An often heard term in gardening but what does it actually mean? 

​Basically, a hardy plant that returns and flowers each year, unlike annual bedding plants, or plants without woody stems like trees or shrubs. This category of plants includes many familiar flowers, as well as herbs and some aquatic varieties.

They come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, with an extensive choice of flower colours. Suitable for various soil types and light conditions, they can be planted in beds or borders for a cottage garden style or grown in a single pot as a striking focal point of colour.

There are two main types: deciduous and evergreen. Evergreen varieties retain their leaves and structure throughout the year, while deciduous perennials typically die back in late autumn, with new shoots emerging in spring. This cycle is largely governed by temperature, many plants will continue flowering until the first frosts, after which they die back, before re-emerging as the spring sun warms the soil. Some perennials are not frost-hardy and require protection or storage over winter, or they can be treated as annuals, such as Dahlias and Gazanias.

So, what do I look for?

Start by understanding where you want to plant them, is it in bright sunshine or a shady spot, very dry or a bit boggy? Once you know this then you will find something suitable here at Root One, be it Hosta’s for that shady area where you struggle to get anything to grow, Salvia Hot Lips for that scorching hot spot by the front door or even a water lily for your pond, these are all examples of perennials.

All our plants have a care card attached which will give you the details of the plants best growing conditions and how to look after them or simply ask one of our Plant Team who will be happy to help.

Some of our most popular and favourite choices

Salvia

Available in a wide range of styles, colours and sizes, they thrive in a sunny position and produce flowers that last well into autumn. Generally easy to maintain, they become drought-tolerant once established and are excellent for attracting bees and butterflies to the garden. Popular varieties to look out for include ‘Hot Lips’, ‘Amistad’ and ‘Caradonna’.

Verbena Bonariensis

A real statement plant, it can reach up to 5ft tall and is ideal for the back of a sunny cottage garden border. It also pairs beautifully with grasses and other broad-leaved plants, its slender stems and sparse foliage blending in before its purple flowers rise above the planting. These blooms are excellent for attracting butterflies and other nectar-feeding insects.

Agapanthus

A real showstopper, available in a wide range of varieties and flower colours. With thick, strap-like green leaves and tall flower spikes topped by a rounded ball of flower, they bring striking interest to any garden. Even after the colour fades, the seed heads provide structure throughout the colder months. Once established, they are drought-tolerant and easy to maintain. Their height also makes them ideal as a centrepiece in a pot or container, allowing for underplanting with summer bedding to create a vibrant display through the hotter months.

Hosta

A long-time favourite of gardeners for shady areas, with its thick leaved foliage in differing tones and colours, and delicate flowers in summer. Their happiness to grow in shaded spots does encourage slugs and snails but that should not dissuade anyone form using them to form great displays in a shady area, along with ferns, heuchera’s and brunnera they can make a dark corner of the garden come alive. Keep an eye for the ones with blue or variegated leaves.

Geranium

A gardener’s favourite, commonly known as cranesbill, this reliable perennial comes in many varieties. Geranium ‘Rozanne’ for its striking blue flowers, Geranium ‘Boon Chocolate’ for its rich dark foliage, and Geranium ‘Jolly Jewel Red’ for its vivid red blooms. These plants produce masses of flowers from late spring through to autumn, rising above neat mounds of foliage. Ideal for borders, they are excellent for filling gaps and providing effective ground cover. Not to be confused with bedding geraniums or Pelargonium, these are true hardy perennials that return year after year with minimal care.

So, what care do they need?

One of the great advantages of most perennials is how little attention they need once established.

Apply a generous mulch in early spring to feed the surge of growth in the months ahead and water occasionally during prolonged dry spells. If older stems have died back after winter frosts, cut them down to ground level in early spring to make way for fresh new shoots. While this tidy-up can be done in late autumn or early winter, leaving the old growth in place over winter provides valuable shelter for insects and helps protect the soil from frost.

Beyond that, simply provide support for taller varieties or those with heavy blooms, such as Peony, and offer winter protection for less hardy plants like Dahlia.

If you’re growing in containers, they will need more regular watering, as expected, along with a feed in spring using a suitable fertiliser.

Another major benefit of perennials is their ability to be divided as they mature. By splitting an established clump into two or more sections, you can create new, healthy plants for other areas of the garden. This not only provides you with free plants but also rejuvenates the original, helping to prevent bare patches forming in the centre as it spreads.

Perennials are a worthy addition to any garden or container display, and a firm favourite here at Root One, why not come in and find your new favourite?