An overview of the division

Perennials in a short portrait

Interesting: The term “perennial” does not come from botany. It is mainly used in the gardening sector.

Perennial, herbaceous seed plants and ferns are called perennials. These are plants whose parts above ground do not lignify. This is an essential difference to woody plants (trees, bushes).

There are perennials as flowers, ferns, vegetables, climbing plants, herbs, rose plants, pond plants (water plants) and house plants.

With deciduous perennials, the above-ground parts die off at the end of the growing season. the wintering usually occurs through tubers, rhizomes or onions. In the new growing season, the plants sprout again. Evergreen perennials do not withdraw their aboveground plant parts at the end of the growing season (such as ground cover perennials).

Perennials play an important role in rock garden and garden design. They are also used as potted or container plants on the balcony or terrace.

Note: You can find a large selection of perennial seeds and assortments in tree nurseries, in nurseries and in (online) plant dispatchers.

Overview of types of perennials

Perennials can essentially be divided into the following types:

• deciduous versus evergreen / evergreen perennials
• large / tall versus small / low perennials
• small-leaved versus large-leaved perennials
• native versus exotic perennials
• demanding versus easy-care perennials
• poisonous versus non-poisonous perennials
• hardy perennials versus hardy perennials
• Ornamental perennials (e.g. flowering and ornamental foliage perennials with conspicuous leaves - in terms of shape, pattern, color)
• fragrant perennials (e.g. fragrant flowers and herbs)
• Fruit and fruit trees
• Vegetable perennials (e.g. celery)
• Herbs (for example kitchen herbs, wild herbs, lettuce herbs)
• Fern perennials
• Open space, woody and forest perennials

Subdivision according to flowering

One can also find out about characteristics of the perennials blossom differentiate:

• Flowering yes / no: flowering versus non-flowering varieties
• Duration: short versus long flowering perennials
• Frequency: Perennials that bloom once versus twice a year (remontant)
• Time: summer versus winter flowering perennials (spring, summer, autumn flowering)
• Color: for example blue, yellow or white flowering perennials

Subdivision according to location / place of use

Furthermore, there is the possibility to differentiate perennials according to their location or place of use:

• alpine perennials (e.g. alpine flowers)
• Bed perennials
• Cemetery shrubs (e.g. grave flowers)
• Climbing perennials
• Border perennials
• Rock garden perennials
• Water perennials / pond perennials

In principle, you can also differentiate perennials for sunny, partially shaded or shady locations.

Note: It makes no sense to divide annual and perennial perennials, as perennials are perennial herbaceous plants by definition.