Perennial Flowers

The word perennial has been derived from the Latin word per and annus which means through and year, respectively. And true to its name, flowers which are perennial live for two to three seasons, and need periodic replacement to bloom successively every season. These garden flowers bloom in spring and summer, then die, only to grow and bloom again. Some of these flowers bloom in winter and lay dormant in spring and summers. Perennials usually spring back to life through their root stock rather than their seeds. Perennials include in their spectrum a wide variety of flowering and non-flowering plants, and sometimes depending on the environmental and climatic factors perennials, annuals and biennials can interchange their growing and blooming patterns. But then a good gardener knows his/her plants better. There are basically two types of perennials:

• Herbaceous: Perennials whose stems seem as if they die each winter, and spring back to life each spring.
• Woody: Perennials whose stems live through the winter, and continue to grow and bloom each year for a certain number of years.

Shade-loving Perennials

Most perennial flowers thrive in partial or full shade, but they still do need some light, as warmth will spring the plant back to life and make their colors come true. By shade it is meant a minimum four to five hours of light, diffused or partial sun, never full. Most shade loving perennials do not do well with direct sun. Following is a list of shade-loving flowers:

• Hardy Begonia
• Bleeding Heart (Dicentra)
• Astilbe
• Anemone
• Iris Cristata
• Common primrose
• Arum
• Foxglove
• Bigleaf Ligularia
• Chinese ground orchid
• Lungwort
• Columbine
• Clematis
• Peonies
• Cardinal Flower
• Hollyhock
• Daylily

Purple Perennial Flowers

There is something different about blue to purple flowers that has caught the eye of landscapers and home gardeners for years now, it is the richness found in both these colors that can add volume to flower beds and containers, and bring the dullest corner to life. There are many blue to purple flowers one can choose from to brighten the garden all yearlong, some of them have been listed below.

• Phlox
• Cornflower
• Coneflower
• Aster
• Butterfly bush
• Salvia
• Lavender
• Hosta
• Agapanthus
• Grape Hyacinth
• Sweet violet
• Crocus
• Verbena
• Grecian Windflower
• Veronica Flower
• Purple Dahlia
• Bellflower
• Lenten Rose
• False Indigo
• Campanula
• Delphinium
• Liatris

Growing Perennials

Perennial plants have a shorter bloom season compared to annual flowers. Hence, successive planting to ensure bloom longevity is essential. As the plants will spring back in the same location year after year, the soil in that location should be well drained and adequately fed to maintain the soil's pH balance and nutrient value. One can even mulch around the trees in winters to keep the roots warm and provide the soil with moisture without freezing it. Divisions of established plants should be done in fall, this will give that plant time to establish its roots and will be ready to bloom next season.

While preparing beds, borders or edgings, make sure you understand the eventual size of the perennial and also the type it is. Give each plant enough room to facilitate light and air movement. Some of them may require support, so keep the stalks ready. Enjoy your flowers, year after year!