The term “perennial” is mainly used in gardening jargon and is only occasionally mentioned in botany. But how can you tell whether a particular plant is a perennial or not? We try to provide an understandable definition and also have an “error example” ready for you.
How do you recognize perennials?
Perennials are perennial, herbaceous plants that usually die after each growing season and sprout again the next year. They are characterized by winter hardiness and overwinter in the form of rhizomes, tubers, bulbs or other root storage organs.
What are perennials actually?
Perennials are perennial herbaceous plants whose above-ground parts either do not become woody at all or only very slightly. This is the most important, impressive distinguishing feature from trees and bushes.
Note: The above-ground plant parts of perennials are herbaceous and soft. They usually die after each growing season.
Perenniality
And how can you tell within the group of herbaceous plants whether you are dealing with a perennial? The matter is relatively simple: In contrast to other herbaceous species, perennials usually survive for several years. In most cases they bloom and fruit again every year. In contrast, annuals, biennials and other perennial herbaceous plants die after flowering.
DIY wintering
An impressive feature of perennials is their pronounced winter hardiness. Depending on the specific species, the majority of plants overwinter in the form of
- Rhizomes,
- Bulbs,
- Onions,
- Stolons or
- other root storage organs.
These organs can be located below the earth's surface or just above it.
The respective perennial sprouts again from the so-called overwintering buds in the new growing season. This process repeats itself continuously.
No rule without exception: Among the perennials there are also a number of wintergreen species that do not move in according to the “DIY wintering mode”. These plants are so low in the cold and temperate zones that the snow covers them.
Different types of perennials
There are many types of perennials. The spectrum ranges from small succulents to huge magnificent perennials. Incidentally, not only the ever-popular flowering perennials belong to this special group of plants; This also includes most hardy ferns, some grasses and several tuberous, bulbous and various aquatic plants.
The Lavender Fallacy
Lavender is often attributed to perennials - but wrongly. In reality it is a subshrub. Lavender becomes woody in winter and then sprouts again from the wood. This has little to nothing to do with perennials.
