Of the three classifications, perennials are what people prefer to be in majority in their gardens. Annual and biennial plants are in demand as well, but what works for perennial plants is the very fact that they are long lasting. They live for more than two seasons.

There are two kinds of perennial plants “ woody plants and herbaceous perennials. Woody plants are trees, shrubs and vines. Herbaceous plants are non woody and die every fall, however the roots live and they re-grow in the spring.

Perennial plants and annual plants
You may love both the types equally. In terms of variety, annual plants are chosen more often. However, perennial plants do not require as much attention as annual plants would. When annual plants are grown, the chores are according to their requirements and different plants will have different glooming period and one has to seed them and care for them as per their life cycle. Once annual plants die, you have to remove them from the roots and you get new ones next year and the plant them.
Roots of perennial remain in the soil for years once they are seeded. Their requirement of watering and fertilizing is not as much as annual plants and you will not have to take the roots out once their glooming season is over. You simply need to wait for the next season for them to gloom again.

Maintenance of perennial plants
Although perennial plants are low maintenance, they do require timely maintenance. Care is necessary for any plant or tree you grow in your garden or inside your house. The need of pruning, fertilizing, weeding, and mulching is important even for perennial plants but not as much as an annual plant would need. But you must observe them closely to know when to give them the care they require.

Perennial plants and mortality
It is a myth that perennial plants live forever. They don’t. They live for many years but not forever. In fact there are some short lived perennial plants as well, such as, columbine, hollyhock and lupines. Perennial plants are also self sow, which means, they drop their seeds from which new plants grow.
All plants need water, air, light and mineral nutrients to survive. Perennial plants are no different. They are easy to maintain as compared to annual plants, but maintenance is imperative nonetheless.
As a gardener, you have to provide all kinds of plants the care they need. It is also important to learn about them. The more you know about the plants they grow in your garden, the more care you will be able to provide them and the more healthy your plants will grow.