One of the most wonderful gifts that God has bequeathed this earth is the gift of vibrant and radiant flowers. It is truly hard to imagine a world without these colorful blooms that give life to our surroundings and uplift our spirits. Although there is a great variety of flowering plants, gardeners make things simpler by classifying them as either annuals or perennials.

Annual flowers are those that complete their lifecycle in only one growing season, which means that they grow foliage, bloom into flowers, set seed and dies all in just one year. Perennials on the other hand are more long lasting as they are able to re-grow and last for more than two years. Just looking at their lifespan, it is clear that annual and perennial flowers both have their own advantages and disadvantages.

By knowing these, it will be easier for you to make your choice as to which you will prefer to plant in your garden. For one, because of its short life span, it is important to know that annuals require more work than perennials because you will have to replant annuals each year. Not to mention, perennials are generally easy to care for and less prone to pest problems, thus are low maintenance compared with annuals.

However, take note that even though perennials have longer life spans than annuals, annual flowers bloom for a longer time, giving you more time to enjoy the beauty and fragrance of the blooms, which last all throughout summer. Perennials flowers wilt more quickly and as a result you will have to content yourself in watching their foliage, which some gardeners find equally interesting and appealing.

Also, annuals are said to be more vibrant and colorful than perennials. But this part is of course a subjective area and depends largely on people’s personal taste. What is true however is how perennials are better investments than annuals in the sense that even if perennial flower seeds are more expensive than annuals, in the long run you will find that you are saving more with perennial seeds because they last for a longer time. Looking again at the aesthetics of the annuals, aside from having colorful and radiant blooms, annuals also provide excitement by giving your garden a brand new look each year, which is not possible if you are stuck with the same perennials every year.

However, those who are sentimental and have grown to love their perennials will not look at it as “being stuck” rather they see their plants as loyal friends and are grateful for having them for company for a long time. All things considered, it is not really a debate on which flower is more beautiful or longer lasting or easier to care for. What matters is choosing the right type that will suit your personality, abilities, and needs as a gardener.

If you are still torn between the two, consider growing both of these plants in your garden which will give you the loyalty of perennials and the radiance of annuals.