Plant-types

Annuals

These are plants that complete their life cycle in one growing season (germinate – grow – flower – set seed – die). This group is divided into sub groups:

Hardy Annuals

These are frost hardy and can be sown directly outdoors in spring. E.g. Californian Poppy, Love in a Mist and Virginia Stock.

Biennials

These are plants that complete their life cycle in two seasons, making all the growth in the first season, then flowering and setting seed in the second. E.g. Foxgloves, Wallflowers and Sweet Williams.

Herbaceous Perennials

Plants with non-woody stems that generally die down in winter. These are divided into two groups:

Hardy Perennials

These plants live in the border all year round, usually dying down to a persistent rootstock with the first frosts, then regrow next spring. E.g. Lupins, Delphinium, Hosta and Dicentra.

Half-Hardy Perennials

These need to be lifted from the garden before the first frost and stored in a frost free place. To be planted after the frost’s finish next summer. E.g. Pelargoniums, Dahlia and Fuchsia.

Woody Plants

These produce woody persistent shoots over many seasons.

Trees

These have a single woody stem at ground level.

Shrubs

Have several woody stems at ground level.