If you are a serious gardener, you will no doubt be familiar with many botanical names for plants; the plant classification system was designed to ensure that plants were correctly identified by not just their common English name but their binomial (or Latin) name too.
Three common botanical terms that arise frequently in the gardening world are annual, biennial and perennial; these terms are used to describe the life span of a plant. In addition, two other common botanical terms that are frequently used are evergreen and deciduous; these terms distinguish how a plant behaves during a particular season.
Annual Plants in Gardening
Annual plants are perhaps the easiest to define in botanical terms. Simply put, annual plants survive for just one growing season; in the gardening world this usually means spring and summer. A true annual will grow from seed to plant, bloom and die within the space of one season. The seeds produced by the dying plant will start the life cycle of a new plant in the following season but the original plant will not return to life. Examples of annual plants include marigold, peas, wheat and watermelon.
Biennial Plants in Gardening
A biennial plant will normally take two growing seasons to complete its life cycle. During the first season, the plant will produce basic structures, such as roots, leaves and stems; during the second season, the plant will produce flowers, fruit and seeds before it dies. In the period between the first and second growing season (usually in the winter months), the plant will be dormant. Biennial plants usually have a lifespan of two years. Biennial plants include carrots, parsley and sweet William.
Perennial Plants in Gardening
Perennial plants live for more than two years and through several growing seasons. The part of the perennial plant that is above ground usually dies back each year but the part of the plant that is below ground (i.e. the roots) regrows the following season to produce leaves and blooms. Some perennial plants may keep their foliage throughout the winter season too. Examples of perennial plants include begonia, mint, apple, lavender, rosemary and potato.
Evergreen Plants in Gardening
Evergreen is a botanical term used to describe the behavior of a plant, in terms of leaf coverage. A plant that is evergreen will maintain its leaves through all seasons. There are various types of evergreen plants including many species of conifer trees, tropical rain forest plants and the holly tree.
Deciduous Plants in Gardening
Deciduous plants do lose their leaves after the end of the growing season; in the northern hemisphere, this usually occurs in the colder months such as Fall and winter. However, in more tropical climates, deciduous plants usually lose their leaves during the dry season, or when rainfall is sparse. Examples of deciduous plants include elm, larch and forsythia.
Confusion Between Common Botanical Terms in Gardening
Although this article attempts to explain the simple definition of five common botanical terms used in gardening, it is by no means definitive; for example some plants are semi-evergreen or semi-deciduous. In addition, some plants are both annuals and perennials, depending on their growing location. Some plants are also evergreen perennials or deciduous perennials too. Understanding the botanical terminology used in the gardening world is not easy, but the above explanations define a starting point for further study in botany in relation to gardening.
References:
- North Dakota State University website, Plant Classification, accessed September 14, 2011
- Capon, Brian, Botany for Gardeners, 3rd Edition, 2010, US: Timber Press
Sharon Falsetto - Sharon Falsetto is a business owner, certified clinical aromatherapist & professional writer with a life-long interest in plants.
