thrive in full, hot sun and some cases, with minimal rain. Another commonly used annual is lantana! There are a couple of varieties of lantana that are perennial; however, annual varieties do exist. Again, this annual does excellent in full, hot sun and, once established, in drought-like conditions.

Tropical plants, such as tropical hibiscus, mandevilla, bougainvillea, and dipladenia, are considered annuals if used outdoors in our growing zone. These tropical plants cannot withstand temperatures less than 50 degrees. When the light is just right, "blooming-induction genes" are triggered.

By deactivating two of the genes that induce flower growth in the thale cress, a flowering plant whose genome has been entirely sequenced, the researchers created mutant plants that "can no longer induce flowering, but Live Science.