When selecting perennials for the home landscape, it's important to consider their size, bloom period, hardiness, and cultural requirements. Another consideration is their longevity. Some perennials are extremely long-lived. For example, it's not uncommon to see 50- to 60-year-old peonies in older neighborhoods in Iowa. In contrast, some perennials tend to be short-lived. These short-lived perennials persist for several years and then decline and fade away.

A list of long-lived and short-lived perennials are provided below. If given proper growing conditions and good care, long-lived perennials often persist for 20 or more years. Short-lived perennials usually disappear within 10 years.