What is the primary benefit of using perennial plant species in landscapes?

The primary benefit of using perennial plant species in landscapes is that they come back year after year. This characteristic allows for a stable and consistent display of foliage and blooms over multiple seasons, making them a cost-effective choice in the long run. Perennials often establish deep root systems, which can enhance their resilience and adaptiveness to varying environmental conditions. Over time, they can fill out and create a more robust and mature landscape, providing habitat and food for local wildlife.

While other benefits, such as requiring less maintenance, blooming longer than annuals, and being less susceptible to diseases, can also be true for perennials, the defining feature that makes them particularly valuable to landscape design is their ability to persist and thrive through various seasons without the need for replanting each year. This leads to lower labor and replanting costs, allowing homeowners and landscapers to create lasting gardens with less effort over time.