FFA Horticulture CDE General Practice Exam

Which term describes plants that live for more than two years?

1. Annuals

2. Perennials

3. Biennials

4. Succulents

The correct answer is: Perennials

Perennials are defined as plants that live for more than two years. These plants have a lifecycle that allows them to grow and reproduce over multiple seasons. This characteristic differentiates them from annuals, which complete their entire lifecycle in a single year and must be replanted each growing season, and biennials, which take two years to complete their lifecycle but do not persist beyond that. Perennials can be herbaceous, meaning they die back to the ground during winter and regrow in spring, or they can be woody, such as trees and shrubs, which maintain their structure through seasons. This ability to live and thrive over an extended period makes perennials a key component of many gardens and landscapes, contributing both to biodiversity and to the stability of ecosystems. Succulents, while they may also be perennials, are not defined by their lifespan but rather by their ability to store water in their leaves, stems, or roots. Hence, the term perennial most accurately describes plants living beyond two years.