Technically, a perennial is any plant that normally lives 3 or more years. Most gardeners, and we at Floridata, think of perennials as herbaceous (as opposed to woody) plants that may or may not die back to the ground in winter. Perennials are often mixed in beds and borders to achieve a more natural look than a formal flowerbed of annuals. Many, especially those that don't die back in winter, are grown in containers.
