CROSSVILLE —
Plants can be categorized by their expected longevity. Annuals live one year or less, starting with a seed from which shoots and leaves grow, then flowering and producing new seeds for the next generation before the parent plant dies. Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) are annuals. New impatiens will come from seed each spring, as long as conditions are right.
Biennials have only vegetative growth (shoots and leaves) during their first warm season, followed by production of flowers and seeds after the plant experiences a cold period. After the second year, the parent plant dies. Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea) are biennial. Hollyhock leaves grew up near our front porch steps this past winter. It is a volunteer plant that must have come from stray seeds mixed into garden soil I saved when a new entryway we had built in the summer of 2010 displaced some flower beds. We should have hollyhock blooms this summer. Even though the main plant will die, I expect the clump of hollyhocks to persist from seedlings that self-sow. My vegetable plot contains mostly annuals, like tomatoes and squash, but carrots and parsley are biennials that can be left in the ground for a second year, if you want them to produce seed.
Perennials live for more than two years. The top growth of those with woody stems (trees, shrubs and vines) remain throughout the winter while typically (but not always) above ground growth dies back on herbaceous (soft stemmed) perennials so that only the roots persist during the cold season. New shoots and leaves grow from perennial roots in springtime. Perennial trees, shrubs and vines give structure to the landscape and may provide homes for wildlife throughout the year.
Local climate and growing conditions affect whether a plant behaves like an annual or a perennial. Bougainvillea vine (Bougainvillea spectabilis) and jade plant (Crassula ovata) are perennials in my sister’s southern California landscape but are annuals here since they can’t survive the colder Tennessee winters. Perennial edibles that I raise include rhubarb, onions, and garlic as well as the sage, thyme and rosemary plants in my herb garden. There are two cultivated perennial vines in our landscape – a clematis (Clematis ‘Jackmanii’ a climber with large purple blooms) and an American trumpet creeper, Campsis radicans, which has orange blossoms hummingbirds mine for nectar. Hickory, oak, service berry, sourwood and tulip poplar are perennial trees that were growing on the land long before we purchased it to build our home. Our trees are mostly deciduous, losing their leaves in autumn. A couple white pines are exceptions. Actually, the leaves on some oaks in our woods dry up in October and November but don’t fall. They remain attached. These trees wait until the leaf buds for this season swell, then drop leaves from last year. That means there are leaves to clean up twice a year (autumn and early spring). This isn’t a problem for me because I simply pick the leaves up when mowing the yard then feed this good organic material to my compost pile. The resulting leaf mulch is then used to top dress flower and vegetable beds.
Since perennials persist in the landscape year after year, many home gardeners prefer them over annual bedding plants that must be purchased and planted anew each year. To get the best performance from any plant, be sure to research which growing conditions are best for that specimen beforehand. Whether conditions at your site match an individual plant’s needs have a huge influence on plant longevity and how vigorously individual specimens will grow. Given the right environment and good maintenance a perennial will thrive and enhance your landscape for many years.
Lifestyles
Related Photos
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Hollyhocks are a biennial plant.
PLATEAU GARDENING: Make the most of your annuals, biennials, perennials
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Lots of choices promised for Roan Mtn. hike
The Plateau Chapter of the Tennessee Trails Association holds a leaderless hike every Wednesday morning. These are typically five to seven miles in length. For additional information, contact Bill Harris at 484-9152 or visit the Plateau Chapter Blog at http://ttaplateauchapter.blogspot.com.
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AROUND THE TOWN: Welcome summer with a few good books
The unofficial start to summer begins this weekend with the Memorial Day Holiday. Although summer does not officially begin until June, for most of us, this first warm weather holiday is the preview of about three months of boating, fishing, camping, vacationing, picnics, family reunions and cook outs.
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Schatz named May artist of the month at PCAC
Jessica Schatz, the artist of the month at the Plateau Creative Arts Center, has been an artist for as long as she can remember. She also remains busy as an interior designer, specializing in staging and new construction, and is also a pet portrait photographer. In addition, she donates her photography services, photographing homeless pets in order to help them find homes.
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Folksinger to perform May 31 in Pleasant Hill
The award-winning folk singer Tom Neilson will be bringing his message of “Music for Social Change” to Pleasant Hill, on Friday, May 31, at 7 p.m. in the Pleasant Hill Community Church, UCC. The Shalom Center for Continuing Education, a non-profit educational center is sponsoring this appearance of the nationally well-known artist.
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127 Seniors plan for annual picnic
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Mary Ann Kotus-Huff, principal of Pleasant Hill Elementary School (PHS), recently welcomed volunteers to the annual Volunteer Tea. It was held in the gaily decorated new all-purpose room of the new annex. Volunteers were treated to sandwiches, fruit, cheese and crackers and cupcakes.
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Plateau Gardening: Transplanting tips
My landscape is perennial–based. There are vines, trees, shrubs as well as herbaceous (soft-stemmed) vegetation in assorted categories-ornamentals, herbs and food crops like rhubarb. Annuals in containers are used to add splashes of color. At this time of year, I usually have a few recently purchased plants waiting to be transplanted (see the accompanying photo).
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Fair Park offering help for senior dog owners
A dog is a senior's best friend. Family and friends are not around much, and everyone is so busy. After retirement the free time seems to be longer. Many seniors would be very lonely if it was not for their four-legged friends. Dogs are a big part of the family, so they need to learn to be obedient to make it easier on the relationship.
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The beginnings of Cumberland County Discovery Gardens
It was a great day in 2004 when Walt Hitch looked out his window and studied the three unused acres that accompanied his hundreds of acres of AgResearch lands.
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CCHS Class of 1963 congratulates Class of 2013
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