What is the main difference between annuals and perennials?

The distinction between annuals and perennials primarily centers on their life cycles. Annual plants complete their entire life cycle—from germination to flowering and seed production—in one growing season. This means they grow, flower, and die within the span of a single year. In contrast, perennials typically live for more than two years and often return year after year. They may go dormant in colder months but regrow each season.

This fundamental difference impacts gardening and landscape planning. Annuals are often used for immediate blooms and color changes, while perennials provide lasting structure and continuity over years, requiring different care strategies.

In terms of the life span designation presented in the other choices, they emphasize misconceptions, like the incorrect notion that annuals have a longer life span than perennials, or that they require more or less water than perennials, making the chosen answer distinctly accurate and informative.