Doorgroeide

Doorgroeide is a term used in Dutch horticulture to describe plants that persist and continue to grow over multiple seasons, in contrast with annuals that complete their life cycle in one year. The concept emphasizes plants that can survive from year to year and increase in size or spread in the garden.

Most doorgroeide plants are herbaceous perennials, often with crowns, rhizomes, or tubers that store energy for regrowth after winter or slower peak growth in spring. They may form clumps, spreads by underground roots, or gradually extend their visible above-ground growth. The growth habit can range from compact and slow to vigorous and expansive, depending on species, cultivation, and site conditions.

Cultivation considerations for doorgroeide plants include giving adequate space for future growth, selecting appropriate sun and soil conditions, and performing regular maintenance such as deadheading, pruning, or division to maintain vigor and prevent overcrowding. In many gardens these plants are divided every few years to rejuvenate them and to control spread.

Common examples of doorgroeide plants include many herbaceous perennials such as grasses, daylilies, hostas, coneflowers, and sedums, as well as other species that reliably regrow from crowns or roots. These plants contribute structure and continuity to a garden year after year, often supplying texture, color, and seasonal interest through successive seasons.

See also: perennials, biennials, annuals, garden cultivation.