Is it possible to tell whether a plant is an annual or a perennial without waiting a year or two,?

Question

or relying on say-so ? When using a technical botanical manual, sometimes characteristics such as whether annual or perennial are noted, but if you are standing by the plant trying to figure it out, obviously one can't do the time test. (Someone once suggested that looking at the base of plant and noting old growth would do it...?)

Answer 1

Yes, if you look at the base of the plant, and see dry dead stalks left over from last year, then you can be pretty sure it's a perennial. The trouble is, it could be a perennial without showing any old growth at all.

Answer 2

Annuals are plants that begin as seeds, grow, and die within one year or one growing season. Some examples are corn, beans, marigolds and zinnias.

Perennials live more than two years before their life cycle is complete. At the end of each growing season, a part of the plant will remain alive in a bulb or in the roots. The leaves and stems will die on some plants, on other plants even the stems will remain. Some examples are tulips, daisies, lilies and trees.

Oh and lets not forget biennials (just in case your not aware of them many people aren't)
Biennials are plants that complete these life cycle in two years or two growing seasons. The first year, these plants will have roots, stems and leaves. The second year, they will grow flowers and form fruit and seeds. The plant will die after the second year.

Answer 3

Web search the plant of choice. There will be a wealth of choices for information. I Just tried petunia and learned it is an annual. Good hunting.

Answer 4

perennial flowers tend to have more leaves than annuals. Annuals also have more color. perennials seem to have jagged edges on their leaves too. main point annuals are the prettier ones.