Gardening Guides
Flowers and Plants
The Kinds of Plants You Find in a Yard
New to gardening? Here are the common terms for plant types and what they really mean
When visiting your local nursery, you’ve undoubtedly come across terms such as “annual,” “perennial” and “succulent” used to describe certain kinds of plants. Have you ever wondered what those words mean and what they tell us about the plants? Toss in other words like “deciduous” and “evergreen,” and it can become even more confusing — especially if you are new to gardening.
If this describes how you feel, don’t worry. We’re going to define common plant types and the characteristics they share so that you can choose the best kinds of plants for your garden.
If this describes how you feel, don’t worry. We’re going to define common plant types and the characteristics they share so that you can choose the best kinds of plants for your garden.
Flowering bulbs, perennials and ornamental grasses combine to create a springtime display at the Lurie Garden in downtown Chicago.
Annual snapdragons and violas fill this container.
Annuals. As their name suggests, annual plants complete their entire life span within a year.
Flowering annuals are the most well-known plants in this category. They include popular bedding plants such as marigolds, petunias, snapdragons and violas, used for adding seasonal color to containers.
Wildflowers, like California poppies and lupines, are another type of annual.
Because of their short life span, annuals are a great choice for filling in bare areas while you wait for long-lived plants to fill out the landscape.
Annuals. As their name suggests, annual plants complete their entire life span within a year.
Flowering annuals are the most well-known plants in this category. They include popular bedding plants such as marigolds, petunias, snapdragons and violas, used for adding seasonal color to containers.
Wildflowers, like California poppies and lupines, are another type of annual.
Because of their short life span, annuals are a great choice for filling in bare areas while you wait for long-lived plants to fill out the landscape.
A brightly colored Dixie coneflower decorates a New York garden.
Perennials. In regard to plants, perennial means a plant that lives for more than two years. As you may suspect, this is a very large group, which includes bulbs, shrubs and trees.
However, when talking about perennials for the garden, we are generally referring to flowering plants used in conjunction with annuals, such as clematis, coneflower (Echinacea spp.), coreopsis, penstemon and Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum).
A number of flowering perennials that aren’t cold-tolerant are used as summer annuals in regions that experience cold winters. Gaura and lantana are two such examples.
Perennials. In regard to plants, perennial means a plant that lives for more than two years. As you may suspect, this is a very large group, which includes bulbs, shrubs and trees.
However, when talking about perennials for the garden, we are generally referring to flowering plants used in conjunction with annuals, such as clematis, coneflower (Echinacea spp.), coreopsis, penstemon and Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum).
A number of flowering perennials that aren’t cold-tolerant are used as summer annuals in regions that experience cold winters. Gaura and lantana are two such examples.
The pink flowering spikes of foxglove decorate warm-season gardens.
Biennials. Situated between annuals and perennials, the plants in the small biennials group take two years to go through their life cycle. Their first year is spent growing their stems and leaves, with blooms appearing the following year. After that, they set seed and die.
Well-known flowering biennials include dianthus, foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) and hollyhock (Alcea rosea).
Biennials. Situated between annuals and perennials, the plants in the small biennials group take two years to go through their life cycle. Their first year is spent growing their stems and leaves, with blooms appearing the following year. After that, they set seed and die.
Well-known flowering biennials include dianthus, foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) and hollyhock (Alcea rosea).
Bulbs. Daffodils, tulips and other spring-blooming bulbs announce the arrival of spring with their beautiful displays. These plants arise from a bulb, which is a short, fleshy stem with tiny roots at the base (an onion is another example of a bulb). All the food that the plant needs for blooming in spring is stored inside the stem.
Spring-blooming bulbs are planted in fall. With the right conditions, they multiply and spread over time.
Spring-blooming bulbs are planted in fall. With the right conditions, they multiply and spread over time.
Lilac vine (Hardenbergia violacea) creates a privacy screen in this Arizona garden.
Vines. The growth habit of this group of plants is made up of trailing stems or runners. Vines are characterized by their ability to grow upward as long as they have something to support their growth, such as a fence or trellis. They do this by wrapping their thin stems (called tendrils) or twining branches around the support, or by attaching their adhesive pads on a flat surface, such as a wall. The method of attachment is dependent on the type of vine.
Vines. The growth habit of this group of plants is made up of trailing stems or runners. Vines are characterized by their ability to grow upward as long as they have something to support their growth, such as a fence or trellis. They do this by wrapping their thin stems (called tendrils) or twining branches around the support, or by attaching their adhesive pads on a flat surface, such as a wall. The method of attachment is dependent on the type of vine.
Ice plant (Delosperma cooperi) is a great ground cover for drought-tolerant gardens.
Ground covers. These plants are short in height and have trailing or spreading growth, effectively covering the ground where they are planted.
Ground covers serve as a living mulch and help suppress weeds. They also protect against erosion, as their roots help stabilize the surrounding soil. In drought-tolerant gardens, their leafy green growth also can preserve moisture in the soil by limiting evaporation.
Ground covers. These plants are short in height and have trailing or spreading growth, effectively covering the ground where they are planted.
Ground covers serve as a living mulch and help suppress weeds. They also protect against erosion, as their roots help stabilize the surrounding soil. In drought-tolerant gardens, their leafy green growth also can preserve moisture in the soil by limiting evaporation.
Shrubs. Forming the backbone of the garden, these woody plants are shorter than trees. Shrubs are composed of several branches that grow roughly the same length. They are frequently prized for their attractive foliage, and many — including hydrangeas, lilacs and roses — have stunning blooms. In the landscape, shrubs add height and structure, and they often are planted against the foundation of the house or trained as a hedge.
Trees. Arguably the best-known type of plant, trees are tall, woody plants that have a long trunk from which branches and leaves grow. Trees come in different heights and shapes, such as columnar, cone-shaped, round, spreading and weeping.
Trees are further divided into two groups.
Trees are further divided into two groups.
- Deciduous trees lose all their leaves each year.
- Evergreen trees retain most of their leaves throughout the year.
Grasses. This group of plants, commonly referred to as ornamental grasses, are related to the grass types used in a traditional lawn. However, unlike lawns that are mowed short to maintain a carpet of green, many grasses are allowed to flower and grow to their natural height. The wispy shape and texture of these landscape grasses add a wonderful design element. They come in varying sizes from 1 foot to over 10 feet high.
Succulents. If you had to choose the most popular garden plant right now, the answer probably would be succulents. Thick, fleshy leaves and stems, where the plants store water, are the hallmark of these plants.
There are thousands of different succulents in unusual shapes, with and without thorns, as well as many that produce colorful flowers. Cactuses are also a type of succulent. Because of their ability to store water, succulents are very drought-tolerant.
More
Basic Lingo Every Novice Gardener Needs to Know
10 Tips for Beginning Gardeners
Browse gardening tools
There are thousands of different succulents in unusual shapes, with and without thorns, as well as many that produce colorful flowers. Cactuses are also a type of succulent. Because of their ability to store water, succulents are very drought-tolerant.
More
Basic Lingo Every Novice Gardener Needs to Know
10 Tips for Beginning Gardeners
Browse gardening tools