Here are some common gardening terms you may run across as you explore garden centers and plan your garden. Understanding what each term means will help you to pick the best plants for your goals. For example, gardeners will often use annuals in container designs or in hanging baskets due to their short life cycle. With good care, perennials will come back every year, and so should be accounted for in the overall design of your garden. Learn designations describing plant behaviors, forms, and more below.

Plant life cycles

Plants are categorized by their expected life cycle. Some plants grow and mature from year to year, while others mature during the course of one season and then die off.

Annuals are plants that complete their entire life cycle in one season. In other words, you plant one in the spring, enjoy it all summer, and then it dies. Annuals are popular for their exuberant color and low cost. Think petunias (Petunia spp. and cvs.).
Perennials are plants that come back year after year. A perennial is generally a good buy, even if it is a little more expensive than an annual, because you only have to buy it once—as long as you don’t kill it. Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia spp. and cvs., USDA Hardiness Zones 3–11) are common perennials.
Biennials live for only two years. They grow leaves the first year and add flowers the second year, and so require a bit of advanced planning. After the second season, a biennial usually dies. One great biennial with exciting first-year foliage and second-year flowers is silver sage (Salvia argentea, Zones 5–8).	Salvia argentea, Zones 5–8

Plant behavior types

Native plants. Although you’ll frequently see this term pop up in gardening textbooks, websites, and magazines, there is not a firm consensus on what the definition of “native plant” actually is. Some say it’s a population of plants within a defined geographic area that exists there without being introduced by humans. Others define it as a species of plant within a particular ecosystem that is not a result of an introduction and that historically occurred, or currently occurs, in that ecosystem. Things get a little dicey when it comes to determining what constitutes an “introduction” and what exactly is meant by “historically occurred.” The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas, offers this succinct definition: a plant that occurs naturally in the place where it evolved.
Aggressive plants have the potential to take over a section of your garden and make your life miserable. They may seed all over or send tenacious vines in every direction, making them more of a weed than an ornamental plant. Golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’, Zones 4–8) is often considered to be one of those plant thugs.
Invasive plants are plants gone wild. They escape the garden and threaten the habitats of native plants. A plant may be an invasive species in one area of the country and benign in another. English ivy (Hedera helix and cvs., Zones 5–11) is a good example; it is a terror in the northwestern United States but is well behaved in other parts of the country.

Plant forms

The terms below can help you plan your garden’s structure. Some plants, such as trees and shrubs, keep their “framework” throughout the season. Some of these plants can help to provide winter interest by lending beautiful bark and elegant forms to the garden during the cold season. Herbaceous plants die at the end of the growing season and will either grow back in spring (perennial) or will need to be regrown from seed or repurchased and planted (annual).

Woody plants, typically trees or shrubs, form a permanent structural framework that supports their foliage. An oak tree (Quercus spp. and cvs., Zones 4–9) is woody.
Herbaceous plants, generally annuals or perennials, grow from the ground up every spring and die back to the ground in fall or winter. Their structural framework is fleshy and temporary. An impatiens (Impatiens walleriana cvs., annual) is herbaceous.

Leaf markings

Some plants have interesting foliage features, such as variegation. These plants are often prized for adding variety to the garden and breaking up the “sea of green.”

Variegated plants flaunt more than one color on their leaves. A variegated hosta (Hosta spp. and cvs., Zones 3–9), like ‘Pandora’s Box’ (pictured), may have green leaves with white streaks.

Types of trees and shrubs

Also known as “woodies,” trees and shrubs are considered nonherbaceous perennials. Some woodies are evergreen, and go throughout the cool season, whereas deciduous woodies lose their leaves in the fall and winter and then revive in the spring.

Evergreen plants keep their leaves through the winter. A pine tree (Pinus spp. and cvs., Zones 3–10) is a common example. Evergreens make Christmas trees a reality. Not all evergreens have needles, however. Peren­nials and shrubs can be evergreen too. Boxwoood (Buxus spp. and cvs., Zones 4–9)  is a broadleaved evergreen that is popular.
Deciduous plants drop their leaves for the cold season. It’s because trees such as maples (Acer spp. and cvs., Zones 3–9) are deciduous that you have to rake your yard in fall.

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

The New Organic Grower, 3rd Edition: A Master's Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener, 30th Anniversary Edition

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Since its original publication in 1989, The New Organic Grower has been one of the most important farming books available, with pioneer Eliot Coleman leading the charge in the organic movement in the United States. Now fully illustrated and updated, this 30th Anniversary Edition is a must-have for any agricultural library.

Buy at Amazon

ARS Telescoping Long Reach Pruner

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Telescopes from 4 to 7'. Cut and Hold (160) Blades. Drop forged blades for unsurpassed long lasting sharpness. Lightweight, 2.3 lbs., for continued use. Perfectly balanced for easy pruning.

Buy at Amazon

isYoung Birdlook® Smart Bird Feeder with Camera

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Upgraded Dual Granary Bird Feeder. G11 Smart Bird Feeder with Camera – The upgraded dual granary design allows for separate food dispensing, giving birds the freedom to choose while preserving the food’s original taste. With a 2L extra-large capacity, it reduces the need for frequent refills. The drainage design ensures the food stays dry and prevents spoilage from rain. Ideal as a camera bird feeder for birdwatching enthusiasts. 2K HD Camera & Close-Up Bird Watching. Experience clear bird watching with the G11 smart bird feeder. This bird feeder with camera features a 170-degree wide-angle lens and a 1296P HD camera, ensuring vibrant images and videos. With AI-powered recognition, it can identify over 16,000 bird species (subscription required, first month free) and provides extensive birding knowledge. Its unique design helps attract more birds to your backyard. App Alerts & Super Night Vision. The smart bird feeder camera detects motion within 0.5 seconds and sends instant notifications through the "VicoHome" app. With a 2.4G Wi-Fi connection, you can view real-time updates on bird activity right from your app. The video bird feeder also features night vision, ensuring vibrant images and videos even in low light conditions. Ideal for wild bird feeders, this advanced functionality enhances your bird-watching experience day and night.

Buy at Amazon