The Gardener’s Guide to Herbaceous Plants When you walk through a lush garden, you are likely surrounded by . Unlike the sturdy, bark-covered trees or shrubs that define a landscape's structure, herbaceous plants bring the "soft" side of nature to your backyard. What Exactly is an Herbaceous Plant?

To plan a garden effectively, you need to know how long these plants will stick around. Herbaceous plants are categorized by their lifespan:

A hallmark of many herbaceous species, especially in temperate climates, is their : they typically die back to the ground at the end of the growing season. While the green parts disappear in winter, many have underground structures—like bulbs, tubers, or rhizomes—that keep them alive until spring. Life Cycles: Annuals, Biennials, and Perennials