Plant type categories may seem a bit confusing. Just once yous know the basics that plants are grouped past their lifecycle, all volition become articulate.

Here's a guide of the three types of plants you tin can buy. Perennial, biennial, and annual.

Perennial plants

These plants are ones that blossom reliably every twelvemonth. Usually become bigger each fourth dimension. The stems die back over winter, but the roots don't. Meaning the plant tin regenerate the following year.

Herbaceous

Near plants in this category fall under the title 'herbaceous perennial'. Copse and shrubs, which don't die back to basis level over winter are sometimes referred to as 'woody perennials'.

Range

There is a huge range of perennial plants. And they tin can be used for a wide diversity of planting schemes. Perennial'southward work particularly well in beds and borders. Blooms such every bit lilies, Salvia, cranesbill, peonies, hydrangea, campanula, delphiniums, Alchemilla and Kniphofia (red-hot pokers) are eye catching additions.

Evergreen

Also, in that location are also evergreen perennials that keep their leaves through the winter months, such equally Euphorbia, hellebores and Tiarella.

Perennial plants may ready seed, but a common way to propagate them is past dividing established plants or taking cuttings.

Biennial plants

Biennial plants have a two-year life wheel. During the commencement year, they abound just the roots, stems and leaves. In the second twelvemonth they come into flower, produce seeds and die.

No gap planting

To ensure continuous flowering yr after yr, plant a new batch during the year that the first plants come into flower. Many biennials are likewise self-seeders, meaning they spread seed around the parent establish.

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Pansies, foxgloves, wallflower, hollyhocks and evening primrose are all examples of biennial plants. Some biennial plants are grown as annuals, such equally parsley and celery.

Annual plants

These are plants that germinate, come up into flower, set seed and die in one season or twelvemonth. Past harvesting the seeds, you tin can abound them year after yr.

Hardy annual seeds are sown in the particular site where they will blossom. Examples of hardy annuals are poppy, cornflower and Nigella.

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One-half and half

One-half-hardy annuals are sown in pots and kept sheltered in a greenhouse. These are then planted out later in the year when the risk of frost has passed. Half-hardy annuals include cosmos, Lobelia, and Nasturtiums.

The most prolific flowering summertime bedding plants are annuals sown from seed and they include marigold, petunia and pelargoniums.

Now you're up to speed with the gardeners' glossary, yous'll be able to plan your beds and borders to be thriving twelvemonth later on year with colourful blooms whether you are going for a wildflower meadow or a formal garden look.