What term describes plants that live for more than two years or growing seasons?

Perennial plants are defined as those that live for more than two years or growing seasons. They can continue to grow and produce flowers or seeds over multiple years, often returning year after year without needing to be replanted. This allows them to thrive in various environments, as their root systems become well established over time.

In contrast, annual plants complete their life cycle in a single growing season, from germination to flowering and then returning to the soil as seeds. Biennials take two years to complete their lifecycle, typically growing foliage in the first year and flowering and producing seeds in the second year. The term deciduous refers to plants that shed their leaves annually, but this does not relate to the duration of their life cycle. Thus, the most accurate choice for plants living over multiple years is perennial.