What is the life span of plants? Knowing the answer to that question will help us to better understand them and, incidentally, to choose the species that we really need for our garden, patio or terrace.
However, you have to know that there are thousands of different plants, each with its own characteristics, so your question does not have a single answer,
Roughly, plants can be classified into three groups: annuals, biennials, and perennials.
Annual plants
Annuals (also called "seasonal") are those that live a few months. During that time they germinate, grow, flourish, bear fruit and finally dry out, leaving the next generation ready. Of course, to make the most of your time, their germination rate (percentage of seeds that germinate) is high and their growth rate is fast, so growing them is a perfect excuse for both children and adults to learn more about them. .
Examples:
- Many horticultural plants: tomatoes, melon, watermelon, zucchini, pumpkin, lettuce.
- Flowers: petunia, meadow daisy, snapdragon, pink periwinkle, lattice, aleli.
Biennial plants
They are those that need two growing seasons to complete their life cycle. During the first year, what it does is germinate and grow; and during the second it blooms, bears fruit and dies. Its growth is also fast, but not as fast as that of the annuals.
Examples:
- Horticultural and / or medicinal plants: parsley, cabbage, thistle, mugwort.
- Flowers: foxglove, lunaria, pansy, viborera.
Perennials
They are those that live more than two years. They grow, bloom, and bear fruit for several seasons. They are the preferred ones for gardens, since with them we make sure that our green corner will be able to be enjoyed for many years.
Examples:
- Trees and conifers
- Palms
- Flowers and shrubs such as geraniums, rose bushes, hibiscus
Thus, while there are plants that live for a few months, there are others that can live for a long time, even thousands of years, such as Sequoia or Pinus longaeva.
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