Read 'What is the Difference Between an Annual, Perennial, or Biennial?' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

When spring comes and the urge to buy seeds and plants envelops the gardener, one of the first things to consider is the life cycle of the plant involved; is it an annual, perennial or biennial? Knowing the answer to this question will help you determine how long the plant will add interest to your garden and may also decide how much you want to spend on the plant and whether you want to buy seed, a six-pack of seedlings, or an established plant.

Annuals are plants that complete their life cycle within a year; they usually germinate, flower and die in one year, with only the seeds going on from one year to the next. Since they complete their life cycle in one year you will have flowers and mature foliage in the garden relatively quickly. Bringing annuals indoors for the winter will not help; their life span is no longer than one year. Examples of annuals include marigolds, cosmos, beebalm, and zinnias.

Perennials are plants that need at least two years to complete their first life cycle. They usually germinate and produce vegetative growth the first year, and then the in the second and subsequent years produce flowers and seeds. Perennials usually either go dormant or die down in areas where winter temperatures are cold. Examples of herbaceous perennials are garden phlox, golden rod, and daylilies.

Biennials are plants that complete their life cycles in two years. They germinate and produce some vegetative growth in their first year; in their second year they produce more vegetative growth, flowers, and seeds, and then die. Examples include many hollyhocks, Sweet William, and parsley.

What is the significance of these life cycles to the gardener? If you want immediate color in your garden from seeds, annuals are your best choice. Annuals in six-packs are more expensive than seeds but usually much less expensive than perennial seedlings. You have to accept the fact that the annuals will probably have to be replaced next year but they will give you a lot of color quickly at a reasonable price. True some, like zinnias, will seed themselves but you can’t count on them to do this or on the appearance of their offspring. If you want immediate color from biennials or perennials you will have to buy, older (and more expensive) plants that have already gone through their first season in a nursery and are ready for their performance in your garden.

Starting biennials and perennials from seed is very cost effective but takes more effort and space. You need some place to grow the small plants until they are large enough to contribute to your garden in their second year. Perennials are well worth the effort and space but biennials require the same expenditure in time and space but will die after their 2nd year and will have to be replaced. Well worth it if you like hollyhocks!

Read 'Plant Profile: Gayfeather (Liatris spicata ‘Kobold’)' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

Gayfeather is one tough plant! It can take heat, cold, drought, or poor soil and still come through with its tall fuzzy purple flower spikes. The plant first makes its appearance in spring as a tuft of grass-like leaves. Later, a leafy spike appears bearing the flower buds. It provides a strong vertical accent in the garden (or in a vase arrangement), and looks great in drifts or small clumps. The species is a North American wild flower native to a large part of the U.S. so it is especially pleasing in a meadow garden.

Type: Herbaceous perennial.

Bloom: Lavender purple flowers are borne on tall spikes in mid summer. The buds open at the top of the spike first and continue opening downward.

Size: 18-30” H x 24”W.

Light: Full sun.

Soil: Prefers moist, well-drained, average soil but tolerates much less.

Hardiness: Zones 3-9.

Care: Cut flowering spikes to the basal tuft of leaves when blooming has finished in order to freshen up the garden.

Pests and Diseases: Generally pest free but can be attacked by powdery mildew in late season when humidity and heat are high especially if stressed by drought.

Propagation: Dig up corms in the fall and divide with a sharp knife to increase the number of plants, but division not necessary. Can be grown from seed but may not come true.

Companion plants: Goldenrod (Solidago spp.), Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm), coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Boltonia asteroids, daylilies (Hemerocallis hybrids) and various grasses such as feather reed grass (Calamagostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’) or fountain grass (Pennisetum sp.).

Comments: Attracts bees, butterflies and birds. Great cut flower.

Read 'Plant Profile: Red Valerian/Jupiter’s Beard (Centranthus ruber)' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

If you like the look of flowering plants growing out of old walls or brickwork you will probably like Red Valerian. It is drought tolerant and a lime lover and so thrives in mortar and concrete. It has a relaxed growth habit and looks lovely cascading over a wall. It eagerly multiplies in a garden by self sowing and you may find it in places you never anticipated, but you will be pleased by its charm and old fashioned look.

Type: Herbaceous perennial.

Bloom: Red or white flowers in late spring-summer.

Size: 24”-36” H x 24” x 36” W.

Light: Full sun to partial shad; resents heat and humidity and appreciates some shade in zones 7 and hotter.

Soil: Prefers average, limy, well-drained soil but tolerates less.

Fertilizer: Average soil will supply what is needed.

Hardiness: Zones 5-9.

Care: Remove flowers as soon as they finish flowering for rebloom.

Pests and Diseases: Can develop mildew if the leaves are wet at night so water in the morning to allow drying time.

Propagation: Readily self sows; basal cutting can be taken in spring.

Companion plants: Blue iris, catmints, salvias, and veronicas.

Outstanding Selections: Centranthus ruber var. albus (white), C. ruber var. coccineus (deep red) C. ruber var. roseus (rose).

Comments: Tolerates drought, and salt spray.

Read 'Plant Profile: Spiderwort (Tradescantia x andersoniana)' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

My spiderwort is probably the oldest plant in my garden. It was a division of a plant that my mother had since I was a child and I have always been able to depend on it for bloom and vigorous growth no matter what garden or container I put it in. It is very easy to grow, the blue color of the flower goes with everything, and it quickly forms a large clump when divided. In my Annapolis garden it grew to about 3’ high in part sun but here in the full sun and very good soil of my North Carolina garden it is at least 4’ tall and blooms earlier and longer. If you need a versatile plant that will give you a long show of flowers with few demands, consider spiderwort.

Type: Herbaceous perennial.

Bloom: Blue, lilac, purple, pink, white flowers in late spring-early summer for about 8 weeks total.

Size: 24” W-36” H with ever enlarging clumps.

Light: Full sun to partial shade; in most climates will bloom better and be less lanky in sun.

Soil: Average well drained but tolerates most soils .

Fertilizer: Average soil provides all that is needed.

Hardiness: Zones 4-9.

Care: Cut back when foliage becomes unattractive to encourage another bloom.

Pests and Diseases: None of importance.

Propagation: By division in spring or autumn; self sows.

Companion plants: Grasses, daylilies, liriope, Siberian iris and hosta.

Outstanding Selections: ‘Zwanenburg Blue’(deep violet blue), ‘Red Cloud’ (rosey red), ‘Snowcap” (pure white), ‘J. C. Weguelin’ (light blue), ‘Isis’ (oxford blue), ‘Purple Dome’ (deep purple).

Read 'Plant Profile: Blue Wild Indigo (Baptisia australis)' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

If you need a large, striking plant, that keeps its good looks all season this is the plant for you. In spring, Baptisia is one of the first perennials to send up its foliage and what beautiful foliage! Gray-green in color, the leaves are three lobed and are borne on gray stems. The plant quickly develops into a substantial, vase shaped bush and sends up 12” long spikes bearing soft blue flowers similar in shape to those of sweet pea. Black pods 2”-21/2” long follow and remain until fall when the stems and leaves die down. They add to the over all attractiveness of the plant and are also desirable additions to flower arrangements. Although Baptisia is a large plant, it is not heavy or coarse and therefore looks great at the front or back of the border where it can add variety in size as well as in texture and color. Baptisia is very long lived and resents being moved so plan ahead and place it where it can remain, be happy, and be enjoyed.

Type: Perennial.

Bloom: 1” blue sweet pea like blooms in spring.

Size: 3’-4’h x 3’-4’ W; vase-shaped.

Light: Full sun for best growth; in shade it will need staking.

Soil: Prefers moist, deep, humusy, acid soil but tolerates poor soil.

Fertilizer: Apply a high phosphorus (middle number) water soluble fertilizer immediately after flowering.

Hardiness: Zones 3-9.

Care: Water during droughts but do not treat like it is a perennial needing 1’ water per week. Remove the spikes after flowering to maintain vigor. Trim back the foliage in the fall when it looks bedraggled.

Pests and Diseases: None of importance.

Propagation: Can be grown from seed collected from garden plants but may take 2 years to bloom and 3 years to gain full size. Divisions are possible but very difficult because the root is a taproot. Expect some failure if you attempt division.

Companion plants: Carolina lupine(yellow); cranesbills, miniature red roses, asters or chrysanthemums at its feet to hide its “ankles”.

Other Species of Note: There are also white and yellow flowered species with similar characteristics.

Read 'Plant Profile: Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ )' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

For both texture and color, Hakonechloa gets high marks. It is a delicate ornamental grass with gold variegated foliage, each leaf striped lengthwise with green. Its beautiful color combines well with many other plants and lends its brightness to shady nooks and corners. The leaves are long and slender and cascade gracefully among any of the plants near it. Tiny inconspicuous blossoms are born late in the season and the foliage takes on a pinkish hue before turning buff color for the winter.

Hakonechloa makes a good ground cover under the canopy of large trees, looks beautiful draped over rocks or walls, and is a great addition to pots and containers. It is a perfect addition to an oriental garden with its bamboo-like foliage.

Any way you look at it, this plant is a winner!

Type: Perennial Grass.

Bloom: Inconspicuous in August –October; grown for foliage.

Size: 12”-18” H x 18” W.

Light: Partial to full shade; leaves will scorch in too much sun, but not develop their yellow color in too much shade.

Soil: Rich, moist, humusy, well-drained soil.

Fertilizer: Organic mulch applied once a year in spring will provide adequate nutrients.

Hardiness: Zones 7-9 (6 with protection).

Care: If you live in Zone 6 or colder, mulch with fall leaves.

Pests and Diseases: None of importance.

Propagation: Spreads slowly by stolons and is easy to divide in spring or fall.

Companion plants: Great with trees such as Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) and dwarf Alberta spruce (Picea glauca ‘Conica’). For a beautiful combination pair it with Lady’s Mantel (Alchemilia mollis), European wild ginger (Asarum europaeum), or Japanese painted fern ( Athyrium nipooonicum ‘Pictum’). Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata var. laphamii), hostas, sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum), ferns, bleeding hearts, and astilbes are all beautiful complements to this grass.

Read 'Plant Profile: Crainsbill (Geranium sanguineum var.striata ‘Lancastriense’ or Prostratum’)' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

With over 200 species the genus Geranium has a lot to offer. One of my favorites is ‘Lancastriense’ with its diminutive mound of foliage and delicate pink flowers. Standing at 8” tall it is a real looker at the front of  the border in my secret garden where I can fully appreciate the shape of its dissected leaves and the crimson veins in its petals. It blooms for several weeks in spring near pink Fringed Bleeding Heart (Dicentra exima) and Lady’s mantle (Alchemillia molllis) with its gray-green foliage and yellow-green flowers. It has withstood abuse from other more vigorous plants but comes through like a trooper and even graces the garden with crimson-red foliage in the fall.

Type: Perennial.

Bloom: Light pink with crimson veins in late spring; dissected foliage that turns red in the fall.

Size: 8” H x 6” W.

Light: Sun to part sun, part shade; protect from afternoon sun in the South.

Soil: Average to fertile moist but well drained; acidic.

Fertilizer: Use organic mulch and no further fertilizer is necessary.

Hardiness: Zones 4-8.

Care: Can be cut back hard after flowering and it will form a new mound of foliage and probably even rebloom.

Pests and Diseases: None of significance.

Propagation: Spreads naturally but may be divided in fall or spring.

Companion plants: Lady’s mantle,  Fringed Bleeding Heart, Tiarella.

Comments: Deer resistant; good as an edger.

Read 'Plant Profile: Fan Columbine (Aquilegia flabellata)' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

Fan Columbine (Aquilegia flabellata)

Fan Columbine (A. flabellata 'Mini Star)

I particularly like this species because it is small and compact, perfect for the front of the border where the unique flowers can be savored. The leaves are blue-green, rounded, and fan shaped, and are a plus even after the blooms fade.

Type: Herbaceous perennial.

Bloom: Spring-early summer with nodding flowers in blue, white, or a combination of blue and white and pink.

Size: 4”-12” depending on the variety/cultivar.

Light: Light-moderate shade (tolerates more sun in cool areas).

Soil: Rich with plenty of moisture but tolerates average soil as long as it is well drained.

Fertilizer: Mulch with organic material in spring.

Hardiness: Zones 3-9.

Care: Deadheading will encourage more blooming.

Pests and Diseases: Prone to leaf miner as other columbines are. When the foliage gets ratty looking cut the plant down. It will soon send up new, fresh leaves that last for the rest of the season.

Propagation: Self seeds easily.

Companion plants: Heuchera, small ferns, Tiarella, bleeding heart; small hosta.

Outstanding Selections:
‘Akitensis’ blue and white
‘Alba’ – (‘Pumila Alba’, ‘Nana Alba’) – white; blooms a little bit earlier than the species
‘Blue Angel’ grows 8-10 inches tall and has lavender and cream flowers
‘Cameo Mix’ – shades of blue, pink and white.
‘Ministar’ – white and blue; 6”-8” tall
var. pumila- mauve and white; 4” tall