Types of garden plants
Herbs and woody plants
There are many different categories of plants. For instance, plants are divided into herbaceous and non-herbaceous plants. Herbaceous plants or herbs have leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level.
Non-herbaceous plants or woody plants have a perennial stem that is above ground and covered by a layer of bark. Woody plants are usually trees, shrubs, or lianas.
Trees
Trees are defined by many secondary branches on a single main stem above the ground.
Shrubs
Shrubs are distinguished from trees by their multiple stems and lower height. Many plants can be either shrubs or trees, depending on their growing conditions.
Lianas
Lianas are long-stemmed, usually woody vines that are rooted in the soil and use trees, walls, fences, etc., to climb in order to get access to light.
Annual, biennial and perennial plants
Herbaceous plants may be annual, biennial or perennial.
Annuals
Annual plants usually germinate flowers and die in one year. Annuals will only live longer if they are prevented from setting seed.
Biennials
Biennial plants are flowering plants that take two years to complete a lifecycle. In the first year biennial plants grow leaves, stems and roots. In colder months they are dormant.
Perennials
Perennial plants live for more than two years. The flowering perennials grow and bloom over the spring and summer and die back every autumn and winter. They return in the spring from the root instead of seeding themselves like annual flowers.
The term perennial applies specifically to perennial herbaceous plants. However, woody plants like shrubs and trees are, scientifically speaking, also perennial.
Whether a plant is defined as annual, biennial or perennial varies based on its location or purpose. For instance, if a biennial plant is planted in cold climates, it is likely to be treated as an annual because it will not survive the winter. On the other hand, annuals planted in warm climates may have highly successful seed propagation, thus appearing biennial or perennial. In turn, short-lived perennials may appear biennial.
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