What is it called when a plant lives more than 2 years?

A plant that lives for more than two years is classified as a perennial. Perennials are characterized by their ability to survive through multiple growing seasons, often dying back in the winter and regrowing in the spring. This life cycle allows them to flourish year after year, contributing to the biodiversity of ecosystems.

In contrast, annual plants complete their life cycle within a single growing season, germinating, flowering, and dying all in one year. Biennial plants have a life cycle that spans two growing seasons, typically growing vegetatively in the first year and flowering in the second. Evergreen refers to a type of plant that retains its leaves throughout the year, rather than shedding them in the winter. Thus, the classification of plants into annual, biennial, and perennial categories is crucial for appropriate gardening, farming, and ecological management practices.