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Questions tagged [perennials]

A plant that lives for two or more years.

A plant that lives for more than two years - i.e. not an or .

In horticulture, the term is often used to refer to only herbaceous perennials (those that die back in Autumn and then grow again from the root stock in spring), although technically woody plants such as and are also perennials.

Use this tag for questions about perennials in general. Questions about specific plant families or species should use the appropriate tag for the family or species.

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Which herbs can be grown as perennials?

What are some herbs that are perennials, i.e. they return and grow the next season? I'd like to keep a garden of herbs around for cooking.
chrisjlee
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Do perennials need to be split?

This Old House recently published an article about splitting overgrown perennials. They suggest doing so every three to six years--however, I have a large bed of daylilies, and it's hard for me to imagine how they'd be considered "overgrown." Is…
glenviewjeff
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Can dahlias be grown as perennials?

The wikipedia article on dahlia says that they are perennial plants. However, the dahlia section at my local garden center claims (in their little info booklets) that they are annuals. Upon further research, I found that: Generally, seed grown…
Lorem Ipsum
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Hardy edible perennials that are easy to propagate?

I'm looking for hardy (USDA Z4/Z5; -15F winter lows) perennials (or low maintenance reseeding annuals) that are easy/reliable to propagate either via cuttings, division, or seed. The growing season is short, about 100 days. Edibles are preferred.…
bstpierre
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What are some tall, narrow perennials suited for dry soils, sun & shade?

I have an herb garden that stays quite dry. Although this garden is in the notoriously wet Pacific Northwest (USDA zone 8a), it is against a two story south-facing brick wall, under a large overhang, and in a sandy soil. Combining that with our…
Eric Nitardy
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Are goldenrod cultivars manageable or troublesome?

We have a tough dry spot in the garden (USDA zone 4) about 2' x 5' where a goldenrod cultivar would go nicely. The native species, although attractive, has a tendency to seed freely and be almost impossible to remove. Are the cultivars more…
kevinskio
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Are chilis an annual plant?

Are chili plants an annual plant? I have read on the web that they are perennials. But mine have never lasted more than a year.
Dan
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A seedling with three (instead of two) cotyledons

I started 44-cell tray of Echinacea angustifolia several weeks ago. I noticed the other day that a seedling in one of cells has three cotyledons: Is that normal? This is a cell with two "normal" seedlings: Note: You probably noticed that root and…
VividD
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What is this pungent plant with spikes of purple flowers?

This plant is flowering in our garden. The leaves are gray/green. It has small spikes of purple flowers all over, which are a few inches tall. It has a peculiarly rich smell which I rather love, but my son and wife think it stinks. She described it…
Aaron Brick
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What is this low growing square-stemmed plant in my lawn?

I have a small, dense, spreading herbaceous perennial plant in my lawn. I don't have anything against it, but I would like to know what it is. It has slightly square stems and rounded leaves. It has small purple flowers sometimes, and looks a lot…
J. Musser
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How can I tell what animal is eating my plants?

Many of my perennial garden plants have been getting eaten by some animal. Possible culprits include deer, rabbits, and groundhogs. I would like to control them, but I have to know what I am controlling. for example, I don't want to start trying to…
J. Musser
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How do I prepare a chili plant for a second year's growth?

I have finally managed to make one of my chili plants (variety unknown) live into its second year! I've kept it indoors so far this winter. As it will be spring in a couple of months (I'm in the UK), what should I to prepare it for next year? Should…
Dan
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What is this six-petaled white flower with long narrow leaves?

Growing on the edge of my yard I have a small clump of perennial plants that produce small white flowers in late May or early June. The flower itself is white, with six petals, and they are produced at the tips of a small branching flower stalk. The…
GardenerJ
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How to plant herbaceous perennials under an existing tree without harming it

I've seen beautiful plantations of herbaceous perennials plants under mature deciduous trees and I would like to plant something similar. My concern is for the tree itself (an Autumn Blaze maple in this case). I have often read on this site that…
Gilles
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What's the best way to grow Crocosmia from seed?

I collected seed from my Crocosmia (I believe "Honey Angels") and I'd like to see whether I can get healthy plants from them or not. What are the right conditions to make them germinate? When do I start? If not now, how do I store the seeds, and how…
Patrick B.
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