If you're planning on enhancing your landscape in Kansas or Missouri with flowers, you can choose whether you want to add annuals or perennials. Each type of flower has its unique characteristics and benefits, making it important to understand their differences to make the right decision for your garden. Annual flowers are plants that complete their entire life cycle within a single growing season, meaning they grow and die within a year. Meanwhile, perennials are plants that continue to live for three or more growing seasons, reemerging every year in the spring. Neither annuals nor perennials are better because it really depends on your preference. Annuals will provide your landscape with pops of color, while perennials are long-term additions to your yard.

What are annual flowers?

Annual flowers are known for their vibrant and long-lasting blooms. These plants complete their entire life cycle within a single growing season. This means they sprout, bloom, produce seeds, and then die within one year. The beauty of annuals lies in their ability to provide continuous color and interest throughout the growing season. They are a popular choice for adding pops of color to your landscape, as they bloom profusely and often have a longer bloom period compared to perennials. However, keep in mind that you'll need to replant them each year.

What are perennial flowers?

Perennial flowers, on the other hand, are known for their longevity. These plants can live for three or more growing seasons, regrowing every spring. While they may have a shorter bloom period than annuals, they make up for it by returning year after year. Perennials are a great long-term addition to your garden, providing consistent beauty and structure. They are often used as the backbone of garden beds, offering reliable blooms and foliage.

Are annuals or perennials better for your landscape?

Close up of a SunPatiens flower in Overland Park, KS.

The choice between annuals and perennials ultimately depends on your preferences and gardening goals. Neither is inherently better; it's about what suits your landscape and maintenance preferences. Annuals are ideal for those who want to change the look of their garden each year, as they provide a burst of color that can be easily swapped out. Perennials, on the other hand, are perfect for those who prefer low-maintenance, long-term additions to their garden.

Many gardeners opt for a combination of both annuals and perennials to achieve a balanced and dynamic landscape. This approach allows for a mix of long-lasting, reliable blooms from perennials and the vibrant, ever-changing colors of annuals. It's a great way to enjoy the best of both worlds. To help you get started, here are some popular summer annuals and perennials to consider for your garden:

Summer Annuals:

  • Begonias
  • SunPatiens
  • Angelonias

Summer Perennials:

  • Daylilies
  • Black-Eyed Susans
  • Hostas
Incorporating a mix of annuals and perennials into your landscape will ensure a vibrant and ever-changing display of color.

Call us today to sign up for our plantings and softscapes, and annual flower installation services!

The choice between annual and perennial flowers depends on your gardening preferences and goals. Both types of flowers offer unique advantages, and we will help you get the most out of each type! Our team at Lawn and Landscape Solutions offers a plantings and softscapes service that involves installing new landscape beds or renovating your existing ones, then adorning them with stunning plants of your choice. We also offer an annual flower installation service, which is perfect if you want to add bursts of vibrant color to your landscape!

We offer these services to residential properties in Overland Park, Leawood, Mission Hills, KS, and nearby communities, including those in Missouri. Call us today at (913) 238-9318 to sign up!