Perennial Plants
Perennials are plants that live for several years.
They grow up in the spring, flower and then usually die down in the fall
and winter, sometimes leaving nothing to be seen above ground, sometimes
leaving brown woody seed-heads and spikes that can very decorative over
the winter and that often provide a good source of seeds for bird-food.
Some perennials are short-lived, for a few years only,
while others may carry on for decades. They can usually be split in the
early spring before they start into proper growth, or in the fall when
they are dieing down. By doing this, you can get more plants for your
own garden and for friends, family and neighbors and also re-juvenate
the plants that may have become congested and extend the life of shorter
lived varieties, possibly indefinitely if the process is repeated as
appropriate.
Perennials are usually reasonably quick growing
attaining their full size within a few years of planting. larger
varieties need staking in the late spring and early summer, so that they
don't flop over under the weight of the flower heads.
