Which type of plant survives for more than one growing season?

The correct answer is perennial. Perennials are plants that live for more than two years, growing and blooming over multiple growing seasons. This characteristic allows them to establish extensive root systems and often results in greater resilience to environmental stresses compared to other plant types. Perennials can be herbaceous, dying back to the ground each winter and re-emerging in the spring, or woody, remaining above ground year-round.

Annuals, in contrast, complete their life cycle in one year, germinating, growing, flowering, and dying all within a single growing season. Biennials take two years to complete their life cycle: they grow leaves and roots in the first year and then flower, set seed, and die in the second year. Deciduous refers to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally and does not denote a specific lifespan, as many deciduous plants can live for many years.

Understanding the differences in plant lifespans is vital in gardening and landscaping, as it helps determine which plants will thrive in specific conditions and contribute to the long-term success of garden design.