These plants are winter-hardy in usda hardiness zones 7 to 11 and can be overwintered in colder locations by growing them in containersand moving them inside or by providing additional frost protection. But they have some characteristics similar to annuals. These plants typically begin to flower in their second growing season, but not always. Transform your garden with an array of plants , seeds & flower bulbs. While they may grow back in the spring in warmer regions, they might not bloom with the same vigor as they did in their first year. See full list on gardenerspath. com Annuals are plants that complete their entire lifecyc. The quick answer is that these plants are herbaceous perennials. They are sensitive to frosts and can grow as short-lived perennials in usda plant hardiness zones 7-10. They are categorized into four groups based on their temperature and daylight preferences. In other words, just because they may return year after year, that doesn’t mean you can expect them to behave as perennials such as hostasmight. Many have herbaceous parts above ground that die back during the dormant season and return when the days lengthen and warm up again. A perennial is a plant that returns year after year for more than two years. That said, breeders have developed many varieties that do well right through the summer.