Plant Growth Terminology

annual

completes lifecycle in one year or less

biennial

plants that take two years to complete lifecycle

perennial

lives longer than two years

herbaceous

does not have woody tissues

subshrub (suffrutescent)

slightly woody at or near base

shrub (frutescent)

woody plant with two or more branches at or near the base, generally shorter than trees

tree

woody plant with one obvious main trunk

vine

a herbaceous plant that can’t support itself

lianas

woody vines

prostrate

grows flat against the ground

repent

stem lies flat, but the flowers grow higher

decumbent

flat at the base, but the rest of the stem and flowers grow higher

ascending

relatively upright

erect

grows straight up

cespitose

relatively low-growing, many stems coming out of the same root crown