Perennial

For other uses, see Perennial (disambiguation).

A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years.^[1] The term (per- + -ennial, "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also widely used to distinguish plants with little or no woody growth (secondary growth in girth) from trees and shrubs, which are also technically perennials.^[2]Notably, it is estimated that 94% of plant species fall under the category of perennials, underscoring the prevalence of plants with lifespans exceeding two years in the botanical world^[3]

Common chicory, Cichorium intybus, is a herbaceous perennial plant

Perennials—especially small flowering plants—that grow and bloom over the spring and summer, die back every autumn and winter, and then return in the spring from their rootstock or other overwintering structure, are known as herbaceous perennials.^[4] However, depending on the rigours of the local climate (temperature, moisture, organic content in the soil, microorganisms), a plant that is a perennial in its native habitat, or in a milder garden, may be treated by a gardener as an annual and planted out every year, from seed, from cuttings, or from divisions. Tomato vines, for example, live several years in their natural tropical/subtropical habitat but are grown as annuals in temperate regions because their above-ground biomass does not survive the winter.

There is also a class of evergreen perennials which lack woody stems, such as Bergenia which retain a mantle of leaves throughout the year. An intermediate class of plants is known as subshrubs, which retain a vestigial woody structure in winter, e.g. Penstemon.

The symbol for a perennial plant, based on Species Plantarum by Linnaeus, is , which is also the astronomical symbol for the planet Jupiter.^[5]

Life cycle and structure

Perennial plants can be short-lived (only a few years) or long-lived. They include a wide assortment of plant groups from non-flowering plants like ferns and liverworts to the highly diverse flowering plants like orchids, grasses, and woody plants. Plants that flower and fruit only once and then die are termed monocarpic or semelparous, these species may live for many years before they flower. ^[6] For example, century plant can live for 80 years and grow 30 meters tall before flowering and dying.^[7] However, most perennials are polycarpic (or iteroparous), flowering over many seasons in their lifetime.^[8] Perennials invest more resources than annuals into roots, crowns, and other structures that allow them to live from one year to the next. They often have a competitive advantage because they can commence their growth and leaf out earlier in the growing season, and can grow taller than annuals, in doing so they can better compete for space and collect more light.^[9]

Perennials typically grow structures that allow them to adapt to living from one year to the next through a form of vegetative reproduction rather than seeding. These structures include bulbs, tubers, woody crowns, rhizomes, turions, woody stems, or crowns which allows them to survive periods of dormancy over cold or dry seasons; these structures typically store carbohydrates which are used once the dormancy period is over and new growth begins.^[10] In climates that are warm all year long, perennials may grow continuously.^[11] Annuals which complete their life cycle in one growing season, in contrast with perennials, produce seeds as the next generation and die;^[12] the seeds may survive cold or dry periods or germinate soon after dispersal depending on the climate.

Some perennials retain their foliage year-round; these are evergreen perennials. Deciduous perennials shed all their leaves part of the year,^[13] they include herbaceous and woody plants; herbaceous plants have stems that lack hard, fibrous growth, while woody plants have stems with buds that survive above ground during dormancy,^[14] some perennials are semi-deciduous, meaning they lose some of their leaves in either winter or summer.^[15] Deciduous perennials shed their leaves when growing conditions are no longer suitable for photosynthesis, such as when it is too cold or dry. In many parts of the world, seasonality is expressed as wet and dry periods rather than warm and cold periods, and deciduous perennials lose their leaves in the dry season.^[16]

Some perennial plants are protected from wildfires because they have underground roots that produce adventitious shoots, bulbs, crowns, or stems;^[17] other perennials like trees and shrubs may have thick cork layers that protect the stems. Herbaceous perennials from temperate and alpine regions of the world can tolerate the cold during winter.

Perennial plants may remain dormant for long periods and then recommence growth and reproduction when the environment is more suitable, while most annual plants complete their life cycle during one growing period, and biennials have two growing periods.

The meristem of perennial plants communicates with the hormones produced due to environmental situations (i.e., seasons), reproduction, and stage of development to begin and halt the ability to grow or flower. There is also a distinction between the ability to grow and the actual task of growth. For example, most trees regain the ability to grow during winter but do not initiate physical growth until the spring and summer months. The start of dormancy can be seen in perennial plants through withering flowers, loss of leaves on trees, and halting of reproduction in both flowering and budding plants.^[18]

Perennial species may produce relatively large seeds that have the advantage of generating larger seedlings that can better compete with other plants. Perennials also produce seeds over many years.

Cultivation

Perennials that are cultivated include: woody plants like fruit trees grown for their edible fruits; shrubs and trees grown as landscaping ornamentals; herbaceous food crops like asparagus, rhubarb, strawberries; and subtropical plants not hardy in colder areas such as tomatoes, eggplant, and coleus (which are treated as annuals in colder areas).^[19] Perennials also include plants grown for their flowering and other ornamental value including bulbs (like tulips, narcissus, and gladiolus); lawn grass, and other groundcovers, (such as periwinkle^[a] and Dichondra).^[23]

Each type of plant must be separated differently; for example, plants with fibrous root systems like daylilies, Siberian iris, or grasses can be pried apart with two garden forks inserted back to back, or cut by knives. However, plants such as bearded irises have a root system of rhizomes; these root systems should be planted with the top of the rhizome just above ground level, with leaves from the following year showing. The point of dividing perennials is to increase the amount of a single breed of plant in your garden.^[24] In the United States more than 900 million dollars worth of potted herbaceous perennial plants were sold in 2019.^[25]

 

Dahlia plants are tender perennials that originate from climates that are warm all year round and need special care to survive cold winters.

Benefits in agriculture

 

Switchgrass is a deep-rooted perennial. These roots are more than 3 meters long.

Although most of humanity is fed by the re-sowing of the seeds of annual grain crops, (either naturally or by the manual efforts of man), perennial crops provide numerous benefits.^[26] Perennial plants often have deep, extensive root systems which can hold soil to prevent erosion, capture dissolved nitrogen before it can contaminate ground and surface water, and out-compete weeds (reducing the need for herbicides). These potential benefits of perennials have resulted in new attempts to increase the seed yield of perennial species,^[27] which could result in the creation of new perennial grain crops.^[28] Some examples of new perennial crops being developed are perennial rice and intermediate wheatgrass. A perennial rice developed in 2018, was reported in 2023, to have provided a similar yield to replanted annual rice when evaluated over eight consecutive harvests.^[29]

Location

Perennial plants dominate many natural ecosystems on land and in fresh water, with only a very few (e.g. Zostera) occurring in shallow sea water. Herbaceous perennial plants are particularly dominant in conditions too fire-prone for trees and shrubs, e.g., most plants on prairies and steppes are perennials; they are also dominant on tundra too cold for tree growth. Nearly all forest plants are perennials, including the trees and shrubs.

Perennial plants are usually better long-term competitors, especially under stable, resource-poor conditions. This is due to the development of larger root systems which can access water and soil nutrients deeper in the soil and to earlier emergence in the spring. Annual plants have an advantage in disturbed environments because of their faster growth and reproduction rates.^[30]

Types

• Herbaceous - plants that have foliage and stems that die to the ground at the end of the growing season and which show only primary growth. Examples include frost-tender plants such as Rudbeckias, Mirabilis jalapa, Momordica charantia, mint, tobacco, common purslane, alfalfa, petunias, Thinopyrum intermedium, Red clover, Hylotelephium telephium and Cochliasanthus caracalla.
• Evergreen - plants that have persistent foliage without woody stems. Examples include many Senecios, Begonia, Gaillardias, Dimorphothecas, Gazanias, Thunbergias, Dietes, Osteospermums, and Vincas, among others.
• Woody - plants with persistent above ground stems that survive from one growing season to the next, with primary and secondary growth, or growth in width protected by an outer cortex. Some may be deciduous. Examples many shrubs, lianas and trees such as Ipomeas, banana, lilacs, Geraniums, Lantanas, Hydrangeas, Nandinas, Pandoreas, grape, Hederas, pine, apple, Jasmines, Trachelospermums, Gardenias, Plumbagos, Cistus and Rosas, among others.^[31]
• Monocarpic - plants that flower, set seeds once and then die. Examples include, Agave and some species of Streptocarpus

List of perennials

Each section contains a short list of species related to that topic, these are an example as the true lists would fill several books.

Perennial flowers

Perennials grown for their decorative flowers include very many species and types.^[32] Some examples include;

• Achillea
• Aster
• Bergenia
• Dahlia
• Foxglove
• Hollyhock
• Kniphofia
• Lupin
• Salvia
• Phlox

Perennial fruits

The majority of fruit bearing plants are perennial even in temperate climates.^[33] Examples include

• Apple
• Blackcurrant
• Blueberry
• Blackberry
• Currant
• Grape
• Pear
• Plum
• Raspberries
• Strawberry

Perennial herbs

Many herbs are perennial,^[34][35] including these examples:

• Fennel
• Mint
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Thyme

Perennial vegetables

Main article: Perennial vegetables

Many vegetable plants can grow as perennials in tropical climates, but die in cold weather.^[36] Examples of some of the more completely perennial vegetables are:

• Asparagus
• Chives
• Globe artichoke
• Jerusalem artichoke
• Kale
• Leek
• New Zealand spinach
• Rhubarb
• Sea kale
• Sweet potato

Aquatic plants

Main article: Aquatic plant

Many aquatic plants are perennial even though many do not have woody tissue. Examples include

• Crassula helmsii - New Zealand Stonecrop
• Pontederia cordata - Pickerell weed
• Stratiotes aloides - Water Soldier which sinks to the bottom of the pond in winter
• Utricularia vulgaris - Common bladderwort which produces turions as its overwintering stage

See also

• Annual plant – Plant which completes its life cycle within one growing season and then dies
• Biennial plant – Flowering plant that takes two years to complete its biological life cycle
• Herbaceous plant – Plant that has no persistent woody stem above ground
• Herbchronology
• Perennial grain – Grain crops that remain productive for two or more years without replanting
• Lilium nanum
• Lilium papilliferum

Notes

1. Some groundcovers, such as the periwinkle, (Vinca major), amongst others, are environmental weeds in some areas. They may be invasive in regions where are they are not native because their ability for rapid spread chokes out native plant species and alters habitats. For Vinca, areas affected include parts of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States, especially coastal California.^[20][21][22]

References

1. The Garden Helper. The Difference Between Annual Plants and Perennial Plants in the Garden. Retrieved on 2008-06-22.
2. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
3. Poppenwimer, Tyler; Mayrose, Itay; DeMalach, Niv (2023-11-08). "Revising the global biogeography of annual and perennial plants". Nature. 624 (7990): 109–114. arXiv:2304.13101. doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06644-x. ISSN 1476-4687. PMID 37938778. S2CID 260332117.
4. "Perennial Plants: Roots of Immortality". Wisconsin Pollinators. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
5. Stearn, William T. "Botanical Latin" (four editions, 1966-92)
6. The Biology of Reproduction. Cambridge University Press; 10 October 2019. ISBN 978-1-108-49985-9. p. 77–.
7. Instant Notes in Plant Biology. Taylor & Francis; 15 June 2001. ISBN 978-1-135-32307-3. p. 175–.
8. Jill Bailey. The Facts on File Dictionary of Ecology and the Environment. Infobase Publishing; 2004. ISBN 978-1-4381-0941-1. p. 132–.
9. John P. Vogel. Genetics and Genomics of Brachypodium. Springer; 17 February 2016. ISBN 978-3-319-26944-3. p. 315–.
10. Mauseth, James D. (2011-06-07). Botany: An Introduction to Plant Biology. Jones & Bartlett Publishers. ISBN 978-1-4496-5000-1.
11. Lynden B. Miller. Parks, Plants, and People: Beautifying the Urban Landscape. Norton; 2009. ISBN 978-0-393-73203-0. p. 87–.
12. Waxman, Michael F. (1998-05-22). The Agrochemical and Pesticides Safety Handbook. CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-4200-4925-1.
13. Forests And Forest Plants - Volume III. EOLSS Publications; 24 February 2009. ISBN 978-1-905839-40-7. p. 153–.
14. Tracy DiSabato-Aust. The Well-Tended Perennial Garden: The Essential Guide to Planting and Pruning Techniques, Third Edition. Timber Press; 22 February 2017. ISBN 978-1-60469-707-0. p. 134–.
15. "Annuals, Biennials, Perennials: What's the Difference?". ANR Blogs. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
16. T.T. Kozlowski. Shedding of Plants Parts. Elsevier; 2 December 2012. ISBN 978-0-323-14560-2. p. 88–.
17. R. F. Wagle. Fire, Its Effects on Plant Succession and Wildlife in the Southwest: Some Effects of Fire on Plant Succession and Variability in the Southwest from a Wildlife Management Viewpoint. School of Renewable Natural Resources, University of Arizona; 1981. p. 5.
18. Rohde, Antje; Bhalerao, Rishikesh P. (2007-05-01). "Plant dormancy in the perennial context". Trends in Plant Science. 12 (5): 217–223. doi:10.1016/j.tplants.2007.03.012. ISSN 1360-1385. PMID 17416545.
19. Jules Janick. Horticultural Science. W. H. Freeman; 15 February 1986 ISBN 978-0-7167-1742-3 p. 44
20. Cal-IPC (2017-03-20). "Vinca major Profile". California Invasive Plant Council. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
21. Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weed Management (2008). CRC Weed management Guide: Periwinkle - Vinca major (PDF). Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weed Management. ISBN 978-1-920932-71-8. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
22. Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR). "Vinca major information from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW)". www.hear.org. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
23. Janick 1986, p. 51. sfn error: no target: CITEREFJanick1986 (help)
24. "Dividing Perennials". extension.psu.edu. Retrieved 2018-10-29.
25. "Table 7. Potted Herbaceous Perennial Plants Sold: 2019" (PDF). www.nass.usda.gov.
26. Glover et al. Future Farming: A return to roots? Retrieved on 2008-11-11.
27. Moffat 1996 [1] Retrieved on 2008-11-14
28. Cox et al. 2000 [2] Retrieved on 2008-11-14
29. DeHaan LR, Anderson JA, Bajgain P, Basche A, Cattani DJ, Crain J, Crews TE, David C, Duchene O, Gutknecht J, Hayes RC (15 October 2023). "Discussion: Prioritize perennial grain development for sustainable food production and environmental benefits". Science of the Total Environment. 895: 164975. Bibcode:2023ScTEn.895p4975D. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164975. hdl:10754/693057. PMID 37336402. S2CID 259200859.
30. Stephen B. Monsen. Proceedings--ecology and Management of Annual Rangelands. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station; 1994. p. 342–.
31. The First-Time Gardener: Growing Plants and Flowers: All the Know-How You Need to Plant and Tend Outdoor Areas Using Eco-friendly Methods. Quarto Publishing Group USA; 2 February 2021. ISBN 978-0-7603-6874-9. p. 18–.
32. "20 of the best perennials". BBC Gardeners World Magazine. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
33. Nuffstetler, Erin. "Edible Perennials That Will Bear Year After Year". The Spruce. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
34. Waddington, Elizabeth (14 May 2020). "35 Perennial Herbs To Plant Once & Enjoy For Years". Rural Sprout. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
35. Waddington, Elizabeth (17 May 2021). "20 Perennial Herbs That Return Each Year | Horticulture.co.uk". Horticulture Magazine. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
36. "Perennial veg to grow". BBC Gardeners World Magazine. Retrieved 18 November 2023.

External links

 

Wikiquote has quotations related to Perennial.

• (archived 4 July 2012)
• Gardening with Perennials
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• Plants for a Future