Annuals, Biennials, and Short Lived Perennials

11 years ago

I am interested in compiling a list of the above, mainly for zone 7, and would love input from members of this forum.This would be especially helpful to those of us who collect and grow from seed, as we would be mindful of the species that will die out after a while, and collecting seeds becomes more important.

Here is what I have so far in the short lived category:

Columbine
Lobelia
Penstemon
Asclepias incarnata
Campanula rotundifolia
Kosteletzkya virginica
Some Rudbeckias, such as R. hirta
Some asters, such as S. shortii and S. lateriflorum

Biennials:

Phacelia bipinnatifida
Synandra hispidula

Annuals:
Salvia coccinea

Please help add to this list!

Featured Answer

docmom_gw

11 years ago

Neither of the Monardas I mentioned spread by roots like the perennial varieties such as M. fistulosa. I've not had either reseed for me, but climate could certainly make a difference there.

Martha

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

lycopus
11 years ago
For annuals there are Impatiens pallida, I. capensis and Chamaecrista fasciculata. I'm also trying two biennials for the first time this year, Castilleja coccinea and Cirsium pumilum. Don't know if all Lobelias are necessarily short-lived perennials. Lobelia cardinalis and L. spicata are but I don't usually see the same said of L. siphilitica. Also, L. inflata is an annual.
Lynda Waldrep
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks, Lycopus, for your quick response. I totally forgot about the Impatiens as they are not planted on my property...just there. Same for the pea one. I am not sure I will put the thistle on the list, as most people do not want that in a garden, and I am not good enough to key out the native thistles from the non-native ones. (Leave them on my property, but I would not recommend to others.)

The Lobelias have mixed reviews from my research, but I also had forgotten about the annual one, and I do have it scattered about in my area.

Again, I appreciate your input, especially on the Impatiens. They are lovely and could easily be included in a garden. (Try to hook people on natives via the garden route, but I don't garden, just like plants.)
Related Discussions
grass green 3 weeks ago
Q
Comments (27)
Those are all KBG in that test rating. Yeah, Bedazzled really is awesome and exibits good performance in practically all areas of adaptation. One of Turf Merchants' competitors highly commends it, too. I don't doubt others do as well. I wish tests for powdery mildew were conducted more often or that more were available if they are conducted. Here is the 2005 turf quality ratings under shade conditions in your area. Results for PM is the 4th column. I'm not sure I would be alarmed with Morpheus' mention of PM for a number of reasons. One is that you get great resistance from both Bedazzled and Moonlight. You might want to balance the weight of the three to favor those two, like 40/40 and 20 percent Midnight/II. I think I recall suggesting that last year. Another thing is his lawn is new and new ones can't express themselves immediately, meaning their traits and characteristics, including resistances and tolerances. Still, his was not persistant as your has been. You have a lawn that is susceptible, while he doesn't. I don't expect he will have a PM problem in the future and if so, it will easily be taken care of. One thing I will surely suggest is you making sure it has not progressed into a soil-borne problem of something else before planting new seeds. Have the plants and soil tested for disease first by a plant pathology lab. Extension can handle it for you. I agree with her assessment of tall fescue in a kbg lawn. There may be reasons for mixing them in some areas, like the transition zone perhaps, but generally it isn't necessary. Ryegrass either. Been to bed twice but can't sleep. UGH
...See More
Life span of biennials / perennials?
Q
Comments (5)
There are lots of reference books out there that will give you much more detailed plant information so you're better informed about what you plant in your flowerbeds. By far the most highly-recommended book is Tracy DiSabato-Aust's The Well-Tended Perennial Garden but I've found several others that provide reliable information. Two that I keep close to hand are Perennials for Every Purpose by Larry Hodgson and another published by Ortho called The Complete Perennials Book. Both have allowed me to better plan my flowerbeds & maximize the expected results from year to year. It's been my experience that some cultivars hit the garden centers long before their garden performance is assured, among them coreopsis and rudbeckia. One coreopsis that seems hardy & grows to larger proportions in my beds each year is C. 'Zagreb.' Gaillardia/blanket flower has been borderline hardy in my Zone 6 garden even when grown from seed via winter sowing so I'm glad when it reappears in Spring but not entirely surprised when it doesn't. The same cannot be said of foxglove--it doesn't do well here so I don't bother/waste time trying to grow it. I'm not surprised the hollyhocks I grew from seed didn't return this year but was a bit disappointed when established butterfly bushes and false indigo plants failed to come up this spring. Some perennial plants are just naturally short-lived so it's best to research them and plan your garden beds with that in mind. Setting realistic goals and expectations is something else to be factored into the equation. My initial goal was attracting bees, butterflies & birds which I've succeeded in doing altho' not without a number of disappointments along the way. FWIW, there's a saying that goes something like 'you aren't a real gardener until you've killed every plant at least three times.'
...See More
Rudbeckia fulgida vs Rudbeckia hirta
Q
Comments (5)
Vera, The side lesson in Plant ID here is why horticulturalists prefer botanic names to common names. There are no hard and fast rules governing the use of common names, and many gardeners will use the term "black-eyed Susan" to refer to most of the plants in the Rudbeckia family. The problem comes when a gardener sees a planting of Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' and wants that plant, but asks for "black-eyed Susan" and is given a R. hirta variety, or vice versa. Two plants that will perform very differently but may be called by the same common name! The info on your link above about R. 'Goldsturm' not being true from seed is correct. Unfortunately, too many growers have grown this plant from seed and not division and the outstanding qualities of the original cultivar have probably been diminished in the trade. By the way, although most people say "gold-stRum" the proper spelling and pronounciation is "gold-stuRm." Enjoy your class! V.
...See More
Wintersowing ONLY for Container Gardening?
Q
Comments (17)
6 seeds sounds perfect to me for a half-gallon milk jug. If you want bloom all summer your best bet is to go with annuals. Most perennials have a set bloom time of a week or two and then no longer bloom. The top opening is for ventilation, but it does allow for water as well - hard to believe but true! Just keep an eye on your containers - it will also depend on where you have them (sun or shade), on the weather (dry or rainy/snowy) and temps (warm or cool), and container location (protected (for example by a wall or fence) or out in the open), but I will say I have never ever lost seedlings due to lack of moisture. If you check them every other day or so in spring you should be able to keep on top of things. IMO, the more important thing when it warms up is making sure it is not too hot inside the containers for seedlings. Then again, I don't think I've ever lost anything to frying either, or at least not enough stuff that it's left a memory of it! So I'm sure you'll be fine. You can plant out according to last frost date in your area. Also, another tip is if you plant out and are worried about a cool night or two, you can use either the top of the milk jug, or what I like to use is the top of a soda bottle. I keep a supply of these in my garage and have re-used them for years. Cut the soda bottle in half, toss the cap, and presto - you have an instant little cloche. I use these most often with my tomatoes, which I like to get in the ground as soon as I can, and if the weather is too cool, or even just to give them a little boost, I put a soda bottle over each one. Again, just keep an eye that they don't get too hot and fry!
...See More
carlaclaws
11 years ago
Impatiens capensis is also able to outcompete Japanese stilt grass (Microstegium vimineum). Not a bad attribute, that!
Lynda Waldrep thanked carlaclaws
barbarag_happy
11 years ago
I'd include coreopsis and gaillardia pulchella.
Lynda Waldrep thanked barbarag_happy
wantonamara Z8 CenTex
11 years ago
I am a Zone 8 girl , so take my list with a caveat.

Biennial. Ipomopsis rubra,

annual: sneezeweed, thelasperma, cowpen daisy
Lynda Waldrep thanked wantonamara Z8 CenTex
docmom_gw
11 years ago
Monarda citriodora is an annual for me, and M. punctata can be perennial. Digitalis, also.
Lynda Waldrep thanked docmom_gw
Lynda Waldrep
Original Author
11 years ago
Don't know that Monarda, but I imagine your cold zone makes some differences. Here most Monardas are considered thugs as they reproduce too well. I appreciate having more plants to consider for my "list."
wantonamara Z8 CenTex
11 years ago
I have never considered a monarda a thug. But then I have normally a shortage of water and that controls a lot.
Lynda Waldrep thanked wantonamara Z8 CenTex
User
11 years ago
Are you looking for all zone 7 or just those that grow in NC? Annuals that grow throughout my area and into zone 7 are huisache daisy (Amblyolepis setigera), partridge pea (Cassia fasciculata), Indian paintbrush (Castilleja indivisa), clasping leaf coneflower (Dracopis amplexicaulis), lupines,
Lynda Waldrep thanked User
Lynda Waldrep
Original Author
11 years ago
Doesn't have to be NC, but I was thinking of doing a program on what may grow here. No luck with lupines here in the Piedmont, but I have seen wild stands in the mts. Just saw some Castilleja up there last week. Used to be a huge stand, but people mow alongside the road now. Sigh.
barbarag_happy
11 years ago
NC rescue, don't you think that Castilleja may have naturalized along the roadside because the gravel lowers the pH? Many western wildflowers prefer a neutral to alkaline soil. You're in the Piedmont, right-- mostly acid soil?
My friend at the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk is growing vernonia (ironweed) and Queen Anne's lace. Both will definitely overwinter in z7, even 6.
When I lived in southern Ohio the ditch lilies (orange daylilies), chicory, and butterfly weed bloomed together and were followed by vernonia and goldenrod. The county was always wanting to spray or mow our hedgerows but most of us put up signs along our back roads. There never was much development down in our area, most people were deterred by sooo many miles of gravel road to get to the highway!

Annuals, Biennials, and Short Lived Perennials

docmom_gw

Comments (12)

lycopus

Lynda Waldrep
Original Author

Related Discussions

carlaclaws

barbarag_happy

wantonamara Z8 CenTex

docmom_gw

Lynda Waldrep
Original Author

wantonamara Z8 CenTex

User

Lynda Waldrep
Original Author

barbarag_happy

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Annuals, Biennials, and Short Lived Perennials

Comments (12)

Lynda WaldrepOriginal Author

Related Discussions

Lynda WaldrepOriginal Author

Lynda WaldrepOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Lynda Waldrep
Original Author

Lynda Waldrep
Original Author

Lynda Waldrep
Original Author