Herbaceous plant

Herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground. Herbaceous plants can be annuals, biennials or perennials.

Characteristics

Herbaceous plants are plants that, by definition, have non-woody stems. Their above-ground growth is ephemeral, lasting one season, and they may have secondary growth. They may be deciduous, losing their leaves at the end of the growing season, or they may be evergreen, retaining their leaves throughout the year.

Types of Herbaceous Plants

Herbaceous plants can be broken down into three types:

• Annuals: These plants complete their life cycle, from germination to the production of seed, within one year, and then die.
• Biennials: These plants require two years to complete their life cycle. They produce leaves during the first year, and flower and produce seeds in their second year, then die.
• Perennials: These plants live for more than two years. They flower and produce seeds over and over again during their lifespan.

Uses of Herbaceous Plants

Herbaceous plants have a variety of uses in the garden and home. They can be used for culinary purposes, in medicines, for decoration, and for landscaping. Some herbaceous plants, such as mint, basil, and rosemary, are used in cooking. Others, like aloe vera, have medicinal uses.

See Also

• Woody plant
• Shrub
• Tree

References

• 
  Trientalis borealis
• 
  Steppe flora, Wild flowers, Rostov-on-Don, Russia