Life Cycle A plant's life cycle describes how long a plant lives or how long it takes to grow, flower, and set seed. Plants can be either an annual, perennial, or biennial.

Annual A plant that completes its life cycle in one growing season. It will grow, flower, set seed, and die. Examples: marigolds, tomatoes, and petunias. Perennial A plant that lives for 3 or more years. It can grow, flower, and set seed for many years. Underground parts may regrow new stems as in the case of herbaceous plants, or the stems may live for many years like woody plants (trees). Examples: daisies, chrysanthemums, and roses. Biennial A plant that needs two growing seasons to complete its life cycle. It grows vegetatively (produces leaves) one season, goes dormant or rests over the winter, and then grows flowers, sets seed, and dies the second season. Examples: parsley, carrots, and foxglove.