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A plant that completes its life cycle over the course of two growing seasons. The life cycle begins with germination in the spring or summer of the first season, during which stem and leaf growth occurs. The plants then overwinters, flowering in the spring or early summer of the ...

the drive and while I have been away it has burst into flower. Cow parsley (or Anthriscus sylvestris to give it its posh Latin name) is a pretty biennial* native plant that scatters itself along roadsides and hedgerows.I learned from reading a fine blog

Rust fungus is the curse of hollyhocks. The undersides of the leaves are often peppered with bright yellow or orange-red rust spots with corresponding beige-yellow splodges on the upper surface. Eventually, it affects the whole plant, with leaves starting to fall away from the ba...

The mullein moth, Cucullia verbasci, lays its eggs on verbascum, buddleia and figwort at the end of spring. Shortly after, from late spring to midsummer, the caterpillars demolish the foliage. Bad infestations can actually strip a plant. They then hide in the soil to pupate.Cater...

Learn how to ensure a colourful spring border display using wallflowers, in Chris Beardshaw's video guide, with advice on soil conditions and how to avoid fungal infections.autumnFurther inspiration for autumn colourGrowing late-flowering clematisPot up an autumn planter with ast...

Learn how to prick out seedlings with Monty Don's comprehensive video advice.springMore on growing plants from seedHow to grow sweet peas from seedGrowing exotic plants from seedGrowing dahlias from seedSowing seeds indoors

and biennials. Summer bedding plants include hardy and half-hardy annuals, tender perennials and summer-flowering bulbs.

Create your own 'cutting patch' with Sarah Raven's video guide. Learn how, by growing cut-and-come-again annuals and biennials in a separate bed, you can prevent your borders from looking bare. springMore advice on growing flowersGrowing lupins

Flowers are not the only attraction in winter gardens. Biennial honesty (Lunaria annua) is a good example of a plant that keeps delivering after its flowers have passed. Once the petals have fallen, enchanting disc-shaped seed-pods are formed

wonderful biennial, so are naturally short-lived, but lending a hand with their propagation ensures they'll be around to be enjoyed for many years to come.