Are you familiar with the terms herbaceous and woody? They’ve likely been mentioned while reading an article or talking to someone about plants? So, if these words aren’t familiar, you’re probably wondering what they mean. What is the difference between herbaceous and woody plants?
In simple terms, herbaceous and woody describe plants’ stems. The difference is whether they are flexible and green or hard and woody? This main distinction and the following details help explain the difference between the two terms.
Celosia (Herbaceous)
Herbaceous Plants
Dictionary.com says herbaceous plants are “of, pertaining to, or characteristic of an herb; herblike; not woody; and having the texture, color, etc., of an ordinary foliage leaf.”
So, herbaceous plants have flexible green stems with no woody stems above the ground. All annual plants are herbaceous, but only some perennials are. Annual plants die altogether above and below ground. So, planting evergreen trees and shrubs with various textures, colors, and shapes allows for an appealing landscape year-round.
With perennials, the foliage above ground dies back to the ground in winter, and the root balls or bulbs remain underground over winter. When spring returns, the plant should have survived and will then bloom again.
Woody Plants
Woody plants produce a hard woody stem and have buds that survive above the ground during winter. They are mainly perennials, such as trees, shrubs, and vines. Woody plants fall into three main categories that describe the type of leaf on the plant. They are deciduous, semi-evergreen, or evergreen.
Lantana (Woody)