Flowering of Perennials
Answered by: Inge Poot
Question from: Ken Bell
Posted on: December 20, 1999

While searching your catalogue online, I understand "Bearberry" plant and "Bloodroot" plants can be ordered in January and that they are perennials. Will these two plants produce flowers this coming summer or would I have to wait another year?

Under ordinary circumstances, most herbaceous perennials (plants that die down to their roots in winter) will not flower until at the second year from seed. If the seeds are started very early in the year, the plants will often bloom the first year from seed. Some plants, such as the shrubby bearberry or plants with underground storage organs such as the bloodroot take more than a year to reach maturity and bloom.

With your two plants you may have to be patient for another year or two before you see bloom. With the bloodroot, be sure to check the plants for bloom as soon as the snow leaves, because by the time most people consider it warm enough to be outside the flowers will be gone!

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