If you like to garden a lot, you probably know a lot about hardy annuals and perennials. But tender perennials are kind of in the middle. They have traits of both annuals and perennials, which can make them hard to identify. Keep reading to find out what a tender perennial is and how to grow these beautiful but finicky plants.
What is a Tender Perennial?
First, let’s break down the term itself. A perennial plant usually lives for three or more years. Each spring, perennials grow back from their roots. Annual plants go through their whole lifecycle in one season: they sprout, grow, flower, and die.
What is a tender perennial? It’s a perennial that doesn’t take well to cold weather. In some places, it can’t handle freezing winters. When it gets cold, the top growth dies back, but the roots live on if they get the right care over the winter.
Tender perennials are not true annuals, since the plant can live for many years. But in climates with cold winters, they function more like annuals since the top growth must be replanted each spring.
Examples of Popular Tender Perennials
Some classic examples of tender perennials include:
- Bulb plants: dahlias, canna lilies, calla lilies, elephant ears
- Tuber plants: begonias and caladiums
- Herbs: rosemary, thyme, basil, cilantro
- Vines: mandevilla, passionflower
- Shrubs: hibiscus, lantana, bougainvillea
These plants all originate in tropical, subtropical, or Mediterranean climates where winters stay warm. When grown as annuals in colder zones, gardeners must replant them each year.
The Benefits of Tender Perennials
While tender perennials require more effort in climates with cold winters, they offer unique advantages:
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Short-lived perennials tend to grow quickly and get full. You’ll get a lush look faster.
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Long bloom seasons – Many tender perennials like mandevilla produce flowers over many months in summer and fall.
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Tropical look – Large leaves, colorful flowers, and dramatic shapes provide exotic, tropical flair.
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Fragrance – Herbs and shrubs like rosemary and lantana add wonderful scents.
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Flexibility – You can redesign displays each year since replanting is required.
Caring for Tender Perennials
Tender perennials need specialized care in areas with cold winters:
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Plant after the last frost when soil and air temperatures have warmed to avoid shock from cold soils.
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Give them a long growing season by starting indoors 2-3 months before your outdoor planting date.
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Provide plenty of sun and rich, well-draining soil. Fertilize regularly.
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Water tropical plants frequently to replicate humid conditions. Mediterranean types need less water.
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In fall, protect plants by covering or moving containers indoors if frost threatens.
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Dig up bulbs, corms, and tubers after foliage dies back and store them in a cool place for winter.
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Take cuttings of non-bulbous plants in late summer to propagate for the next year.
Overwintering Tender Perennials
While foliage dies back, underground structures like bulbs and tubers remain alive over winter. Storing them properly is key:
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Allow foliage to die back completely after the first hard frost.
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Dig up bulbs carefully and allow to dry and cure for 1-2 weeks in a frost-free spot.
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Remove any remaining foliage or stems and brush off caked dirt.
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Discard any bulbs that are diseased or damaged.
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Place bulbs in breathable containers filled with peat, vermiculite, sawdust, or sand.
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Store in a dark, cool (40-60°F), humid spot like a basement or unheated garage.
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Check periodically and remove any bulbs that get moldy or start to rot.
In spring, plant the bulbs outdoors after the danger of frost has passed.
Overwintering Non-Bulbous Plants
For tender perennials without bulbs, overwintering options include:
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Keep as houseplants – Prune back leggy growth and maintain near a sunny window.
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Take cuttings – Propagate new plants from cuttings in summer, discarding the parent plant.
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Cool dormancy – Prune plants like brugmansia and allow roots to go dormant in a cool basement over winter.
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Treat as annuals – Allow frost to kill foliage and start new plants from seed or transplants next year.
Consider each plant’s needs, your climate, and available space when deciding the best approach.
Buying Tender Perennials
You can find tender perennials at most garden centers, nurseries, garden stores, or online retailers. Shop early in spring for the best availability.
Many bulbs and tubers are also available by mail order or at home improvement stores. Smaller or unusual varieties may only be available from specialty growers.
For simplicity, just buy new plants each year rather than overwintering. Shop reputable nurseries that focus on tropical and subtropical plants for the widest selection.
The Takeaway
Don’t be discouraged from growing tender, heat-loving perennials just because of your cold winter climate. With proper planning and care, you can enjoy their lush tropical flair as annual additions to your garden. Be diligent with their specialized needs and overwintering methods to help these delicate beauties thrive each year.
Ferns and Asparagus ferns
Most tender ferns make fine indoor bright light houseplants. It’s best to keep them moist but not soggy, and it’s normal for them to lose a lot of leaves right after being moved. They will generally survive this and re-grow well given time. Asparagus ferns (not edible asparagus) can also make good houseplants, but can handle things a little cooler than some ferns, and prefer it somewhat brighter as well.
Alternately, you can let tender fuchsia go mostly dormant until they loose their leaves, then cut them back to the basic woody structure and store the pots in a cool, frost free area, such as a basement. Water sparingly.
Allow plants to naturally turn yellow in autumn weather, then cut off all the above ground growth. Dig up the tuber, dry it, and store it dry in a cool but frost free place, such as a basement. In late April or so, replant the tubers in fresh soil and regrow for a new season.
For further reading, there is a great article on this subject on the website belonging to Fine Gardening Magazine. It can be found at Overwintering Tender Perennials and Tropicals.
How Do You Winterize Tender Perennials? Overwintering Tender Perennials
FAQ
How do you care for tender perennials?
How to Take Care of Tender Perennials: Keep the soil moist until the plants bloom, and then water and feed them as needed. Tropical plants usually need weekly or biweekly watering in the absence of rain.
What is an example of a tender annual?
Tender annuals are native to tropical regions, are very sensitive to cold soil temperatures, and are easily damaged by frost. Examples of tender annuals: begonia, coleus, impatiens, marigold, nasturtium, nicotiana, and verbena.
What does it mean for a plant to be tender?
A tender plant is one that will not survive the winter unprotected because it’s sensitive to frost. Some plants can handle cold, but not wet weather (like the agaves below), and others don’t like cold winds. Tender plants generally won’t survive the winter without some form of human intervention.