Annual versus Perennial: What’s the Difference Between These Plants?

Plant a mix of annuals and perennials for a garden you can enjoy year after year.

Learn the characteristics of both annual and perennial plants so you can grow a more beautiful, affordable garden. Anna Blazhuk/Getty Images/TNS

You’ve probably heard plants described as annuals and perennials in gardening. Knowing the difference between annual and perennial plants will help you understand how each type will behave in your garden. Specifically, you’ll understand blooming times and whether the plant will survive through winter.

Annual and perennial plants both offer pros and cons you’ll want to keep in mind. (There are also biennial plants in the mix.) Then, you can more easily plan a colorful, productive garden that will look gorgeous from spring to fall, all while making the most of your gardening budget.

Annual Plants

All plants have a life cycle from when a seed sprouts to when the plant dies. When a plant is described as an annual, it grows from seed, blooms, makes more seeds, and dies all within a year. You can save seeds for replanting. The baby plants may not look exactly like the parent plant, but that’s part of the fun.