Plants/flowers that come back every year

DJ98

As above what flowers can I sow that will come back every year and when is the best time to plant these?

looksee

The short answer is that plants that come back every year are perennials, those that come once then die off are annuals. There are a few that muddle that answer a bit - in a mild area an annual might come back several years in a row, usually self-seeded. There are also biennials that you plant one year to flower the next.

As to what to plant, that is too big a question to give an easy answer. Where are you putting them, what effect do you want, how much care are you prepared to give them? Very generally speaking the larger plants that are sold in individual pots and are a bit more expensive are the perennials or herbaceous border plants. You need to choose carefully, paying attention to how tall they grow, when the flowering season is etc. And they will still need some care, if you put them in and ignore them they will quite likely die off or be strangled by weeds.

Give us an idea of the kind of area you want to plant, how much sun it gets, what effect you want to go for and you will no doubt get plenty of suggestions.

DJ98

looksee wrote: »

The short answer is that plants that come back every year are perennials, those that come once then die off are annuals. There are a few that muddle that answer a bit - in a mild area an annual might come back several years in a row, usually self-seeded. There are also biennials that you plant one year to flower the next.

As to what to plant, that is too big a question to give an easy answer. Where are you putting them, what effect do you want, how much care are you prepared to give them? Very generally speaking the larger plants that are sold in individual pots and are a bit more expensive are the perennials or herbaceous border plants. You need to choose carefully, paying attention to how tall they grow, when the flowering season is etc. And they will still need some care, if you put them in and ignore them they will quite likely die off or be strangled by weeds.

Give us an idea of the kind of area you want to plant, how much sun it gets, what effect you want to go for and you will no doubt get plenty of suggestions.

Just different areas around the garden, very exposed to the sun and the main aim is to bring some colour to the garden, want flowers more so than shrubs

RockDesk

You can get loads of different varieties of tulips for early colour. They're basic and hardy and they divide so you'll get more!

You can find unusual looking tulips around. These get planted Sept/Oct/Nov.

I think I saw an offer from Mr Midleton recently that they were selling a multipack of perennial bulbs. Packs like that are common.

Anoneme comes back, and they reseed themselves so they'll multiply.

Ranunuculus are lovely. You'll find both of these in Marks and Spencer if you're near one, rather than going to a garden shop. They also have a bulb of a lovely plant called Bleeding Heart - it was there a few weeks ago anyway!

If you want colour now, you'd be better off buying the plant, not the bulb. You could get lupins?

Here's a page from Johnstown Garden Centre which lists perennials. Of the country cottage variety but there's plenty to choose from

https://www.johnstowngardencentre.ie/c/cottage-garden-perennials/48/page_1

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Have at look at any listing of perennial flowers - book or online - there are literally hundreds to choose from. Welsh poppies, Granny's bonnet, monkshood, Solomon's seal, globe thistle, bleeding heart, dahlia, phlox, bellflower. They are mostly easy to grow, readily available and give a good show.

Daisy 55

If you know any keen gardeners there are lots of plants which can be divided crocosmias, day Lillies, geraniums. Can fill up your garden cheaply.

magicbastarder

i have been pulling up a load of crocosmia; stamp on the bulbs and into the compost bin with them...

Shaunoc

magicbastarder wrote:

i have been pulling up a load of crocosmia; stamp on the bulbs and into the compost bin with them...

Why so the strong dislike?

magicbastarder

they're a bit of a weed, not mad keen on them and they spread quite a bit.

looksee

I think they are very pretty, but once you have them in the garden they just infest everywhere.

Daisy 55

The smaller orange wild ones are a pest, but taller cultivated one like lucifer are a great plant.