perennials

Meanings

1. 1nounpluralbiology

   Plants that live for more than two years, and usually come back and flower again each season.

   Grammar: Plural of the countable noun perennial: plant perennials in autumn.

   Patterns

   • plant perennials
   • perennials such as something

   She filled the border with perennials that bloom every summer.

   Perennials need less replanting than annuals.

   Daylilies and peonies are popular perennials.

2. 2nounpluralfigurative

   Topics, problems or events that keep returning again and again over a long period.

   Grammar: Figurative use, often in the phrase hardy perennials.

   Patterns

   • hardy perennials

   Taxes and traffic are the perennials of local politics.

   Complaints about parking are among the hardy perennials of any council meeting.

Word forms

Common combinations

hardy perennials

Hardy perennials survive cold winters.

plant perennials

We plant perennials in early autumn.

herbaceous perennials

The border is full of herbaceous perennials.

divide perennials

Divide your perennials every few years.

shade-loving perennials

Hostas are shade-loving perennials.

Synonyms and how they differ

evergreens

Evergreens keep their leaves all year, while perennials may die back in winter before regrowing.

staples

Staples is a figurative synonym for things that always recur, such as staples of a menu.

recurring topics

Recurring topics is a plain phrase for the figurative meaning, with less of a gardening image.

Opposites

Word family

perennial noun

a plant that lives for several years

perennial adjective

lasting for a very long time or recurring

perennially adverb

constantly or always

annual noun

a plant that lives one season

Commonly confused: perennials or annuals? perennials or biennials?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “perennials”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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