Perennial plants are popular for ease in care and more important, there ability to survive year round in most weather conditions. Perennials live on through rain, drought, sleet, or snow, making them a perfect addition to the garden areas.
What is it about a perennial that enables it to survive a wide variety of weather conditions and still thrive? Annuals and biennials add to any garden but they do not hold up to climate changes like the hard perennial. And with a perennial plant lasting for years it will add beauty to a garden at a very reduced cost.
The perennial plant is able to thrive year after year due to a few survival tricks in its traits. Trees and shrubs drop their leaves and protect their next year’s growth with waxy scales. Examine the bud of a perennial plant and you’ll see that it covered with a sticky looking waterproof wax. When the bud begins to bloom, it scars as its scales fall off and the distance between its scars are an indicator of how many times a year that perennial plant grows.
The perennial plant gears up for the winter by draining its own food supply from its leaves down inside its trunk, branches, and twigs. As the weather gets colder, the tissues of the perennial plant will slowly change and become cold resistant in a process called “hardening.” During these changes, the chlorophyll of a perennial plant will decompose and lose its propensity to project a green hue – leaving the tree with its trademark red, yellow, orange, and brown autumn leaves.
And as with all plants, perennials also have their weaknesses. You need to study the climate areas that the plants will grow in and select plants accordingly.
Here are a few traits to look for:
- Some perennials are not as hardy to cold or heat.
- Most perennials have a shorter flowering stage and will need other perennials or annuals to add color or texture to the area when not in bloom.
- Some perennials are spreaders and need to be retained so that they do not take over a garden or yard.
- There are short life and long life perennials.
- For perennials to grow well they need to be divided every 3 to 5 years.
- Most perennials do better with a compost or ground cover applied around them. This keeps weeds down and lets the plant thrive.
A basic rule of thumb to any plant is to do research and know its strengths and weaknesses. This will let you know if the plant will be a good addition to your landscape.
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