Old faithfuls; A perennial-flower primer for the beginning gardener.(HOME & GARDEN)

Peonies, which can live 100 years or more, are perennials. But so are delphiniums, which in my garden last only two or three years before pooping out.

That's why I divide perennials into two groups: the gorgeous but unreliable, like those wimpy delphiniums, and what I call with emphasis perennials, the plants that stand tall during drought and cold and flood, year after year.

For rookie gardeners, starting with the tried-and-true can help avoid disappointment. The toughest perennials flower and thrive even in less-than-desirable places.

Perennials differ from annuals in that they come back year after year - if you're lucky. Planted as seedlings or divisions of older plants, they don't reach their peak for two or more years.

That's Beginners Lesson #1: Perennial gardening takes patience.

Beginners Lesson #2: Preparation pays off.

Do a little research before you buy. Talk to other gardeners or get a perennial guide from a library or bookstore. The photos will help you decide which plants you …

Old faithfuls; A perennial-flower primer for the beginning gardener.(HOME & GARDEN)

Peonies, which can live 100 years or more, are perennials. But so are delphiniums, which in my garden last only two or three years before pooping out.

That's why I divide perennials into two groups: the gorgeous but unreliable, like those wimpy delphiniums, and what I call with emphasis perennials, the plants that stand tall during drought and cold and flood, year after year.

For rookie gardeners, starting with the tried-and-true can help avoid disappointment. The toughest perennials flower and thrive even in less-than-desirable places.

Perennials differ from annuals in that they come back year after year - if you're lucky. Planted as seedlings or divisions of older plants, they don't reach their peak for two or more years.

That's Beginners Lesson #1: Perennial gardening takes patience.

Beginners Lesson #2: Preparation pays off.

Do a little research before you buy. Talk to other gardeners or get a perennial guide from a library or bookstore. The photos will help you decide which plants you …