DURATION

Annual - Lives for one growing and then dies. Winter annuals germinate in the fall and winter, flower and seed in the spring and die in the summer.

Biennial - Requires two growing seasons to complete its life cycle. The first year is devoted to vegetative growth; in the second year, it uses the energy stored up in the first year of growth to flowers and set seed. Biennial die after setting seed. Some of our root crops, such as carrots and turnips, are biennials.

Herbaceous perennial - Nonwoody (at least above ground), long-lived plant. The above ground shoot system dies back every year. The below ground parts can be somewhat woody, fleshy bulbs (onions) or other structures

Woody perennial - Trees and Shrubs - The woody shoot system is maintained and growth is added to it every year.

Tree - more than 5 meters high and with one trunk.

Shrub - less than 5 meters, multiple trunks.