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Flowers: Annuals & Perennials
Johnson’s Gardens grows and stocks hundreds of options of annual and perennial flowering plants throughout the year. Annual plants afford you seasonal customization, while perennials are only installed during the warmer months. Much of our plants are grown locally! Come check us out in Cedarburg, Wisconsin.
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Perennial Flowering Plants
What is the difference between annual flowers and perennial flowers?
Annual plants complete their life-cycle in one growing season. Familiar annuals include Petunias, Marigolds, Impatiens, Million Bells, and most of the showy, long blooming plants that we use in our hanging baskets and patio containers. Because they live for only one season, annuals put all of their energy into producing abundant flowers from spring through fall. Annual plants must be planted each spring (“annually”).
Biennials are plants that complete their life cycle in two years. The first year they produce only foliage, usually low to the ground. In their second year of life they grow to their full height, bloom and produce seeds. If allowed to self-sow these plants will produce seedlings and persist in your garden from year to year. Since seedlings will decide for themselves where to grow and might not come up exactly where the gardener desires, biennials are best suited to a cottage garden or informal flower bed. Familiar biennials include Hollyhocks and Foxglove.
Perennials are plants that survive in the garden for multiple years. Some live for decades while others may live only 3-5 years. Because perennials need to devote energy to root development, they cannot use all of their energy on flowers and therefore bloom for a shorter time than annuals. Most perennial bloom for 3-4 weeks but some particularly long blooming ones may provide as much as 8-10 weeks of flower color. Familiar perennials include Peonies, Daylilies, Hosta, Iris, and Coneflowers.
Trees and shrubs live for more than two years. Are they perennials?
Technically speaking, trees and shrubs are perennial plants — they grow for more than two years. But we categorize perennial plants into two types: woody plants and herbaceous perennials. Woody plants are trees, shrubs, and vines whose above-ground parts persist over the winter, and resume growth in the spring. Herbaceous perennials are non-woody plants that die back to the ground each fall. The roots, however, survive the winter and the plants re-sprout in the spring.
Why grow perennials instead of, say, a bed of annual petunias, marigolds, or impatiens?
If you grow lots of annual flowers, you are familiar with the annual chores necessary to maintain such beds: you purchase flower seedlings (or start your own), and plant them. You nurture them throughout the growing season, fertilize and water them; then, when the season’s over and the plants die, you pull them out. Next year, the cycle begins anew.
Perennial plants remain in the ground year after year. Once established, many perennials need minimal upkeep in the form of watering and fertilizing, since their roots are more far-ranging than annual plants’ roots. Many perennials spread readily, filling out garden spaces and providing more and more color each year.
pictured: Salvia nemerosa ‘May Night’
pictured: Hosta ‘June’
Stop in today and see all the flowers we’ve grown for you.
pictured: Calibrachoa ‘Million Bells’ — a spring time annual
pictured: An assortment of autumn annuals including Chrysanthemum
Annual Flowering Plants
What is the difference between annual flowers and perennial flowers?
Annual plants complete their lifecycle in one growing season. Familiar annuals include Petunias, Marigolds, Impatiens, Million Bells, and most of the showy, long blooming plants that we use in our hanging baskets and patio containers. Because they live for only one season, annuals put all of their energy into producing abundant flowers from spring through fall. Annual plants must be planted each spring (“annually”). Just to confuse the issue, many plants treated as annuals in Wisconsin are actually perennials which are not cold hardy enough to survive winter here. Examples include Guara, Mandevilla, and Rosemary.
Biennials are plants that complete their life cycle in two years. The first year they produce only foliage, usually low to the ground. In their second year of life they grow to their full height, bloom and produce seeds. If allowed to self-sow these plants will produce seedlings and persist in your garden from year to year. Since seedlings will decide for themselves where to grow and might not come up exactly where the gardener desires, biennials are best suited to a cottage garden or informal flower bed. Familiar biennials include Hollyhocks and Foxglove.
Perennials are plants that survive in the garden for multiple years. Some live for decades while others may live only 3-5 years. Because perennials need to devote energy to root development, they cannot use all of their energy on flowers and therefore bloom for a shorter time than annuals. Most perennial bloom for 3-4 weeks but some particularly long blooming ones may provide as much as 8-10 weeks of flower color. Familiar perennials include Peonies, Daylilies, Hosta Iris, and Coneflowers.
The cold hard truth about annuals. Are they all the same?
Annual plants can be viewed a few ways: true annuals, winter annuals, and half hardy annuals. True annuals, like African Marigolds which can bloom all growing season if deadheaded, stick around the garden all year before they die. For winter annual gardening, choosing the right annuals and the correct varieties is key to creating a colorful planter, window box, or garden bed at your home. Growing them requires taking into account low light levels, cooler soil temperatures, and the occasional extreme weather of systems of Wisconsin’s polar vortices. Half hardy annuals describe plants that will tolerate some frost, but not a long freeze, such as China asters or zinnias.
Why grow annuals instead of, say, perennial coneflowers, hostas, salvia, or compass plant?
If you have planted lots of perennial flowers, you are familiar with their longevity. You purchase flower seedlings (or start your own), and plant them in a location best fitted to their needs. You’re able to nurture them year after year, fertilize and water them.
Annual plants afford you the seasonal customization of your beds, pots and hanging baskets; They are floriferous, so they will brighten up mixed borders with non-stop color. Another important aspect about annuals is they often germinate quickly and easily, and they set a lot of seed. Once established, many annuals need minimal upkeep in the form of watering and fertilizing; they are very simple to grow. Annual plants allow you to change your mind next season! Perhaps next year you may try a different color scheme.
Select your favorite season to learn more about annual plants for each season.
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Call us today with any questions 262.377.2500
Flowers: Annuals & Perennials
Johnson’s Gardens grows and stocks hundreds of options of annual and perennial flowering plants throughout the year. Annual plants afford you seasonal customization, while perennials are only installed during the warmer months. Much of our plants are grown locally! Come check us out in Cedarburg, Wisconsin.
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Perennial Flowering Plants
Perennial plants have indefinite life cycles, based on the species.
What is the difference between annual flowers and perennial flowers?
Annual plants complete their lifecycle in one growing season. Familiar annuals include Petunias, Marigolds, Impatiens, Million Bells, and most of the showy, long blooming plants that we use in our hanging baskets and patio containers. Because they live for only one season, annuals put all of their energy into producing abundant flowers from spring through fall. Annual plants must be planted each spring (“annually”).
Biennials are plants that complete their life cycle in two years. The first year they produce only foliage, usually low to the ground. In their second year of life they grow to their full height, bloom and produce seeds. If allowed to self-sow these plants will produce seedlings and persist in your garden from year to year. Since seedlings will decide for themselves where to grow and might not come up exactly where the gardener desires, biennials are best suited to a cottage garden or informal flower bed. Familiar biennials include Hollyhocks and Foxglove.
Perennials are plants that survive in the garden for multiple years. Some live for decades while others may live only 3-5 years. Because perennials need to devote energy to root development, they cannot use all of their energy on flowers and therefore bloom for a shorter time than annuals. Most perennial bloom for 3-4 weeks but some particularly long blooming ones may provide as much as 8-10 weeks of flower color. Familiar perennials include Peonies, Daylilies, Hosta, Iris, and Coneflowers.
pictured: Salvia nemerosa ‘May Night’
Trees and shrubs live for more than two years. Are they perennials?
Technically speaking, trees and shrubs are perennial plants — they grow for more than two years. But we categorize perennial plants into two types: woody plants and herbaceous perennials. Woody plants are trees, shrubs, and vines whose above-ground parts persist over the winter, and resume growth in the spring. Herbaceous perennials are non-woody plants that die back to the ground each fall. The roots, however, survive the winter and the plants re-sprout in the spring.
pictured: Hosta ‘June’
Why grow perennials instead of, say, a bed of annual petunias, marigolds, or impatiens?
If you grow lots of annual flowers, you are familiar with the annual chores necessary to maintain such beds: you purchase flower seedlings (or start your own), and plant them. You nurture them throughout the growing season, fertilize and water them; then, when the season’s over and the plants die, you pull them out. Next year, the cycle begins anew.
Perennial plants remain in the ground year after year. Once established, many perennials need minimal upkeep in the form of watering and fertilizing, since their roots are more far-ranging than annual plants’ roots. Many perennials spread readily, filling out garden spaces and providing more and more color each year.
Annual Flowering Plants
Annual plants complete their life cycle within one year, and then dies.
What is the difference between annual flowers and perennial flowers?
Annual plants complete their lifecycle in one growing season. Familiar annuals include Petunias, Marigolds, Impatiens, Million Bells, and most of the showy, long blooming plants that we use in our hanging baskets and patio containers. Because they live for only one season, annuals put all of their energy into producing abundant flowers from spring through fall. Annual plants must be planted each spring (“annually”). Just to confuse the issue, many plants treated as annuals in Wisconsin are actually perennials which are not cold hardy enough to survive winter here. Examples include Guara, Mandevilla, and Rosemary.
Biennials are plants that complete their life cycle in two years. The first year they produce only foliage, usually low to the ground. In their second year of life they grow to their full height, bloom and produce seeds. If allowed to self-sow these plants will produce seedlings and persist in your garden from year to year. Since seedlings will decide for themselves where to grow and might not come up exactly where the gardener desires, biennials are best suited to a cottage garden or informal flower bed. Familiar biennials include Hollyhocks and Foxglove.
Perennials are plants that survive in the garden for multiple years. Some live for decades while others may live only 3-5 years. Because perennials need to devote energy to root development, they cannot use all of their energy on flowers and therefore bloom for a shorter time than annuals. Most perennial bloom for 3-4 weeks but some particularly long blooming ones may provide as much as 8-10 weeks of flower color. Familiar perennials include Peonies, Daylilies, Hosta Iris, and Coneflowers.
pictured: Calibrachoa ‘Million Bells’ — a spring time annual
The cold hard truth about annuals. Are they all the same?
Annual plants can be viewed a few ways: true annuals, winter annuals, and half hardy annuals. True annuals, like African Marigolds which can bloom all growing season if deadheaded, stick around the garden all year before they die. For winter annual gardening, choosing the right annuals and the correct varieties is key to creating a colorful planter, window box, or garden bed at your home. Growing them requires taking into account low light levels, cooler soil temperatures, and the occasional extreme weather of systems of Wisconsin’s polar vortices. Half hardy annuals describe plants that will tolerate some frost, but not a long freeze, such as China asters or zinnias.
pictured: An assortment of autumn annuals including Chrysanthemum
Why grow annuals instead of, say, perennial coneflowers, hostas, salvia, or compass plant?
If you have planted lots of perennial flowers, you are familiar with their longevity. You purchase flower seedlings (or start your own), and plant them in a location best fitted to their needs. You’re able to nurture them year after year, fertilize and water them.
Annual plants afford you the seasonal customization of your beds, pots and hanging baskets; They are floriferous, so they will brighten up mixed borders with non-stop color. Another important aspect about annuals is they often germinate quickly and easily, and they set a lot of seed. Once established, many annuals need minimal upkeep in the form of watering and fertilizing; they are very simple to grow. Annual plants allow you to change your mind next season! Perhaps next year you may try a different color scheme.
Select your favorite season to learn more about annual plants for each season.