Perennials and Grasses

Perennials

A Perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. Perennials, especially small flowering plants, grow and bloom over the spring and summer and then die back every autumn and winter, then return in the spring from their root-stock rather than seeding themselves as an annual plant does. These are known as herbaceous perennials.

The range of plants under the herbaceous perennial umbrella is massive and are best known when seen in the classic 'English Cottage Garden'.

They include :

Agapanthus, Hosta, Aquilegia, Iris, Anenome, Kniphofia (Red Hot Poker), Campanula, Liatrus, Chrysanthemum, Coreopsis, Lysimachia, Delphiniums, Paeonia, Dicentra, Poppy, Dorinicum, Epimedium, Rudbeckia, Euphorbia,  Geum, Verbascum,  Veronica, Heuch

Plants are often available and planted in the early spring when they begin producing new shoots following the dormant period over the winter. As the season progresses, larger plants then become available which are often in flower and are more substantial plants. These large plants are ideal for instant impact and colour.era                                 Viola

Established plants can be split or divided after the flowers and foliage have started to fade in the autumn, generally late September onwards. This process is requires the root to be dug out and broken apart with a fork to reduce the root size. The smaller portion can then be re-planted and allowed to grow into a new fresher plant the following year.

Grasses

Grasses have become much more in vogue in recent past adding a new dimesion to borders and beds. Grasses offer interesting and unusual properties with many different colours and shapes to the foliage some of which can be evergreen. Later in the growing season they will often produce subtle flowers seen as seedheads which grow above the foliage. The effect of the seed heads wavaring in the breeze is very soothing and contrasts wonderfully with the plants around them.

Grasses vary from small compact forms with colours ranging from Black, Golden, Variegated, Brown and shades of Green to large open habits which can be several feet tall.