Plant Growth Cycles

The following table defines the terms used to describe plant life cycles, where a "life cycle" goes from seed germination to seed production, followed by the death of the plant. Some related terms are included.

Term	Definition
Annual	Completes life cycle in one season.
Biennial	Two years to complete life cycle. The first year is used to store food, which is used during the second year, when the plant produces flowers and seed. Examples: cabbage, carrot.
Deciduous	Sheds leaves during a certain season, typically autumn.
Ephemeral	Several life cycles occur in one year.
Evergreen	Bears leaves all year round. Examples: laurel, pine.
Perennial	Plant growth continues from year to year. In perennial herbs, the parts above ground die in the autumn, and are replaced the following year by growth from underground structures. Examples: rhubarb, delphinium. In perennial trees and shrubs, the permanent above-ground woody stems are the starting point for the next year's growth.