If you garden in Haymarket, Virginia or the surrounding Northern Virginia area, understanding the difference between annuals and perennials is key to growing a beautiful, long-lasting landscape. Virginia’s climate, growing seasons, and soil conditions all play an important role in deciding what to plant, where to plant it, and when.
This complete guide explains annuals and perennials, how to choose between them, where they grow best in Virginia, and includes a month-by-month planting calendar tailored to USDA Zone 7a .
What Are Annuals and Perennials?
What Are Annual Plants?
Annual plants complete their entire life cycle in a single growing season. They grow, flower, produce seeds, and die within one year. Because they focus all their energy into fast growth and flowering, annuals often bloom continuously from spring through fall.
Why gardeners love annuals:
Long-lasting, vibrant color
Great for containers, window boxes, and hanging baskets
Perfect for filling gaps in flower beds
Flexibility to change designs every year
Popular annuals for Virginia gardens include:
What Are Perennial Plants?
Perennials live for multiple years and return each spring from the same root system. While their bloom periods may be shorter than annuals, they provide structure, reliability, and long-term value in the landscape.
Benefits of perennials:
Come back year after year
Lower long-term cost and maintenance
Improve soil health and support pollinators
Provide consistent shape and texture in garden beds
Reliable perennials for Northern Virginia include:
Annuals vs Perennials: Which Should You Choose?
Feature Annuals Perennials Lifespan One growing season Multiple years Bloom Time Long and continuous Seasonal Maintenance Replant yearly Lower once established Cost Over Time Higher long term More economical Best Use Seasonal color, containers Garden structure, pollinators
Choose annuals if you want bold color all season and enjoy refreshing your garden design each year.
Choose perennials if you want dependable plants that return annually and create a long-term landscape foundation.
Most successful Virginia gardens use both , combining perennials for structure and annuals for color.
Best Places to Plant Annuals and Perennials
Sunny Areas (6–8 Hours of Sun)
Annuals: zinnias, marigolds, petunias
Perennials: black-eyed Susan, coneflower, coreopsis, Russian sage
Shaded or Partially Shaded Areas
Annuals: impatiens, begonias
Perennials: hostas, ferns, turtlehead
Containers and Small Spaces
Annuals thrive in pots, hanging baskets, and window boxes because they fill quickly and bloom nonstop.
Pollinator Gardens
Virginia native perennials like bee balm, asters, and mountain mint attract bees and butterflies while improving local ecosystems.
Virginia Gardening Calendar for Annuals and Perennials
US Reveal:
USDA Hardiness Zone: 7a
Average Last Frost: April 15
Average First Frost: October 20
Growing Season: 185–195 days
January
Plan garden layouts, order seeds, and evaluate sun exposure. Start slow-germinating annuals indoors if desired.
February
Start annual seeds indoors such as petunias and snapdragons. Prepare tools and test soil if weather allows.
March
Prepare garden beds with compost. Plant cold-tolerant perennials and hardy annuals like pansies and violas late in the month.
April
Watch for frost. Harden off seedlings. Plant perennials early in the month and hardy annuals after mid-April.
May
Prime planting month. Install warm-season annuals like zinnias and marigolds, and plant perennials such as daylilies and salvia. Mulch beds and establish a watering routine.
June
Deadhead flowers and monitor pests. Plant heat-loving annuals and refresh containers as needed.
July
Focus on maintenance. Water deeply and consistently. Replace any spent annuals with heat-tolerant varieties.
August
Prepare for fall planting. Trim tired perennials. Plant late-summer annuals and begin adding fall-blooming perennials like sedum and asters.
September
Ideal time to plant perennials in Virginia. Add cool-season annuals such as pansies and ornamental kale.
October
Mulch perennials and remove dying annuals. Plant mums and violas early in the month. Prepare beds for winter.
November
Plant spring-blooming bulbs such as tulips and daffodils. Finish garden cleanup and protect beds with mulch.
December
Protect young perennials from freeze-thaw cycles. Review garden successes and plan improvements for next year.
Best Annuals and Perennials for Northern Virginia
Top Annual Choices
Petunias, zinnias, marigolds, vinca, impatiens, cosmos
Top Perennial Choices
Black-eyed Susan, coneflower, daylilies, coreopsis, sedum, asters
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I safely plant annuals outside in Haymarket, VA? April 15 , once the danger of frost has passed.
Is fall better than spring for planting perennials?
Do annuals need more watering than perennials?
Should I mix annuals and perennials in the same bed?
What are the easiest plants for beginners in Virginia?
Gateway Home & Garden Center is conveniently located at the intersection of Route 29 and Vint Hill Road in Warrenton, VA. Our Garden Center was opened in 2005 to serve the people of Gainesville, Nokesville and Warrenton.
The Gateway Home & Garden Center has all of the products you need to complete your outdoor projects, from regular landscaping maintenance, to hardscapes and more complex landscaping needs. You’ll find everything you’re looking for at Gateway Garden Center.
