Difference Between Annual Plants

Types

• Annual plants fall into two main categories: warm season or summer, and cool season or winter, according to Oregon State University. Warm-season annuals start their life cycles in the spring and end in the summer. Cool-season annuals begin in the fall and finish in winter.

Varieties

• There are three varieties of annuals: hardy, half-hardy and tender. Hardy annuals survive in cold temperatures and have the ability to tolerate light freezes. Half-hardy annuals withstand cooler temperatures of winter with ease, but frost damages the plants. Tender annuals prefer warmer to tropical climates and are easily damaged by winter weather and frosts.

Uses

• Annual plants come in a wide assortment of sizes, colors and forms. Short annuals consist of ground covers and boarder plants. Taller annuals are background or vine plants. Gardeners use annual plants for a boost of color in the garden between perennials. Annuals are an inexpensive way to experiment with different plants.