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This is a bit of geeky, but really important, gardening terminology describing the lifespan of a plant – and thus determining how often you’ll need to plant it. An annual plant, as its name suggests, grows from seed, flowers, sets seed and dies all in one year. A perennial grows, flowers and sets seed year after year without dying. (‘Biennials’ such as mullein, meanwhile, have a lifespan of two years. Growing from seed one year, then flowering, setting seed and dying the next.)

In general, perennials can be a little less work, as you do not have to sow them from seed each year. Instead, they keep growing year after year. Having said that, there are many annuals, such as sunflowers or borage, which happily sow their own seeds around your garden. This may create a lovely naturalistic effect or end up being a nightmare when they pop up everywhere! A little judicious weeding is neededwhere space is at a premium, but you can always pot up the seedlings and share them with friends. Perennials, meanwhile, form larger clumps each year, which can be divided and moved in autumn or winter to increase plant numbers.