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Help for beginner

Can someone explain the difference between perenials and herbaceous perenials for a beginner please?

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  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 26,989

    In practical terms?  no difference.

    Perennial means they live for years, herbaceous means they aren't woody and die back each year



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • I'm no way anywhere near being a gardening expert but I think the difference is that herbaceous plants die off above ground level and go dormant until the following spring........but I could very well be wrong!

  • Ah, thank you.  Do the herbaceous plants come up again next year?

  • Nut beat me to it....now there's an expert.

  • Yes........I think so.

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 26,989

    If they're perennials yes. Perennial is the important word. 

    The ones that only last a year are called annualsimage

    Other significant words are 'tender', that means they won't survive a winter in the UK climate and 'half-hardy' which means they might survive in coastal Cornwall



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Anyone is an expert compared to me...but watch this space. I have 2 large confiers making the ground very shady. I have put black weed membrane and pea shingle under them is there anything that will grown underneath

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 33,745

    Welcome Julie.

    Depending on how shady it is. You could try the common green ivy, Hedera Helix.

    Bit early in the day for the brain to be engaged fully.

    Never be afraid to ask questions, not matter how silly , or trivial you might think them. We all love to help newbies.

    Devon.
  • Thank you Nutcutlet and Flowers in the Rain for answering such a basic question.  I'll understand the labels at the garden centre a bit more now!

  • Thanks Hostafan1, I think I will also try some ferns.

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