What is a common characteristic of herbaceous plants?

Herbaceous plants are defined by their soft, green stems that are typically pliable, as opposed to the rigid, woody stems found in woody plants. This characteristic allows herbaceous plants to be more flexible and often leads to a quicker growth cycle, which is particularly important for many species that bloom annually. Their stems usually die back to the ground in the winter or during unfavorable growing conditions, and then they emerge again in the spring. This distinguishes them from woody plants that maintain their stems year-round.

The other options do not accurately describe herbaceous plants. For instance, not all herbaceous plants are annuals, as many can be perennials or biennials, which negates the idea that they are always one specific life cycle type. Similarly, the presence of woody stems is characteristic of shrubs and trees, which are not classified as herbaceous. Therefore, the soft stems defining herbaceous plants are a key trait that distinguishes them in the plant kingdom.