Meaning & use
a perennial
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Meanings
nouncountabletechnical
a plant that lives for more than two years, growing again each season
Grammar: Countable; the opposite in gardening is 'an annual': plant perennials once, annuals every year.
Patterns
- plant a perennial
- a hardy perennial
- grow perennials in a border
These perennials come back bigger every spring.
She filled the border with hardy perennials.
Unlike annuals, perennials do not need replanting each year.
adjectivebefore a nounfigurative
lasting or happening again and again over a long time
Grammar: Used before a noun: a perennial problem, a perennial favorite; it is not usually gradable.
Patterns
- a perennial problem
- a perennial favorite
- a perennial complaint
Traffic is a perennial problem in the city center.
Her book remains a perennial favorite with children.
Funding shortages are a perennial complaint among teachers.
adjectivebefore a nountechnicalbiology
(of a plant) living for several years and flowering each year
Grammar: Used before a noun: perennial plants, a perennial shrub.
Patterns
- a perennial plant
- perennial grasses
- perennial species
Perennial plants survive the winter and regrow.
Some perennial grasses spread quickly.
Word forms
| plural | perennials |
|---|
Common combinations
- a hardy perennial
- Lavender is a hardy perennial in mild areas.
- a perennial favorite
- The film is a perennial favorite at Christmas.
- a perennial problem
- Housing costs are a perennial problem for young families.
- perennial plants
- Perennial plants save gardeners time and money.
- flowering perennial
- This flowering perennial blooms from June to September.
Synonyms and how they differ
- everlasting
- Describes something that never ends; stronger and more literary than 'perennial'.
- recurring
- Describes something that happens repeatedly, but not necessarily for years; it fits the adjective sense only.
- annual
- The opposite in gardening: a plant that completes its life in one year.
Opposites
Word family
- perennially adverb
- In a way that lasts or returns year after year.
Commonly confused: a perennial or annual? a perennial or perineal?
a perennial vs annual
An annual plant lives for one growing season, while a perennial comes back for years.
a perennial vs perineal
Relating to the area of the body between the legs; it sounds similar but is a medical word.
Practice
A gardener says, 'This one is a perennial.' What does she mean?
Choose one answer.
A perennial lives for several years and regrows, so 'comes back year after year' is right. Option 0 describes an annual, and option 3 is not part of the meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a perennial”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.