Landscape using a mix of annuals, perennials, and trees and shrubs. Done by Myron Royce Gardens.
Landscape using a mix of annuals, perennials, and trees and shrubs.

Annuals vs Perennials

Which should I plant?

What are annuals and perennials? What do these words even mean? Visiting a garden center and trying to read the labels on the plants can be confusing for a beginner gardener. How are you supposed to know what to plant?

Many beginners make the mistake of just purchasing everything they see that has a pretty flower. That usually ends in disappointment when the flowers are gone two weeks later.

Let us save you the confusion and heartache. Myron Royce Gardens has been planting gardens for over 30 years in the Springfield-Branson area, and we have plenty of wisdom to share. In this article, we’ll tell you the difference between annuals and perennials, give you a list of common annuals and perennials, and explain the pros and cons of planting each kind. 

Annuals vs Perennials

Annuals are plants that live for one year only. You have to buy new ones every year.

 

Perennials are plants that live for multiple years. You buy these once, and they stick around.

Landscaping with annual flowers done by Myron Royce Gardens in Ozark Missouri.
Landscaping with annuals (Zinnias, Petunias, and Angelonia).
Shaded landscaping done by Myron Royce Gardens in Ozark, Missouri.
Shaded landscaping with perennials (Hostas, Astilbe, Coral Bells, and Daylilies).

Annual Life Cycle

An annual plant will complete its entire life cycle in one year. That means it grows from seed, produces a flower, makes and releases more seeds, and then dies. Annuals spread entirely by seed.

Sometimes, annuals may self-seed in your garden, meaning that the same type of plant will grow in your garden next year, even if it’s not the same exact plant. Only certain species do this. You can find this on the plant label by looking for “self-sows” or “reseeds”.

Perennial Life Cycle

Perennials may take multiple years to flower. They start from seed, then grow green leaves and stems that produce sugars for the plant. The sugars are stored in the roots while the plant dies back over the winter. The next spring, the roots will sprout more green leaves and grow bigger than it was the last year. Perennials keep doing this until they’ve reached their mature size, usually 1-3 years.

When they are mature, they produce a flower, make and release seeds, and die back that year. However, they will come back the next year and do the same thing again! Some perennials live around 5 years, while others can live 20 or more.

Biennial Life Cycle

Biennials are in-between annuals and perennials. They live only two years. They spend one year making green leaves and storing sugars in the roots. Then they die back in the winter and come back the following spring. The second year, they produce leaves and a flower, which produces seeds. After that, they die completely and do not come back. Hollyhock is a good example of a biennial plant.

Why Not Just Buy Perennials?

It’s true that just buying perennial plants could save you some money. However, there are many reasons that gardeners tend to buy a mix of perennials and annuals.

Advantages of Annuals:

    • Flowers usually last all season long (May-September).
    • They usually don’t grow too big or look weedy.
    • Some will reseed in your garden.
    • Annuals are great for pollinators because they continue to produce flowers all season.
    • Easy to plant in containers, then throw away in the winter.
    • Some of the best flowers are annuals! (Zinnias, Petunias, Impatiens, Sunflowers)

Disadvantages of Annuals:

    • You have to buy them every year.
    • You also have to plant them every year.
    • Annuals need more watering, because they don’t get established in the ground like perennials. 
    • Some annuals need to be deadheaded to encourage more blooms. (Marigolds)

Advantages of Perennials:

    • They come back for many years.
    • Their short-blooming nature adds variety to the garden throughout the season.
    • Perennials often have deeper roots and can get water from deeper in the ground, so they need less irrigation.
    • Many perennials are Missouri-native plants. (Coneflower, Cup Plant, Phlox, Verbena)
    • Some of the best flowers are perennials! (Peonies, Asters, Columbine, Hostas)

Disadvantages of Perennials:

    • Some of them are more expensive. (Peonies, Oriental Lilies)
    • Some of them need to be dug up or moved inside every year if they aren’t hardy. (Cannas, Begonias)
    • Some perennials look weedy when they aren’t flowering.
    • Perennials can get too big and need to be divided and spread out.
    • The flowers only last for a few weeks for each plant.
Natural landscaping with flowers and grasses planted by Myron Royce Gardens in Branson, MO.
Landscaping with perennials (Allium, Ornamental Grasses, Monarda, Hibiscus, Black Eyed Susans) and annuals (Begonias, Salvia, Zinnias, Artemisia, and Coreopsis).
Garden landscaping done by Myron Royce Gardens in Branson, MO.
Garden planted with annuals and perennials. Notice how the peonies look after they are done blooming, while the annuals continue to bloom.

What Should I Plant?

We recommend you buy a mix of perennials and annuals. Annuals make great border plants, so there is always something blooming in the front of your garden. Tall perennials look great in the middle or the back, so the green leafy parts are covered, but the flowers rise above the rest of the garden.

If you’re buying perennials that have already flowered, just note that the flowers won’t last very long this season. If you’re buying a lot of perennials, make sure that you stagger the blooming periods so that you always have something blooming in your garden. Most labels say “early spring,” “spring,” “summer,” “late summer.” or “fall.” Try to choose at least one of each.

Once things start to die in your garden, in late summer, you should look into buying “fall annuals.” Fall annuals are annuals that bloom later into the fall than anything else, like Mums and Pansies. These make your garden look good through September and October. Unfortunately, they don’t last long and they have to be bought again every year.

List of Common Annuals and Perennials

Annuals:

    • Angelonia
    • Begonias
    • Bidens
    • Calibrachoa
    • Celosia
    • Coleus
    • Cosmos
    • Floss Flower
    • Fuchsia
    • Impatiens
    • Lantana
    • Lobelia
    • Marigolds
    • Nasturtium
    • Pansies
    • Petunias
    • Salvia
    • Snapdragons
    • Sunflowers
    • Sweet Alyssum
    • Vinca
    • Zinnias

Perennials 

    • Aster
    • Astilbe
    • Beebalm
    • Black-Eyed Susans
    • Blanketflower
    • Blazing Star
    • Bleeding Hearts
    • Columbine
    • Coneflower
    • Coral Bells
    • Daffodils
    • Daylily
    • Hardy Geraniums
    • Hardy Hibiscus
    • Hellebores
    • Hostas
    • Iris
    • Peonies
    • Phlox
    • Sedum
    • Wild Petunia
    • Yarrow

Conclusion

If you don’t want to be bothered with these confusing plants, Myron Royce Gardens can help you out. We can design, plant, and maintain a garden landscape for you using a mix of perennials, spring and fall annuals, and trees and shrubs. If you want to check out our work, you can see our portfolios here.

If you’re interested in our services, just give us a call at 417-443-2648 or contact us here.

View more examples of Myron Royce Gardens landscaping in Springfield, Missouri:

Landscaping with perennials (Grasses, Russian Sage, Goldenrod) and annuals (Sunflowers, Dahlias, Lantana).
Landscaping with shrubs by Myron Royce Gardens in Branson, MO.
Perennial Lillies, Globe Blue Spruce, and Impatiens.
Myron Royce Gardens landscaping in Branson, MO.
Landscaping with perennials (Black-Eyed Susans, Daylilies, Shasta Daisy, and Loostrife).
Butterfly milkweed with many spicebush swallowtails on its flowers in Ozark, MO.
Butterfly Milkweed is a perennial that butterflies love!
Commercial landscaping by Myron Royce Gardens in Springfield, Missouri.
Landscaping with annuals (Petunias, Zinnias) and perennials (Grasses).
Myron Royce Gardens landscaping with perennials, annuals, and tropicals in Springfield, MO.
Landscaping with perennials (Hardy Hibiscus, Daylilies, Cannas) and annuals (Elephant Ears, Impatiens, Petunias, Coleus).

About the Author

Myron Royce Gardens is a professional landscaping company based in Ozark, MO. We provide landscape design, installation, and maintenance services throughout the Springfield-Branson area. 

We started this blog because we want to share our knowledge and expertise with everyone in Southwest Missouri. Landscaping is our passion, and we want it to be a pleasant experience for everyone. 

If you want to see more, follow us on Facebook!

Myron Royce Gardens Storefront Ozark, MO

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