What is the difference between Annual, Biennial and Perennial plants?

Even if you have been growing plants for a long time it is easy to get confused with all these terms. Here you will find out the definition and some ideas of the types of seeds to buy to suit your garden. 

What are annual plants?

An annual will complete its whole life cycle from germination, through to flowering in one season. Most annuals don’t like the cold so are planted outdoors from June and will get finished off by the first hard frosts.

Here are some of the most popular annual flowers to grow from seeds. Antirrhinums, African / French Marigolds, Cosmos, Nasturtiums, Petunias, Sunflowers, Sweet Peas, Zinnia 

What are biennial plants?

These are flowering plants that have a life cycle over two growing seasons.

Sow your seeds in the first season when you will get lots of leaves, stems and roots. The following year the plant will produce flowers, often followed by lots of seeds that scatter and the plant then dies. Often the scattered seeds will germinate and produce your future plants.

Biennials are worth considering as they often have showy flowers.

Here are some good biennial plants to grow from seed They include many glorious Foxgloves, scented Sweet Williams fragrant Wallflowers, Forget Me Nots

What are Perennial Plants?

Perennial plants will grow for many years. They can survive through the cold winters. Often the die back in the winter ready to grow again in the spring. There are many different perennial plants for the garden, some provide beautiful foliage while others give spectacular flower displays.

Here are some perfect perennial plants to grow from seed include Achillea, Aquilegia, Eryngium, Geranium (Hardy), Lavender, Rudbeckia, Verbascum and Verbena.