Annuals Coleus. Photo courtesy W. Atlee Burpee & Co.
By Kevin Garvey
Perennials are herbaceous flowers that are hardy in this temperate zone (zone 6-7) and go dormant during the winter months. Each spring, perennials reemerge, treating us to a display of gorgeous hues. Due to perennials’ limited bloom times, a rather large area is required to create a perennial garden that provides color throughout the entire growing season.Herbaceous flowers that are not hardy are called annuals. The benefit of annuals over most perennials is that they can provide intense blooming over an extended period of time. The obvious disadvantage to annuals is the cost and time to replace them each year.
Salvia. Photo courtesy W. Atlee Burpee & co.
If you do not have the room for a full-season perennial garden or just want to add longer bloom time to your garden, try combining annuals with perennials to get the best of both worlds. Annual and perennial species that have similar requirements for sun exposure and soil conditions can be planted together to add color and improve the composition of your garden. Use the variety available with the many perennial species to achieve different scales and textures, as well as color. Add annuals in the garden where you want long-lasting intensity.
Front entries, garden gates, and other focal points can be jazzed up with annuals and perennials. Pots with a perfusion of annuals and perennials are a powerful way to accent stairs, the corners of a patio, or the top of a wall.
When designing a garden, it is important to remember that planting in large masses and repetition of species provides continuity and is more peaceful to the eye. If you are looking to draw attention to a particular location in the garden, adding a variety of colors and textures will do the trick. Just be careful not to over do it; too much of a good thing can become overkill.
Another important consideration is deer resistance. If deer have access to your garden, you will want to select plant varieties that are seldom eaten. There is nothing more heartbreaking than going out in the morning to find your investment gobbled up. For information on which plants are less likely to be eaten by deer, ask for advice from a professional designer, garden center that you trust, or request Fact Sheet 655: Resistance of Ornamentals to Deer Damage, issued by the Maryland Cooperative Extension.
One of my favorite combinations of annuals and perennials in the summer sun is a mix of Salvia with annual Vinca.In well-drained soil, the tall, deep blue, spiked flowers of the Salvia provide a wonderful backdrop to the soft, clear pink mounds of Vinca. This combined with a maroon-colored shrub or ornamental grass is particularly striking.
Photo courtesy The Perennial Farm
For damp, shady locations, try mixing Impatiens with Astilbe and Francee Hosta. This combination will reward you with a handsome variety of texture as well as a splash of color. Liriope makes a fine evergreen border for Coleus, Impatiens, or Caladium.
One of the wonderful things about the art of gardening is that it is not static. Annual and perennial varieties that grow well in your garden should be duplicated, replacing plants that did not live up to your expectations. Keeping a garden journal is an excellent way to record what plant species were used over the years. Successful gardens are continually changing and evolve over time. Experiment with annual and perennial species that you find attractive, and have fun with your mixes.
Kevin Garvey is the President of Garden Design/Build Group, Inc. For more information on the company, visit gardendesignbuild.com
Contacts:
Azaleas to Zinnias: azaleastozinnias.com or 410-828-0509
Burpee: burpee.com or 800-888-1447
International Flower Bulb Centre: bulb.com
Maryland Cooperative Extension, University of Maryland: www.agnr.umd.edu/MCE
The Perennial Farm: perennialfarm.com or 410-592-6106
SUGGESTED ANNUAL AND PERENNIAL COMBINATIONS
Sunny locations with well-drained soil
Annual Perennials
Alyssum, white Gayfeather, Coreopsis, Blanket Flower, and Sedum
Begonia, Cocktail Whiskey Veronica, Coreopsis, and Dwarf Purple Coneflower
Cannas, Bronze/Red Russian Sage, Coreopsis, and Liriope
Salvia, Victoria Blue Shasta Daisy, Purple Coneflower, and Fountain Grass
Vinca, Pink Cooler Purple-Leaved Fountain Grass, and May Night Sage
Dusty Miller May Night Sage, Daylily, Coreopsis, and Black-Eyed Susan
Partially shaded locations with moist, well-drained soil
Annual Perennials
Caladium Hardy Geranium, Sweet Woodruff, and Lugwort
Coleus Lady Fern, Sieboldi Hosta, and Variegated Solomon’s Seal
Impatiens Francee Hosta, Astilbe, and Purple Coral Bells
