Perennial Flowers To Plan To Grow This Year

No matter what's happening in the world, Mother Nature is sticking firmly to her schedule, meaning spring is here in full force. With it comes new energy: the drive to organize your kitchen, soak up the backyard sun, and finally focus on cultivating some new plant life in your garden (or garden-to-be if you've just got some soil RN).

Planting a garden might seem like a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be a backbreaking experience (figuratively or literally)—not if you pick a plant that won't ask a lot of you. Rule of green thumb? Opt for one that'll stick around, without demanding too much of your attention. That plant is the perennial.

They "are a broad range of flowers and plants that live for more than two years, including hydrangeas, gardenias and azaleas, to name a few," says Valerie Ghitelman, vice president of product development and design at 1-800-Flowers.com. Unlike annual plants that only survive for one growing season, perennial flowers return season after season meaning more bang for your buck. Best part: Perennials are super easy to care for. "They require less work [compared to annuals], and depending on the plant, replanting is often not necessary," explains Ghitelman. "And they only require water and fertilization once per season."

Now, choosing the right perennial is where you might get stumped. The process involves a ton of factors, Ghitelman notes. You'll have to consider "color preference, plant care, and the environment the plant will thrive in." Not to mention how much sun it can handle, how much water it’ll need, and whether it needs fertilizer. Fortunately, you're not in this alone. Ghitelman's expertise can help you sift through your many options. Ahead, the 20 best perennials to actually get you—like, for real this time—into gardening.