Perennials vs Annuals: How to Choose the Best Plants for Your Massachusetts Garden

When you imagine your perfect outdoor space, is it alive with bursts of vibrant color in the summer or brimming with lush greenery that evolves year after year? Whether you dream of hosting lively barbecues surrounded by blooming flowers or relaxing with a book in a low-maintenance garden oasis, knowing the difference between annual and perennial plants is key to crafting a space that fits your lifestyle. It also plays a huge role in knowing how to choose plants for landscaping and making sure you select the best plants for a garden that fulfills your dreams.

At The Patio Company, we specialize in creating gardens that aren’t just beautiful but functional—tailored to how you want to live, entertain, and unwind. Whether you prefer bold, seasonal splashes of color or an elegant, ever-evolving landscape, understanding the benefits of annual plants vs. perennial plants will help bring your vision to life.

What Are Annual Plants?

Want to wander around the garden in late spring, surrounded by vibrant reds, yellows, and purples from flowers in full bloom? Annual plants are perfect for these bold, seasonal bursts of life. Since they complete their entire life cycle in just one growing season, they’re ideal for adding quick, eye-catching transformations to your outdoor space.

Why Choose Annuals?

Annuals provide endless color and are perfect for high-impact areas where you entertain guests. Picture hanging baskets overflowing with petunias on your patio or marigolds edging a pathway to your firepit. Because they bloom continuously, annuals ensure your garden looks its best for parties, outdoor dinners, or simply relaxing with loved ones.

Asking what plants should I plant in my garden? Examples of annuals for Massachusetts:

• Zinnias: Perfect for sunny corners, adding cheerful pops of color.
• Snapdragons: A charming choice for cooler months, great for early garden accents.
• Cosmos: Their delicate, airy blooms create a romantic vibe around outdoor seating areas.

A couple of bonus tips from us? 

1. Consider adding some annuals for different seasons – choose a few that bloom in winter, spring, summer, and fall. Knowing which plants will do this to create an ever-blooming garden is something we specialize in, just look out for our work.
2. Consider yourself a little daring or adventurous? Try a new annual in your garden every year. Switch things up, and keep things interesting, because these plants only last a season you can test out new looks without having to commit for the long haul.

Spring potted annual from our project at the Beauport Hotel in Gloucester.

What Are Perennials?

Perennials are the foundational plants of a garden that form a constant backdrop and grow with you and your family over time. These plants return year after year, maturing and expanding over time to create an established, enduring look. Imagine a cozy outdoor dining area bordered by lush greenery and flowers that evolve through the seasons—perennials are timeless plants that become familiar and well-established. They are what you’ll look back to and reminisce about as the plants that made your garden feel uniquely yours.

Why Choose Perennials?

Any helpful garden plants guide will include perennials on the list. Low-maintenance and cost-effective perennials are ideal for busy homeowners. Although convenience is often the biggest drawcard, these plants also give your outdoor space structure and reliability, creating a beautiful backdrop for gatherings or serene moments of solitude.

Types of plants in gardens around Massachusetts that classify as perennials:

• Beach Plum (Prunus maritima): Perfect for coastal gardens, with fragrant spring blooms and small, edible fruits.
• Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum): Adds height and texture, ideal for creating natural privacy screens around patios.
• Seaside Goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens): A late bloomer, providing bright yellow flowers that keep your garden alive into autumn​​.

An example from our Gloucester project of Beach Grass, a native ornamental grass – perfect for adding some coastal vegetation.

Annual Plants vs Perennial Plants: Which Should You Choose?

Annual plants vs perennial plants. The choice between types of plants for landscaping depends on your vision and how you want to use your outdoor space.

• Choose annuals if you:
  • Host frequent summer gatherings and want a garden that impresses with vibrant, seasonal colors.
  • Enjoy experimenting with fresh, new looks each year.
  • Want quick transformations (perfect if you are hosting an event and need an instant backyard aesthetic lift).
• Choose perennials if you:
  • Prefer a timeless garden that grows and evolves, providing a consistent, low-maintenance backdrop.
  • Value sustainability and want to include native plants like Northern Bayberry or Eastern Red Columbine​.
  • Desire a reliable foundation for an elegant outdoor space designed for relaxation and quiet moments.

Across our work, we’ve found that many Massachusetts homeowners love when we blend both types of plants in their gardens as it offers the best of both worlds—a vibrant summer display from annuals paired with the long-term beauty of perennials. Depending on how much maintenance they want to commit to, we tailor the specific plant choice to suit.

How to Pick Plants for Your Landscaping

At The Patio Company, we believe that every garden should reflect how you want to use your outdoor space. Whether you’re envisioning a lively entertainment space that embraces nature or a peaceful retreat, here’s how we guide you in choosing the best plants for your garden:

1. Start with the Basics:

Assess your property’s sunlight, soil, and drainage. For Massachusetts gardens, native plants like Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) thrive in sandy, well-drained soils, while others like Bayberry can tolerate harsher conditions.

2. Plan for All Seasons:

We design your garden to shine year-round, mixing summer-blooming annuals with spring and fall perennials. For example, we might pair colorful cosmos and marigolds with Switchgrass for seasonal variety.

3. Think About How You’ll Use the Space:

Do you picture guests gathering on your patio, surrounded by flowerbeds, or do you need privacy for a backyard retreat? Taller perennials like Switchgrass can create natural barriers, while vibrant annuals like Snapdragons can highlight seating areas.

4. Layer Plants for Depth:

Our team creates visual interest by layering plants—placing taller perennials at the back, mid-height annuals in the center, and groundcover like Bearberry in the front. This technique works especially well for garden beds that frame patios, pathways, or outdoor kitchens.

5. Prioritize Maintenance Needs:

Our seasonal garden services include spring and fall cleanups, pruning, and mulching​. Whether you choose annuals, perennials, or a mix, we ensure your landscape stays lush and healthy year-round. Find out more about our local garden design and maintenance services and the ways we can show you how to pick plants for landscaping here.

Need to see some inspo for how we can put these steps into action for you?

Below is a garden bed from our Manchester project. As you can see, we’ve used layering as a visual feature with Hydrangeas neatly planted below the retaining wall. We don’t just pick plants for you, we can also build stone retaining walls and hardscaping structures like the one pictured here.

The Impact that Annuals and Perennials Can Make

Take a moment to get whisked away in the thought… Your outdoor kitchen, bordered by a low hedge of Bayberry, provides both privacy and seasonal interest. Nearby, a stone pathway is lined with cheerful zinnias and cosmos, leading guests to a patio where seaside goldenrod and switchgrass sway gently in the breeze. 

It’s a space where color, structure, and tranquillity blend seamlessly—a space designed for you.

With the right types of plants for landscaping included in your backyard design, your garden can reflect your style, provide a welcoming environment for entertaining, and offer a peaceful retreat when needed.

That’s the difference that adding these beautiful types of plants can make to the way you use, interact with, and even feel when being in your garden. 

The Patio Company’s Garden Services

At The Patio Company, we specialize in turning ideas into reality. From helping you choose what plants to plant in your garden to offering comprehensive maintenance services like mulching, pruning, and seasonal cleanups, we’re here to make sure your garden thrives. 

Want to create an outdoor oasis that is a place you look forward to enjoying in all seasons? Understanding what’s possible with the local climate, we can help you pick the right bold annuals, hardy perennials, or a mix of both. Our team ensures your landscape reflects your lifestyle and the beauty of Massachusetts.

Our plant-picking process revolves around understanding you!

Crafting the perfect garden starts with understanding your needs, your space, and your vision. By blending the short-term brilliance of annuals with the lasting charm of perennials, you can create a landscape that evolves with you—one that welcomes guests, soothes your soul and stays beautiful year after year. Working with a team with this understanding empowers you to make the right choices for your garden and be truly satisfied with the end result.

Ready to get started? Contact us today to have our team guide you toward the garden of your dreams with the perfect balance of annual and perennial plants!