What’s the Difference Between Annual and Perennial Plants?

Annual or perennial is a classification of how long your plant’s lifecycle is: 1 year for annuals, 3 or more years for perennials. ShutterStock

When you’re beginning gardening, there are so many new terms to learn. One of the most important is the difference between annual and perennial plants.

Put simply, annual or perennial is a classification of how long your plant’s lifecycle is: 1 year for annuals, 3 or more years for perennials. Yet, some plants are grown as perennials in warm areas, and as annuals in cold areas. As with many things in gardening, the answer is, “it depends“.

What are Annual Plants?

Annuals are plants that grow from seed to flower to seed in one growing season and then die. All of the roots, stems, leaves and flowers die every year.