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Perennials - Perennials 2
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Perennials - Perennials 2

Some perennials stay leafy all year, others vanish in winter. Learn how to spot the difference, and how to tidy plants without cutting away next season’s growth.

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Fascinating Fact:

Some perennials are evergreen and keep leaves all year, while others are herbaceous and disappear below ground in winter. Knowing which type you have helps with tidying.

In perennial gardening, “tidying” is really about timing and knowing what the plant does in winter. Herbaceous perennials usually die back after frost, so old stems can be cut down to near the base, often leaving a small marker so you do not dig into the crown by mistake. Evergreen and semi-evergreen perennials keep some leaves through winter, so they are often tidied by removing tatty foliage and spent flower stems, rather than cutting everything hard back. Many perennials also benefit from a spring clean instead of an autumn chop, because old stems can protect new shoots and give shelter to helpful wildlife. The key is to check where fresh buds are forming, then cut above them, so you keep the parts that will regrow and remove only what is finished.

Key Terms

  • Evergreen: A plant that keeps most of its leaves all year instead of losing them in winter.
  • Crown: The growing point at the base of a perennial where new shoots come from each season.
  • Cut back: Trimming stems or foliage to remove old growth and encourage healthy new growth.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

How do I tell if a perennial is evergreen or herbaceous?

An evergreen perennial keeps visible leaves through winter, even if they look a bit tired. A herbaceous perennial usually loses all top growth after frost and regrows from the base in spring.

Should I cut perennials back in autumn or spring?

Many gardeners cut back herbaceous perennials in late winter or early spring, because old stems can protect the crown and shelter wildlife. Evergreen perennials are usually tidied gently whenever foliage looks messy.

What happens if I cut an evergreen perennial down too hard?

If you cut an evergreen perennial too hard, you may remove the leaves it uses to make energy, and you can also cut off new buds. It is usually safer to remove dead leaves and spent stems rather than cutting to ground level.

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1 .
In the wild, Passion flowers are absent from just two continents - Antarctica and which other?
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Africa
Asia
Europe
South America
  • Flowers are beautifully intricate but they usually only last one day.
  • The plant has many properties that endear it to geneticists and this has led to a profusion of cultivars being developed.
  • Some varieties produce edible fruits but it is too cold for this in the UK.
  • Despite its exotic appearance the plant is not too difficult to grow provided that it can be given a free-draining soil.
2 .
Echinops are most commonly known as what?
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  • Many insects and especially bees find the large flower heads irrisistible.
  • Does best on well-drained but poor soils.
  • Excessive nutrients will lead to the plant growing too tall with a danger of it becoming top-heavy.
  • Fully hardy in the UK - cut down to ground level before the onset of winter.
  • Roots can be lited and divided for propagation.
3 .
A Wisteria in Sierra Madre is reckoned to be the world's largest flowering plant. How many blossoms does it carry each year?
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1,500
15,000
150,000
1,500,000
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  • Prefers full sun but will tolerate a little shade.
  • Make sure that the soil is kept moist particularly during their first two or three summers.
  • When buying a new plant try to choose a plant that is already in flower - some seed raised plants can take 20 years before they produce their first blooms!
That's right - over one and a half million blossoms! It has been growing for over 100 years and now covers more than an acre.
4 .
Peonies are named after Paean who was what to the Greek gods?
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5 .
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Professor Hotihandlii
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  • Counted amongst their many names are Tritoma, Torch lily and Poker plant.
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  • A good growing tip is "Not too wet in winter and not too dry in summer"
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6 .
Cotoneasters bear a profusion of red berries in the autumn but what colour are the spring flowers?
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Yellow
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7 .
Magnolia flowers developed in such as a way that they encourage pollination by what?
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8 .
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9 .
What is the common name for Crocosmia?
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  • Flowers come in a multitude of fiery yellows, reds and oranges.
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10 .
The Common Broom is scientifically known as what?
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  • Often found growing wild on dry, sandy soils.
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Author:  Colin King
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