Plants that produce foliage in the first year, flowers in the second year, and then die are called which growth category?

• A. Annuals
• B. Biennials
• C. Triennials
• D. Perennials

Answer: (B)

Two-year life cycles define this growth pattern: a plant spends the first year producing foliage and storing energy, then in the second year it flowers and sets seed before dying. This is why these plants are called biennials. An example would be a carrot or parsley plant, which rosette and store energy in year one and then bolt and bloom in year two before dying. This differs from annuals, which complete their life cycle in one year; perennials, which live for many years and can flower repeatedly; and triennials, which take three years to reach flowering.