Perennials are the backbone of the flower garden. Unlike annuals, which need to be replaced each year, perennials go dormant over the winter and emerge again in spring. Many perennials will live for decades, among them peonies, daylilies, and hostas. Others live for only a few seasons and must be replaced every few years. Because they need to store up energy to return and bloom again, most perennials have shorter blooming seasons than annuals. Typically, they flower for only three to four weeks, sometimes less and sometimes more, and offer foliage and perhaps seedpods as interest for the rest of the growing season. However, when many perennials are used together in the garden—such as in beds or borders—the progression of different plants in bloom from spring though summer to fall can provide a fascinating array of combinations of colors, textures, and habits.