What is the difference between annuals and perennials?

hardy annual - Sweet pea

The difference between perennials and annuals is one of the questions about plants that can be confusing, especially if you are new to gardening. Here we consider annuals and perennials, highlighting how they differ and clearing up whether some of our most popular garden plants are annuals or perennials. Perennial vs annuals: the key difference …

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How to overwinter dahlia plants and tubers

how to overwinter dahlia plants

One of the great advantages of dahlias is that if you keep deadheading them, they will continue to flower right into the fall/autumn. However, dahlias are only borderline hardy which means that the flowers and foliage will be cut back by the first frosts.  So, at this point in the year you have to decide …

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Geranium Johnson’s Blue

Geranium Johnson's Blue

Geranium × johnsonii ‘Johnson’s Blue’, the Meadow Cranesbill Johnson’s Blue, or more simply Geranium ‘Johnson’s Blue’ is a clump forming hardy geranium with lavender, 5 petalled flowers, approximately 5 com (2 inches) across which held above attractive foliage. The plant hold’s the RHS Award of Garden Merit. The hardy geraniums are great ground cover plants, given their spreading …

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Dahlia Wizard of Oz: beautiful pink pompon dahlia

dahlia wizard of Oz

Dahlia Wizard of Oz is a pompon dahlia (read more about the different types of dahlias here), with a beautiful delicate pearly pink colouring. As a pompon, it has a fairly small double flower head (2-3 inches across), in a round, or globular, shape and its petals (technically its ray florets) are tubular or rounded …

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The 10 best Thalictrums to grow in your garden

best Thalictrums to grow in your garden - Black Stockings

In this post we cover some of the best Thalictrums to grow in your garden, as well as running through the key points you need to know in order to help your Thalictrums thrive. Commonly known as the Meadow Rue, Thalictrums are herbaceous perennial plants and typically have fine blue-green or green foliage of various …

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