Perennial Families
Perennial plant families are the groups of related plants that come back year after year, forming the backbone of many gardens. Here is a look at some of the most popular and diverse perennial families:
1. Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)
- Huge and Diverse: This is one of the largest plant families, with over 20,000 species!
- Classic Flowers: Think daisies, sunflowers, asters, and coneflowers. They typically have composite flower heads made up of many tiny florets.
- Garden Favorites: Many popular perennials belong to this family, including:
- Echinacea (coneflowers)
- Rudbeckia (black-eyed Susans)
- Helenium (sneezeweed)
- Achillea (yarrow)
2. Lamiaceae (Mint Family)
- Aromatic Wonders: Most plants in this family have square stems and fragrant leaves.
- Culinary Herbs: Many culinary herbs are in this family, such as mint, basil, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
- Ornamental Beauties: It also includes ornamental plants like:
- Salvia (sage)
- Nepeta (catmint)
- Lavandula (lavender)
3. Fabaceae (Pea Family)
- Nitrogen Fixers: These plants have a special ability to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, enriching the soil.
- Food Crops: This family includes important food crops like peas, beans, and lentils.
- Ornamental Legumes: Many beautiful flowering perennials also belong here:
- Lupinus (lupine)
- Baptisia (false indigo)
- Lathyrus (sweet pea)
4. Poaceae (Grass Family)
- Grasses Galore: This family includes all types of grasses, from lawn grasses to ornamental grasses.
- Versatile Uses: Grasses are used for lawns, meadows, erosion control, and as striking accents in the garden.
- Ornamental Grasses: Some popular ornamental grasses include:
- Miscanthus (maiden grass)
- Panicum (switchgrass)
- Calamagrostis (feather reed grass)
5. Rosaceae (Rose Family)
- Beloved Blooms: This family includes roses, of course, but also many other flowering shrubs and trees.
- Fruit Producers: It also includes many fruit-bearing plants, such as apples, pears, strawberries, and raspberries.
- Ornamental Rosaceae: Some popular ornamental members include:
- Spiraea (spirea)
- Potentilla (cinquefoil)
- Geum (avens)
Why Knowing Plant Families is Helpful
- Understanding Relationships: It helps you see how plants are related and share characteristics.
- Predicting Needs: Plants in the same family often have similar growing requirements (soil, light, water).
- Garden Planning: You can use this knowledge to create diverse and harmonious plant combinations.
- Pest and Disease Management: Plants in the same family may be susceptible to similar pests or diseases.
This is just a glimpse into the world of perennial plant families. There are many more fascinating families out there, each with its own unique characteristics and contributions to the plant kingdom. Happy exploring!
Understanding plant families is like having a roadmap to the intricate world of plants! It is a way of organizing and classifying the vast diversity of plant life based on shared characteristics and evolutionary relationships.
Think of it like a family reunion – members of the same family often share similar traits, like eye color or a particular nose shape. Similarly, plants within the same family exhibit common features in their structure, flowers, fruits, and even their genetic makeup.
Why is it important to understand plant families?
- Identification: Recognizing the family of a plant can help you identify unknown plants. If you see a plant with daisy-like flowers, you can narrow down the possibilities by knowing it likely belongs to the Asteraceae family.
- Predicting Traits: Knowing the family can give you clues about a plant's characteristics. For example, plants in the Lamiaceae family (mint family) often have square stems and aromatic leaves.
- Understanding Relationships: Plant families reflect evolutionary connections. By studying families, we can learn how different plant groups are related and how they evolved over time.
- Gardening and Horticulture: Knowing plant families can be incredibly useful for gardeners. Plants in the same family often have similar growing requirements, susceptibility to pests and diseases, and even similar responses to certain fertilizers or pruning techniques.
- Ethnobotany: Plant families can provide insights into traditional uses of plants. For example, many medicinal plants belong to specific families known for their therapeutic properties.
How are plant families determined?
Botanists use a variety of characteristics to group plants into families, including:
- Flower structure: The number and arrangement of petals, sepals, stamens, and pistils are crucial in classification.
- Fruit type: The type of fruit (e.g., berry, capsule, legume) and how it develops.
- Leaf arrangement and shape: Whether leaves are alternate or opposite, simple or compound, and their overall shape.
- Growth habit: Whether the plant is a tree, shrub, vine, or herb.
- Genetic data: Modern classification increasingly relies on DNA analysis to confirm and refine relationships between plant families.
Examples of Plant Families:
- Asteraceae (Sunflower family): Includes daisies, sunflowers, asters, and lettuce. Characterized by composite flowers (many small flowers grouped together to appear as one).
- Fabaceae (Legume family): Includes beans, peas, lentils, and clover. Known for their nitrogen-fixing abilities and characteristic legume fruits (pods).
- Rosaceae (Rose family): Includes roses, apples, pears, strawberries, and cherries. Often have 5-petaled flowers and fleshy fruits.
- Lamiaceae (Mint family): Includes mint, basil, rosemary, and lavender. Characterized by square stems and aromatic leaves.
Learning about plant families opens up a deeper appreciation for the diversity and interconnectedness of the plant kingdom. It is like having a secret decoder ring to understand the relationships and characteristics of the plants around us.
Plant classification is an ever-evolving field! As scientists gain new information from genetic analysis and a deeper understanding of evolutionary relationships, changes to plant families are inevitable. Here are some of the major trends and shifts in perennial plant family classifications:
1. The Rise of Molecular Phylogenetics:
- DNA Sequencing: Traditionally, plant families were classified based on observable characteristics (morphology). Now, DNA sequencing allows botanists to compare genetic material and build more accurate evolutionary trees (phylogenies).
- Reclassification: This has led to significant reclassification. Some families have been merged, others split, and some plants have been moved to entirely different families based on their genetic relationships.
2. APG System:
- Angiosperm Phylogeny Group: The Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG) is an international group of botanists who develop a widely accepted classification system for flowering plants (angiosperms).
- Updates: They have released several updated versions (APG I, II, III, and IV) since the 1990s, incorporating the latest research and refining plant family relationships.
3. Examples of Changes:
- Former Scrophulariaceae: This family was once very large and diverse. Molecular studies revealed that it was not a natural grouping. Many plants formerly in this family have been moved to other families, like Plantaginaceae and Orobanchaceae.
- Expansion of Lamiaceae: The mint family (Lamiaceae) has expanded to include many plants previously classified in Verbenaceae.
- Restructuring of Asteraceae: The sunflower family (Asteraceae), one of the largest plant families, has undergone internal restructuring with the recognition of new subfamilies and tribes.
4. Ongoing Refinement:
- Dynamic Process: Plant classification is an ongoing process. New research continues to reveal new relationships and lead to further refinements in family classifications.
- Online Databases: Resources like the Angiosperm Phylogeny Website and the World Flora Online are constantly updated to reflect the latest changes in plant taxonomy.
Impact on Gardeners and Plant Enthusiasts:
- Updated Information: It is important for gardeners and plant enthusiasts to stay informed about these changes to better understand plant relationships and characteristics.
- Confusion: The changes can sometimes cause confusion as familiar plants may be placed in new families.
- Learning Opportunity: However, it is also an exciting opportunity to learn more about the fascinating world of plant evolution and diversity.
By embracing these changes and keeping up-to-date with the latest botanical research, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the intricate relationships within the plant kingdom.
Plant taxonomy is the science of classifying plants. It is like creating a giant family tree for all plant life, organizing them based on their relationships and shared characteristics. This system helps us understand the vast diversity of the plant kingdom and how different plants are related to each other.
Key Concepts in Plant Taxonomy:
- Classification: The process of grouping plants based on their similarities. Imagine sorting your books by genre – that is a form of classification!
- Hierarchy: A system of ranking where each level is nested within a higher level. Think of it like the postal system: your house is on a street, which is in a city, which is in a state, and so on. Plant taxonomy uses a similar hierarchy.
- Nomenclature: The formal naming system for plants, using scientific names (like Homo sapiens for humans). This ensures that everyone uses the same name for a specific plant, regardless of language or region.
- Morphology: The study of the physical form and structure of plants. Historically, plant classification relied heavily on observing and comparing these features (leaves, flowers, fruits, etc.).
- Phylogeny: The study of evolutionary relationships between organisms. Modern plant taxonomy uses DNA sequencing to uncover these relationships, looking at how closely related different plants are based on their genetic makeup.
The Hierarchy of Plant Classification:
Plant taxonomy uses a hierarchical system with several levels, from broad to specific:
- Kingdom: The highest level, encompassing all plants (Kingdom Plantae).
- Division (or Phylum): A major grouping within a kingdom. For example, flowering plants belong to the division Magnoliophyta.
- Class: A subdivision of a division.
- Order: A group of related families.
- Family: A group of related genera. Plant families often share easily recognizable characteristics (e.g., the sunflower family, Asteraceae, has composite flower heads).
- Genus: A group of closely related species. The first part of a plant's scientific name (e.g., Rosa for roses).
- Species: A group of individuals that can interbreed. The second part of a plant's scientific name (e.g., Rosa canina for dog rose).
Why is Plant Taxonomy Important?
- Identification: It provides a standardized way to identify and name plants.
- Understanding Relationships: Reveals how different plants are related evolutionarily.
- Communication: Ensures clear communication among scientists, gardeners, and plant enthusiasts worldwide.
- Conservation: Helps us understand and conserve plant diversity.
- Research: Provides a framework for studying plant evolution, genetics, and ecology.
Modern Advances in Plant Taxonomy:
- Molecular Systematics: The use of DNA sequencing has revolutionized plant taxonomy, allowing for more accurate classification based on genetic relationships.
- Online Databases: Resources like the Angiosperm Phylogeny Website provide up-to-date information on plant classification.
Plant taxonomy is a dynamic field that continues to evolve as our knowledge of plant life expands. By understanding this system, we can better appreciate the incredible diversity and complexity of the plant kingdom.
To understand how botanical names are applied, it is necessary briefly to describe how plants are classified, since the units into which they are separated determine the structure of names.
The basic unit of plant classification is the species which can be defined as a group of interbreeding individuals producing more-or-less similar offspring and differing from other similar groups by a number of key characters.
Species which share a number of significant features are grouped together to form a genus. The characteristics of a genus are often quite easy to recognize, making this perhaps the most generally useful level at which plants can be identified for practical purposes. It is common for a plant to be referred to as, for instance, Malva sp., the sp. being an abbreviation of species and indicating an unidentified species of a particular genus. Genera can vary in size from a single species to over a thousand, depending on their distinctive characteristics.
Genera are grouped into larger entities called families. Although families may appear at first to be of only academic interest, knowledge of the family to which an unknown plant belongs can give an indication of the conditions required for successful cultivation.
| Family | Genus | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Acoraceae | Acorus | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Actinidiaceae | Actinidia, Clematoclethra | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Adianthaceae | Adiantum, Cheilanthes, Cryptogramma, Doryopteris, Mildella, Pellaea | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Agavaceae | Agave, Beschorneria, Cordyline, Furcraea, Hesperaloe, Yucca | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Aizoaceae | Aptenia, Carpobrotus, Chasmatophyllum, Delosperma, Lampranthus, Malephora, Mesembryanthemum | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Alismataceae | Alisma, Baldellia, Echinodorus, Luronium, Sagittaria | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Alliaceae | Agapanthus, Allium, Nectaroscordum, Nothoscordum, Triteleia, Tulbaghia | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Aloaceae | Aloe | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Alstroemeriaceae | Alstroemeria | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Amaryllidaceae | Clivia, Crinum, Habranthus, Hymenocallis, Leucojum, Lycoris, Zephyranthes | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Apiaceae | Aciphylla, Aegopodium, Ammi, Anethum, Angelica, Anthriscus, Apium, Astrantia, Athamanta, Azorella, Berula, Bolax, Bunium, Bupleurum, Carum, Centella, Chaerophyllum, Cicuta, Crithmum, Cryptotaenia, Eryngium, Ferula, Foeniculum, Hacquetia, Heracleum, Hydrocotyle, Laserpitium, Levisticum, Ligusticum, Lomatium, Meum, Myrrhis, Oenanthe, Olymposciadium, Osmorhiza, Pastinaca, Petroselinum, Peucedanum, Pimpinella, Sanicula, Saposhnikovia, Selinum, Seseli, Sium, Smyrnium, Zizia | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Apocynaceae | Adenium, Allamanda, Amsonia, Apocynum, Beaumontia, Carissa, Catharanthus, Dipladenia, Elytropus, Mandevilla, Nerium, Pachypodium, Plumeria, Rhazya, Strophanthus, Tabernaemontana, Thevetia, Trachelospermum, Vinca | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Aquifoliaceae | Ilex | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Araceae | Alocasia, Amorphophallus, Arisaema, Arisarum, Arum, Calla, Colocasia, Dracunculus, Lysichiton, Monstera, Orontium, Peltandra, Philodendron, Pinellia, Pistia, Sauromatum, Symplocarpus, Zantedeschia | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Araliaceae | Acanthopanax, Aralia, Brassaia, Cussonia, Dendropanax, Eleutherococcus, Fatshedera, Fatsia, Hedera, Kalopanax, Meryta, Nothopanax, Oplopanax, Panax, Pseudopanax, Schefflera, Tetrapanax | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Araucariaceae | Araucaria | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Arecaceae | Archontophoenix, Arecastrum, Brahea, Butia, Caryota, Chamaerops, Cocos, Copernicia, Erythea, Howea, Juania, Jubaea, Kentia, Livistona, Phoenix, Ptychosperma, Rhapidophyllum, Rhapis, Rhopalostylis, Roystonea, Sabal, Syagrus, Trachycarpus, Trithrinax, Washingtonia | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Aristolochiaceae | Aristolochia, Asarum, Hexastylis, Saruma | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Asclepiadaceae | Araujia, Asclepias, Cionura, Dregea, Gomphocarpus, Hoya, Oxypetalum, Periploca, Stephanotis, Tweedia, Vincetoxicum, Wattakaka | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Asparagaceae | Asparagus | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Asphodelaceae | Asphodeline, Asphodelus, Bulbinella, Eremurus, Kniphofia, Paradisea, Tritoma | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Aspleniaceae | Asplenium, Ceterach, Phyllitis | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Asteraceae | Achillea, Actinella, Adenostyles, Agathea, Ageratina, Agoseris, Ajania, Ajanthemum, Amberboa, Ammobium, Anacyclus, Anaphalis, Andryala, Antennaria, Anthemis, Aposeris, Arctanthemum, Arctotheca, Argyranthemum, Arnica, Arnoglossum, Artemisia, Aster, Asteriscus, Asteromoea, Atractylodes, Baccharis, Balsamorhiza, Bartlettina, Bellis, Bellium, Berardia, Berlandiera, Bidens, Boltonia, Brachycome, Brachyglottis, Brachyscome, Bracteantha, Buphthalmum, Cacalia, Calendula, Calimeris, Calocephalus, Carduncellus, Carlina, Cassinia, Catananche, Celmisia, Centaurea, Chamaemelum, Chartolepis, Chiliotrichum, Chlorophytum, Chrysanthemopsis, Chrysanthemum, Chrysogonum, Chrysopsis, Cicerbita, Cichorium, Cirsium, Cnicus, Coreopsis, Cosmos, Cotula, Craspedia, Cremanthodium, Crepis, Cynara, Dasyphyllum, Dendranthema, Dimorphoteca, Diuranthera, Doronicum, Echinacea, Echinops, Encelia, Erigeron, Eriocephalus, Eriophyllum, Eupatorium, Euryops, Euthamia, Ewartia, Farfugium, Felicia, Gaillardia, Gazania, Grindelia, Gymnasta, Haplocarpha, Haplopappus, Helenium, Helianthella, Helianthus, Helichrysum, Heliopsis, Hertia, Heterotheca, Hieracium, Hippolytia, Homogyne, Hymenoxys, Hypochaeris, Inula, Ixeris, Jurinea, Kalimeris, Kleinia, Krigia, Lactuca, Lasallea, Leibnitzia, Leontodon, Leontopodium, Leptinella, Leucanthemella, Leucanthemopsis, Leucanthemum, Leucogenes, Leucophyta, Leucoraoulia, Leuzea, Liatris, Ligularia, Marshallia, Matricaria, Microderis, Microglossa, Microseris, Mutisia, Nipponanthemum, Olearia, Onopordum, Osteospermum, Othonna, Othonnopsis, Ozothamnus, Packera, Parthenium, Petasites, Pilosella, Plecostachys, Prenanthes, Pseudogynoxys, Raoulia, Ratibida, Rhaponticum, Rhodanthemum, Rudbeckia, Santolina, Saussurea, Senecio, Seriphidium, Serratula, Silphium, Solidago, Solidaster, Sonchus, Stevia, Stokesia, Syneilesis, Tanacetum, Telanthophora, Telekia, Tephroseris, Thelosperma, Townsendia, Tragopogon, Tripleurospermum, Tussilago, Verbesina, Vernonia, Wedelia, Xerochrysum | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Azollaceae | Azolla | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Balsaminaceae | Impatiens | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Begoniaceae | Begonia | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Berberidaceae | Achlys, Berberis, Caulophyllum, Diphylleia, Epimedium, Jeffersonia, Leontice, Mahoberberis, Mahonia, Nandina, Plagiorhegma, Podophyllum, Ranzania, Vancouveria | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Betulaceae | Alnus, Betula | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Bignoniaceae | Anemopaegma, Bignonia, Campsis, Catalpa, Chilopsis, Chitalpa, Clytostoma, Distictis, Doxantha, Eccremocarpus, Incarvillea, Jacaranda, Macfadyena, Pandorea, Phaedranthus, Podranea, Pyrostegia, Tecoma, Tecomaria | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Blechnaceae | Blechnum, Woodwardia | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Boraginaceae | Adelocaryum, Anchusa, Arnebia, Borago, Brunnera, Buglossoides, Cerinthe, Cynoglossum, Echium, Ehretia, Eritrichium, Heliotropium, Lindelofia, Lithodora, Lithospermum, Mertensia, Moltkia, Myosotis, Omphalodes, Onosma, Pentaglottis, Pulmonaria, Symphytum, Trachystemon | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Brassicaceae | Aethionema, Alyssoides, Alyssum, Arabis, Armoracia, Aubrieta, Aurinia, Barbarea, Biscutella, Brassica, Cakile, Cardamine, Cheiranthus, Cochlearia, Crambe, Degenia, Dentaria, Draba, Erysimum, Eunomia, Fibigia, Hesperis, Hugueninia, Hutchinsia, Iberis, Isatis, Kernera, Lepidium, Lobularia, Lunaria, Matthiola, Morisia, Nasturtium, Pachyphragma, Petrocallis, Ptilotrichum, Rorippa, Schivereckia, Sisymbrium, Thlaspi, Vella | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Butomaceae | Butomus | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Buxaceae | Buxus, Pachysandra, Sarcococca, Simmondsia | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Caesalpiniaceae | Afzelia, Bauhinia, Caesalpinia, Cassia, Ceratonia, Cercis, Gleditsia, Gymnocladus, Parkinsonia, Senna | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Callitrichaceae | Callitriche | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Campanulaceae | Adenophora, Asyneuma, Azorina, Campanla, Campanula, Codonopsis, Cyananthus, Downingia, Edraianthus, Hypsela, Isotoma, Jasione, Laurentia, Lobelia, Physoplexis, Phyteuma, Platycodon, Pratia, Symphyandra, Trachelium, Wahlenbergia | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Cannabaceae | Humulus | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Cannaceae | Canna | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Caryophyllaceae | Agrostemma, Arenaria, Cerastium, Colobanthus, Coronaria, Dianthus, Gypsophila, Herniaria, Lychnis, Melandrium, Minuartia, Moehringia, Paronychia, Petrocoptis, Petrorhagia, Sagina, Saponaria, Scleranthus, Silene, Stellaria, Tunica, Viscaria | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Celastraceae | Catha, Celastrus, Euonymus, Maytenus, Pachistima, Paxistima, Tripterygium | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Cistaceae | Cistus, Fumana, Halimiocistus, Halimium, Helianthemum | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Clusiaceae | Hypericum, Triadenum | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Colchicaceae | Colchicum, Sandersonia | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Commelinaceae | Callisia, Commelina, Setcreasea, Tradescantia | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Convallariaceae | Aspidistra, Clintonia, Convallaria, Disporopsis, Disporum, Liriope, Maianthemum, Ophiopogon, Polygonatum, Reineckea, Rohdea, Smilacina, Streptopus, Tricyrtis, Tupistra, Uvularia | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Convolvulaceae | Calystegia, Convolvulus, Evolvulus, Ipomoea | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Cornaceae | Camptotheca, Cornus, Davidia, Nyssa | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Crassulaceae | Aeonium, Chiastophyllum, Cotyledon, Crassula, Hylotelephium, Jovibarba, Kalanchoe, Orostachys, Prometheum, Rhodiola, Rosularia, Sedum, Sempervivella, Sempervivum, Umbilicus | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Cyperaceae | Baumea, Bolboschoenus, Carex, Cladium, Cyperus, Dichromena, Dulichium, Eleocharis, Eriophorum, Isolepis, Schoenoplectus, Scirpoides, Scirpus, Uncinia | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Dipsacaceae | Cephalaria, Dipsacus, Knautia, Pterocephalus, Scabiosa, Succisa, Succisella | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Dracaenaceae | Beaucarnea, Dasylirion, Dracaena, Nolina | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Dryopteridaceae | Arachniodes, Aspidium, Currania, Cyrtomium, Dryopteris, Polystichum, Struthiopteris | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Epacridaceae | Epacris, Leucopogon | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Equisetaceae | Equisetum | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Ericaceae | Agapetes, Andromeda, Arbutus, Arctostaphylos, Arctous, Azalea, Bruckenthalia, Calluna, Cassiope, Chamaedaphne, Chimaphila, Chiogenes, Daboecia, Elliottia, Enkianthus, Epigaea, Erica, Gaulnettya, Gaultheria, Gaylussacia, Harrimanella, Kalmia, Kalmiopsis, Ledodendron, Ledum, Leiophyllum, Leucothoe, Loiseleuria, Lyonia, Menziesia, Orphanidesia, Oxycoccus, Oxydendrum, Pentapterygium, Pernettya, Phylliopsis, Phyllodoce, Phyllothamnus, Pieris, Rhododendron, Rhodothamnus, Tripetaleia, Tsusiophyllum, Vaccinium, Zenobia | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Euphorbiaceae | Acalypha, Aleurites, Andrachne, Bischofia, Dalechampia, Euphorbia, Mallotus, Mercurialis, Phyllanthus, Ricinus, Sapium, Securinega | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Eupteleaceae | Euptelea | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Fabaceae | Adenocarpus, Amorpha, Anagyris, Anthyllis, Apios, Argyrocytisus, Astragalus, Baptisia, Calophaca, Campylotropis, Caragana, Carmichaelia, Castanospermum, Chamaecytisus, Chordospartium, Cladrastis, Clianthus, Colutea, Coronilla, Cytisophyllum, Cytisus, Dalea, Daubentonia, Desmodium, Dorycnium, Dumasia, Echinospartium, Erinacea, Erythrina, Galega, Genista, Geoffroea, Glycyrrhiza, Goodia, Halimodendron, Hardenbergia, Hedysarum, Hippocrepis, Indigofera, Kennedia, Laburnocytisus, Laburnum, Lathyrus, Lembotropis, Lespedeza, Lotus, Lupinus, Maackia, Medicago, Millettia, Notospartium, Onobrychis, Ononis, Oxytropis, Parochetus, Petalostemon, Petteria, Phaseolus, Piptanthus, Podalyria, Pueraria, Retama, Robinia, Sarothamnus, Securigera, Sesbania, Sophora, Spartium, Spartocytisus, Sutherlandia, Templetonia, Tetragonolobus, Thermopsis, Tipuana, Trifolium, Ulex, Vicia, Vigna, Viminaria, Virgilia, Wisteria | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Gentianaceae | Centaurium, Gentiana, Sabatia, Swertia | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Geraniaceae | Erodium, Geranium, Pelargonium | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Ginkgoaceae | Ginkgo | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Gunneraceae | Gunnera | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Haloragaceae | Haloragis, Myriophyllum | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Hamamelidaceae | Altingia, Corylopsis, Disanthus, Distylium, Fortunearia, Fothergilla, Hamamelis, Liquidambar, Loropetalum, Parrotia, Parrotiopsis, Sinowilsonia, Sycoparrotia, Sycopsis | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Hemerocallidaceae | Hemerocallis | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Hostaceae | Hosta | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Hyacinthaceae | Albuca, Bellevalia, Camassia, Chionodoxa, Eucomis, Galtonia, Muscari, Ornithogalum, Puschkinia, Scilla | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Hydrocharitaceae | Egeria, Elodea, Hydrocharis, Lagarosiphon, Stratiotes, Vallisneria | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Iridaceae | Belamcanda, Crocosmia, Dierama, Diplarrhena, Gladiolus, Hesperantha, Iris, Libertia, Montbretia, Pardancanda, Pardanthopsis, Schizostylis, Sisyrinchium | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Juncaceae | Juncus, Luzula | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Lamiaceae | Acinos, Agastache, Ajuga, Ballota, Betonica, Blephilia, Calamintha, Cedronella, Chelonopsis, Clinopodium, Collinsonia, Colquhounia, Conradina, Cunila, Dracephalum, Dracocephalum, Elsholtzia, Galeobdolon, Glechoma, Horminum, Hyssopus, Keiskea, Lamiastrum, Lamium, Lavandula, Leonotis, Leonurus, Lycopus, Majorana, Marrubium, Meehania, Melissa, Melittis, Mentha, Micromeria, Monarda, Monardella, Nepeta, Ocimum, Origanum, Perovskia, Phlomis, Physostegia, Plectranthus, Preslia, Prostanthera, Prunella, Pycnanthemum, Rosmarinus, Salvia, Satureja, Schizonepeta, Scutellaria, Stachys, Teucrium, Thymus, Westringia | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Lauraceae | Cinnamomum, Laurus, Lindera, Neolitsea, Persea, Phoebe, Sassafras, Umbellularia | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Liliaceae | Cardiocrinum, Erythronium, Fritillaria, Lilium, Lloydia, Nomocharis | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Linaceae | Linum | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Lythraceae | Cuphea, Decodon, Heimia, Lagerstroemia, Lythrum, Punica | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Magnoliaceae | Liriodendron, Magnolia, Manglietia, Michelia | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Malvaceae | Abutilon, Alcea, Althaea, Alyogyne, Anisodontea, Callirhoe, Hibiscus, Hoheria, Iliamna, Kitaibela, Kosteletzkya, Lagunaria, Lavatera, Malva, Malvastrum, Malvaviscus, Napaea, Pavonia, Phymosia, Plagianthus, Sida, Sidalcea, Sphaeralcea | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Melanthiaceae | Heloniopsis, Melanthium, Tofieldia, Veratrum, Xerophyllum, Zigadenus | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Menyanthaceae | Menyanthes, Nymphoides, Villarsia | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Mimosaceae | Acacia, Albizia, Calliandra, Desmanthus, Inga, Leucaena, Paraserianthes, Prosopis, Schrankia | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Moraceae | Broussonetia, Cudrania, Ficus, Maclura, Morus | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Musaceae | Ensete, Musa | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Myrsinaceae | Ardisia, Myrsine | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Myrtaceae | Acca, Agonis, Amomyrtus, Angophora, Baeckea, Blepharocalyx, Callistemon, Chamelaucium, Eucalyptus, Eugenia, Feijoa, Kunzea, Leptospermum, Lophomyrtus, Lophostemon, Luma, Melaleuca, Metrosideros, Myrtus, Psidium, Syncarpia, Syzygium, Tristania, Tristaniopsis, Ugni | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Nyctaginaceae | Bougainvillea, Mirabilis | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Nymphaeaceae | Nuphar, Nymphaea | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Onagraceae | Calylophus, Chamaenerion, Chamerion, Circaea, Epilobium, Fuchsia, Gaura, Jussiaea, Ludwigia, Oenothera, Zauschneria | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Orchidaceae | Amitostigma, Bletia, Bletilla, Calanthe, Calopogon, Cremastra, Cymbidium, Cypripedium, Dactylorhiza, Epipactis, Goodyera, Habenaria, Ophrys, Orchis, Pecteilis, Pleione, Spiranthes | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Osmundaceae | Osmunda | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Oxalidaceae | Oxalis | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Paeoniaceae | Paeonia | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Papaveraceae | Adlumia, Bocconia, Chelidonium, Corydalis, Dendromecon, Dicentra, Dicranostigma, Eomecon, Glaucium, Hylomecon, Macleaya, Meconopsis, Papaver, Romneya, Sanguinaria, Stylophorum | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Phytolaccaceae | Ercilla, Phytolacca | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Piperaceae | Piper | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Plantaginaceae | Littorella, Plantago | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Plumbaginaceae | Acantholimon, Armeria, Ceratostigma, Goniolimon, Limoniastrum, Limonium, Plumbago, Statice | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Poaceae | Achnatherum, Agropyron, Agrostis, Alopecurus, Ammophila, Ampelodesmos, Andropogon, Anthoxanthum, Arrhenatherum, Arundinaria, Arundo, Asperella, Avena, Avenella, Avenula, Bambusa, Bashania, Bonia, Bouteloua, Brachypodium, Brachystachyum, Briza, Bromus, Buchloe, Calamagrostis, Cenchrus, Chasmanthium, Chimobambusa, Chimonobambusa, Chondrosum, Chrysopogon, Chusquea, Cinna, Cortaderia, Corynephorus, Cymbopogon, Dactylis, Dendrocalamus, Deschampsia, Diarrhena, Drepanostachyum, Eleymus, Elymus, Eragrostis, Erianthus, Fargesia, Festuca, Glyceria, Gynerium, Hakonechloa, Helictotrichon, Hibanobambusa, Hierochloe, Himalayacalamus, Holcus, Hordeum, Hygroryza, Hyparrhenia, Hystrix, Imperata, Indocalamus, Koeleria, Leersia, Leymus, Lygeum, Melica, Melinus, Milium, Miscanthus, Molinia, Muhlenbergia, Oryzopsis, Panicum, Pennisetum, Phalaris, Phragmites, Phyllostachys, Pleioblastus, Poa, Pseudosasa, Qiongzhuea, Rhynchelytrum, Saccharum, Sasa, Sasaella, Schizachyrium, Semiarundinaria, Sesleria, Shibataea, Sinarundinaria, Sinobambusa, Sitanon, Sorghastrum, Spartina, Sphenopholis, Spodiopogon, Sporobolus, Stipa, Thamnocalamus, Themeda, Tridens, Tripsacum, Uniola, Yushania, Zizania, Zoysia | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Polemoniaceae | Cantua, Ipomopsis, Phlox, Polemonium | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Polygalaceae | Polygala | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Polygonaceae | Aconogonon, Antigonon, Eriogonum, Fallopia, Homalocladium, Muehlenbeckia, Oxyria, Persicaria, Polygonum, Reynoutria, Rheum, Rumex, Tovara | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Polypodiaceae | Lepisorus, Polypodium, Pyrrosia | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Pontederiaceae | Eichhornia, Pontederia | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Portulacaceae | Calandrinia, Claytonia, Crunocallis, Lewisia, Montia, Neopaxia, Talinum | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Potamogetonaceae | Groenlandia, Potamogeton | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Primulaceae | Anagallis, Androsace, Coris, Cortusa, Cyclamen, Dionysia, Dodecatheon, Douglasia, Hottonia, Lysimachia, Primula, Soldanella, Trientalis, Vitaliana | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Ranunculaceae | Aconitum, Actaea, Adonis, Anemone, Anemonella, Anemonopsis, Aquilegia, Callianthemum, Caltha, Cimicifuga, Clematis, Coptis, Delphinium, Eranthis, Ficaria, Helleborus, Hepatica, Hydrastis, Isopyrum, Pulsatilla, Ranunculus, Semiaquilegia, Thalictrum, Trollius, Xanthorhiza | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Resedaceae | Reseda | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Rosaceae | Acaena, Agrimonia, Alchemilla, Amelanchier, Amelasorbus, Aronia, Aruncus, Cercocarpus, Chaenomeles, Comarum, Cotoneaster, Cowania, Crataegomespilus, Crataegus, Crataemespilus, Cyathodes, Cydonia, Dryas, Duchesnea, Eriobotrya, Eriolobus, Exochorda, Fallugia, Filipendula, Fragaria, Geum, Gillenia, Heteromeles, Holodiscus, Kerria, Leucopogon, Luetkea, Lyonothamnus, Maddenia, Malosorbus, Malus, Margyricarpus, Mespilus, Neillia, Neviusia, Oemleria, Osmaronia, Osteomeles, Petrophytum, Photinia, Physocarpus, Polylepis, Porteranthus, Potentilla, Poterium, Pourthiaea, Prinsepia, Prunus, Pseudocydonia, Purshia, Pyracantha, Pyracomeles, Pyrus, Rhaphiolepis, Rhodotypos, Rosa, Rubus, Sanguisorba, Sarcopoterium, Sibbaldia, Sibbaldiopsis, Sibiraea, Sieversia, Sorbaria, Sorbaronia, Sorbocotoneaster, Sorbus, Spiraea, Stephanandra, Stranvaesia, Stranvinia, Waldsteinia | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Rutaceae | Acradenia, Boenninghausenia, Boronia, Calodendrum, Choisya, Citrofortunella, Citroncirus, Citrus, Coleonema, Correa, Crowea, Dictamnus, Diosma, Eriostemon, Euodia, Fortunella, Murraya, Orixa, Phellodendron, Poncirus, Ptelea, Ruta, Skimmia, Tetradium, Xanthoxylum, Zanthoxylum | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Salicaceae | Populus, Salix | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Saururaceae | Houttuynia, Saururus | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Saxifragaceae | Aceriphyllum, Astilbe, Astilboides, Bergenia, Boykinia, Chrysosplenium, Darmera, Elmera, Francoa, Heuchera, Heucherella, Leptarrhena, Lithophragma, Mitella, Mukdenia, Peltiphyllum, Peltoboykinia, Rodgersia, Saxifraga, Tellima, Tiarella, Tolmiea | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Scrophulariaceae | Alonsoa, Angelonia, Antirrhinum, Asarina, Bacopa, Calceolaria, Castilleja, Celsia, Chaenorhinum, Chelone, Chionohebe, Collinsia, Cymbalaria, Derwentia, Diascia, Digitalis, Erinus, Freylinia, Gratiola, Hebe, Heliohebe, Isoplexis, Lagotis, Leucophyllum, Linaria, Lindernia, Lophospermum, Maurandya, Mazus, Mimulus, Nemesia, Nothochelone, Ourisia, Parahebe, Paulownia, Pedicularis, Penstemon, Phygelius, Pygmaea, Rehmannia, Rhodochiton, Russellia, Scrophularia, Sutera, Synthyris, Verbascum, Veronica, Veronicastrum, Wulfenia | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Simaroubaceae | Ailanthus, Picrasma | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Smilacaceae | Smilax | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Solanaceae | Acnistus, Atropa, Browallia, Brugmansia, Brunfelsia, Calibrachoa, Cestrum, Cyphomandra, Datura, Dunalia, Fabiana, Iochroma, Lycianthes, Lycium, Mandragora, Nierembergia, Physalis, Scopolia, Solandra, Solanum, Streptosolen, Vestia, Withania | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Thelypteridaceae | Parathelypteris, Phegopteris, Thelypteris | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Typhaceae | Sparganium, Typha | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Valerianaceae | Centranthus, Patrinia, Valeriana | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Verbenaceae | Aloysia, Callicarpa, Caryopteris, Clerodendrum, Duranta, Giandularia, Lantana, Lippia, Phyla, Premna, Rhaphithamnus, Verbena, Vitex | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Violaceae | Hymenanthera, Melicytus, Viola | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Vitaceae | Ampelopsis, Cissus, Parthenocissus, Tetrastigma, Vitis | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Woodsiaceae | Athyrium, Cystopteris, Deparia, Gymnocarpium, Matteuccia, Onoclea, Woodsia | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Zamiaceae | Dioon, Encephalartos, Zamia | |
| --------------- | ---------------------------------------- | |
| Zingiberaceae | Amomum, Cautleya, Costus, Curcuma, Hedychium, Roscoea, Zingiber |
Perennial plants are a wonderful addition to any garden. Unlike annuals that live for only one growing season, perennials come back year after year, providing long-lasting beauty and enjoyment. This article will explore some of the most popular perennial plant genera and families, providing valuable information for gardeners of all levels.
What are Perennial Plants?
Perennials are plants that persist for several years, usually with new herbaceous growth from a part that survives from growing season to growing season. They live for more than two years. While their foliage may die back during the winter months, they regrow from their roots in the spring. Trees, shrubs, and many flowering plants fall under this category. Some popular examples of perennials include roses, daylilies, and peonies.
Benefits of Perennials
There are many benefits to including perennials in your garden:
- Cost-effective: Perennials are a good investment since they do not need to be replanted every year.
- Low maintenance: Once established, perennials generally require less care than annuals.
- Soil improvement: Perennial root systems grow and spread, improving soil structure by aerating the soil and creating channels for water. This also helps prevent soil erosion.
- Moisture retention: Perennials help the soil retain moisture by drawing water from lower in the soil profile and creating a cover with their foliage. This reduces the need for frequent watering.
- Pollinator-friendly: Perennials attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, which are essential for a healthy garden.
- Environmental benefits: Perennials help sequester carbon and improve soil health.
Popular Perennial Plant Genera
In botany, the term "genus" refers to a group of closely related plant species that share common characteristics. Understanding plant genera can help gardeners choose plants with similar growing requirements and aesthetic qualities. This section explores some popular perennial plant genera.
Echinacea (Coneflower)
Echinacea, commonly known as coneflower, is a popular perennial known for its medicinal properties and ornamental value. These vibrant flowers are a favorite of pollinators, such as butterflies and bees, and songbirds. Echinacea is also a great cut flower, especially when blossoms are gathered just as the drooping petals unfurl.
|
Characteristic |
Details |
Origin |
|
Hardiness Zones |
3-9 |
North America |
|
Light Requirements |
Full sun (at least 6-8 hours) Can tolerate partial shade. |
|
|
Soil Preferences |
Well-drained soil. Tolerates poor, rocky soil. Avoids wet soil. |
|
|
Water Needs |
Drought-tolerant once established due to its extensive root systems. Water young plants regularly. |
|
|
Maintenance |
Deadhead spent flowers to prolong bloom time. Divide every 3 years. |
|
|
Common Pests and Diseases |
Sweet potato whiteflies, aphids, Japanese beetles, Eriophyid mites. Anthracnose, aster yellows, bacterial leaf spot, powdery mildew, stem rot. |
|
|
Growth Habit |
Upright, clump-forming perennial. 12-24 inches wide at maturity. |
|
|
Preferred Conditions |
Moderately fertile, well-drained soils. Full sun but tolerates partial shade. |
Echinacea is a relatively low-maintenance plant that self-sows and spreads on its own. It is a great choice for busy gardeners or those living in areas with drought conditions.
Hosta (Plantain Lily)
Hostas are known for their attractive foliage and ability to thrive in shade. They come in a wide variety of colors, patterns, and sizes. Hosta flowers emerge in early summer and attract pollinators.
|
Characteristic |
Details |
Origin |
|
Hardiness Zones |
3-9 |
China, Japan, and Korea |
|
Light Requirements |
Partial to full shade. Tolerates morning sun. Variegated varieties need some direct sun. |
|
|
Soil Preferences |
Moist, well-drained soil. Fertile soil amended with compost. |
|
|
Water Needs |
Water regularly, especially during the first year. |
|
|
Maintenance |
Divide every 3-4 years. |
|
|
Common Pests and Diseases |
Deer and rabbits are the main pests. |
|
|
Growth Habit |
Rapid growers that get wider each year. |
|
|
Size |
Largest varieties up to 4 feet tall and 6 feet wide. Miniature varieties a few inches tall and less than a foot wide. |
Hostas are a versatile plant in the garden. They are a low-maintenance solution to many shade garden problems, thriving on the north side of houses with dappled light. In heavy shade areas, such as under evergreens or large deciduous trees, hostas will grow slowly and not as fully.
Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan)
Rudbeckia, also known as black-eyed Susan, is a cheerful daisy-like flower that brightens up any garden. These sunny beauties are ideal for mass plantings or in the background of perennial beds. The showy flowers attract bees, butterflies, and the seeds are loved by birds. Rudbeckia is also an excellent cut flower for arrangements due to its bright color and strong stems.
|
Characteristic |
Details |
Origin |
|
Hardiness Zones |
Varies depending on the variety. |
North America |
|
Light Requirements |
Full sun. Tolerates partial shade. |
|
|
Soil Preferences |
Evenly moist, well-drained soil. Tolerates average soils. |
|
|
Water Needs |
Drought-tolerant once established. |
|
|
Maintenance |
Deadhead to encourage more blooms. |
|
|
Common Pests and Diseases |
Septoria leaf spot, powdery mildew. |
Rudbeckia is particularly well-suited to prairie-style and naturalistic plantings, alongside other plants that peak in late summer and autumn, such as echinacea, persicaria, asters, and ornamental grasses.
Astilbe
Astilbe is a shade-loving perennial with fern-like foliage and colorful plumes of flowers. It is native to China, Japan, Korea, and southeastern Asia. Astilbe adds color, height, and texture that breaks up the monotony of one-dimensional groundcovers and mounded plants in shade gardens.
|
Characteristic |
Details |
Origin |
|
Hardiness Zones |
4-8 |
China, Japan, Korea, and southeastern Asia |
|
Light Requirements |
Partial to full shade. Tolerates full sun in northern zones. |
|
|
Soil Preferences |
Moist, well-drained soil. Rich in organic matter. |
|
|
Water Needs |
Keep soil consistently moist. |
|
|
Maintenance |
Divide every 3-4 years. |
|
|
Common Pests and Diseases |
Generally, disease and pest free. |
|
|
Growth Habit |
Clump-forming perennial with fern-like leaves and tall flower stalks with plume-like flowers. Plants range in size from 1 to 4 feet tall. |
|
|
Flowers |
Brightly colored flowers that last for a few weeks. Maintain some color even after drying on the plant. |
|
|
Staking |
Usually do not need staking due to strong stems. |
Astilbe looks best planted in groups, and some low-growing types make excellent ground covers.
Salvia
Salvia is a diverse genus with many varieties, from culinary herbs to ornamental flowers. It is native to the Mediterranean region. This genus offers options for various garden needs and preferences. Salvia officinalis, for example, is known for its culinary uses. Salvia farinacea is excellent for mass planting while Salvia splendens attracts hummingbirds with its striking red blooms.
|
Characteristic |
Details |
Origin |
|
Hardiness Zones |
Varies depending on the variety. |
Mediterranean region |
|
Light Requirements |
Full sun. Some varieties tolerate partial shade. |
|
|
Soil Preferences |
Well-drained soil. |
|
|
Water Needs |
Drought-tolerant once established. Water thoroughly until the soil is evenly moist after planting. |
|
|
Maintenance |
Deadhead spent flowers. |
|
|
Common Pests and Diseases |
Generally, pest-free due to the pungent odor of their leaves. |
|
|
Growth Habit |
Diverse, from short, low-growing plants to tall, sprawling shrub-like plants. |
|
|
Planting Time |
Spring or fall in most zones. |
|
|
Spacing |
1-3 feet apart depending on the variety. |
Salvias are popular with pollinators, attracting birds, bees, and butterflies. Salvia 'Big Blue' is a vigorous, robust variety that is heat and drought-tolerant, thriving in full sun.
Popular Perennial Plant Families
A plant family is a broader classification than a genus, encompassing a larger group of related plants with shared ancestry and characteristics. Understanding plant families can provide insights into the evolutionary relationships between plants and help gardeners identify plants with similar traits. This section explores some popular perennial plant families.
Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)
The Asteraceae family is one of the largest plant families, with over 20,000 species and about 1,100 genera. It includes many popular garden flowers like daisies, sunflowers, asters, and coneflowers. This family is found worldwide.
|
Characteristic |
Details |
|
Growth Habit |
Mostly herbaceous plants, but also includes shrubs, vines, and trees. |
|
Flowers |
Composite flower heads made up of many tiny florets. |
|
Examples |
Echinacea, Rudbeckia, Helenium, Achillea, asters, blanketflower, chrysanthemums, cornflower, cosmos, coreopsis, dahlias, daisies, marigolds, sunflowers, tansy, yarrow, zinnias. |
|
Benefits |
Many are drought-tolerant and attract pollinators. This family plays a crucial role in supporting pollinators and providing food staples, garden plants, and herbal medicines. |
|
Other Considerations |
Highly competitive and prolific. Species outside their native ranges can become weedy or invasive. |
Lamiaceae (Mint Family)
The Lamiaceae family is known for its aromatic members, including mint, basil, rosemary, and lavender.
|
Characteristic |
Details |
|
Growth Habit |
Herbs or shrubs with square stems. |
|
Leaves |
Paired and simple, often with a strong scent when crushed. |
|
Flowers |
Clustered in whorls at the end of the flowering stalks or in the junctions of leaves and stems. Have both pollen and ovule-bearing parts. Zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical). |
|
Examples |
Salvia, Monarda, Nepeta, Lavandula. |
|
Benefits |
Many are attractive to pollinators and have culinary or medicinal uses. Lamiaceae herbs are frequently named as top plants for pollinator gardens. |
The blossoms of wild oregano (Origanum vulgare), a member of the Lamiaceae family, attract a diverse group of beneficial insects.
Poaceae (Grass Family)
The Poaceae family includes a wide variety of grasses, from lawn grasses to cereal crops like wheat and corn.
|
Characteristic |
Details |
|
Growth Habit |
Huge range of shapes and sizes. |
|
Leaves |
With parallel veins. |
|
Flowers |
Usually wind-pollinated. |
|
Examples |
Miscanthus, Panicum, Pennisetum. |
|
Benefits |
Can be used for ornamental purposes, erosion control, and as a food source. Provides cereal crops, building materials, and ornamental grasses. |
|
Other Considerations |
Always check the invasiveness of exotic grasses before planting them. |
Companion Planting with Perennials
Companion planting involves growing different plants together that benefit each other. This can involve attracting beneficial insects for pest control and pollination, improving soil health, or maximizing the use of space. Some perennial companion planting ideas include:
- Pollinator gardens: Combine hummingbird attractors like Lobelia and Columbine, or plant butterfly-friendly plants like Echinacea and Rudbeckia together.
- Fragrant combinations: Plant Oriental lily and phlox together for a fragrant and colorful display.
- Pest control: Interplant thyme with peppers. The low-growing thyme acts as a ground cover, shading the soil and potentially deterring pests with its scent.
- Drought tolerance and deer resistance: Combine yarrow and lavender.
- Beneficial insect attraction: Plant bee balm and hyssop near vegetable gardens.
When planning companion plantings, consider the specific needs and growth habits of each plant to ensure they complement each other.
Native Perennial Plants
Native plants are those that are indigenous to a particular region. They are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions and provide valuable habitat for wildlife.
- Benefits: Native plants are generally low maintenance, support biodiversity, and require less water. They have evolved to thrive in the local environment and are less susceptible to pests and diseases.
- Choosing native plants: Consider your region's climate and soil type. Consult local nurseries or native plant societies for recommendations. You can also refer to online databases like the New York Flora Atlas for a more detailed look at native plants by region.
Choosing native plants adapted to specific regions is essential for conserving water, reducing the need for pesticides, and supporting local ecosystems.
Perennial plants offer a wide range of benefits for gardeners, from long-lasting beauty to improved soil health. By understanding the characteristics of different genera and families, gardeners can make informed choices to create thriving and diverse gardens. Incorporating companion planting techniques and native plants can further enhance the ecological and aesthetic value of the garden.
Explore the world of perennial plants and experiment with different genera and families in your own garden. For more information, consider visiting websites like the American Hosta Society or your local native plant society.
Taxonomy is the science of classifying organisms. Here is how it applies to perennial plants:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta (flowering plants)
- Pinophyta (conifers)
- Polypodiophyta (ferns) – Note: Ferns technically are not flowering plants, but they are perennials.
- Classes, Orders, and Families: There are many different classes, orders, and families of perennial plants. Some common perennial families include:
- Asteraceae: Sunflower family (e.g., asters, daisies, sunflowers)
- Lamiaceae: Mint family (e.g., lavender, sage, mint)
- Poaceae: Grass family (e.g., many ornamental grasses)
- Rosaceae: Rose family (e.g., roses, strawberries)
Genus and Species
- Genus: A group of closely related species. For example, Rosa is the genus for roses.
- Species: A group of individuals that can interbreed and share common characteristics. For example, Rosa rugosa is the species name for the rugosa rose.
Important Notes:
- The term "perennial" is most often used in horticulture to distinguish plants that come back year after year from annuals (live for one growing season) and biennials (live for two growing seasons).
- Some perennials are "monocarpic," meaning they flower once in their lifetime and then die (e.g., certain agaves).
- Most perennials are "polycarpic," meaning they flower repeatedly over many years.
Here is a breakdown of species, groups, varieties, and cultivars, specifically in the context of perennial plants:
1. Species
- Definition: The basic unit of classification. A species is a group of individual plants that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. They share essential characteristics.
- Example: Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower) is a species of perennial.
- Importance: Knowing the species helps you understand a plant's basic needs, growth habits, and potential for crossbreeding.
2. Groups
- Definition: In horticulture, groups are often used to categorize plants with similar characteristics, even if they are not closely related in a strictly taxonomic way. This is often based on growth habit, flower type, or usage.
- Example:
- "Ornamental Grasses" is a group that includes many different species from the Poaceae family, with diverse genera and species.
- "Hosta Group" includes various Hosta species and cultivars, often classified by leaf size, color, and shape (e.g., 'Giant Hostas', 'Variegated Hostas').
- Importance: Groups help gardeners find plants with desired traits for specific garden designs.
3. Varieties
- Definition: A naturally occurring variation within a species that has distinct and inheritable characteristics. These traits might be flower color, leaf shape, or size.
- Example: Alcea rosea var. nigra is a variety of hollyhock with dark, almost black flowers, as opposed to the typical pink or white.
- Naming: Varieties are indicated by the abbreviation "var." followed by the variety name.
- Importance: Varieties provide natural diversity within a species and can be selected for specific garden uses.
4. Cultivars
- Definition: A plant variety that has been produced through selective breeding or cultivation. Cultivars are often selected for desirable traits like flower color, disease resistance, or compact growth.
- Example: Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote' is a popular cultivar of English lavender known for its deep purple flowers and compact form.
- Naming: Cultivar names are enclosed in single quotes and typically follow the species name (e.g., Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus').
- Importance: Cultivars offer a wide range of options for gardeners, with improved traits compared to the original species.
Key Differences: Variety vs. Cultivar
- Origin: Varieties occur naturally, while cultivars are developed through human intervention.
- Maintenance: Varieties typically maintain their traits through open pollination, while cultivars often require controlled propagation (e.g., cuttings, grafting) to retain their specific characteristics.
Perennial plant genera are groups of closely related perennial plants that share a set of common characteristics. These characteristics can include things like flower structure, leaf shape, and growth habit. A genus is like a family name for plants, and each genus contains one or more species. For example, the genus Echinacea includes several species of coneflower, such as Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower) and Echinacea tennesseensis (Tennessee coneflower).
Perennial plant families are groups of related genera that share even more characteristics. For example, the sunflower family (Asteraceae) includes the genera Echinacea, Aster, and Rudbeckia. All these genera have daisy-like flowers, and most of them are native to North America.
Here are some of the most common perennial plant families:
- Asteraceae (sunflower family): This is the largest family of flowering plants, with over 23,000 species. It includes a wide variety of plants, from daisies and sunflowers to dandelions and ragweed.
- Ranunculaceae (buttercup family): This family includes about 2,500 species, including buttercups, anemones, and columbines.
- Lamiaceae (mint family): This family includes about 7,000 species, including mints, salvias, and lavenders.
- Rosaceae (rose family): This family includes about 4,000 species, including roses, apples, and strawberries.
- Liliaceae (lily family): This family includes about 4,000 species, including lilies, tulips, and daylilies.
Knowing the genus and family of a perennial plant can be helpful for gardeners who want to learn more about its care requirements and potential problems. It can also be helpful for identifying unknown plants.
The characteristics of perennial plant genera and families can vary greatly, but some common features help identify and group them. Here is a breakdown:
Genus:
- Shared characteristics: Plants within a genus share a set of specific morphological (physical) and sometimes physiological (functional) characteristics that distinguish them from other genera. These features can include:
- Flower structure: Number of petals, sepals, stamens, pistils, their arrangement, and fusion patterns.
- Leaf morphology: Shape, size, margin, venation, presence, or absence of stipules.
- Growth habit: Herbaceous, woody, climbing, vining, etc.
- Fruit type: Capsule, berry, achene, nut, etc.
- Breeding system: Self-pollination, cross-pollination, specific pollinators.
Examples:
- Genus Echinacea (coneflowers): All species have daisy-like flowers with spiky central cones, alternate leaves, and fibrous roots.
- Genus Salvia (sages): All species have square stems, opposite leaves, and labiate (lipped) flowers.
Family:
- Shared characteristics: Members of a plant family share more general characteristics compared to a genus. These broader features might include:
- Flower structure: Similar basic floral plan, like number of floral parts or their arrangement.
- Leaf morphology: Shared features like leaf type (simple, compound) or venation patterns.
- Growth habit: Predominant growth form within the family (e.g., mostly herbs, shrubs, trees).
- Chemical compounds: Presence of specific secondary metabolites or unique chemical signatures.
Examples:
- Asteraceae (sunflower family): Daisy-like flowers, alternate leaves, many wind-pollinated species.
- Lamiaceae (mint family): Square stems, opposite leaves, labiate flowers, aromatic oils.
Remember: These are just general guidelines, and exceptions exist within every classification level. Some genera might show more variation than others, and some families might be more diverse in their characteristics. However, understanding these basic principles can help you navigate the fascinating world of plant classification and appreciate the intricate relationships between different species.