Perennials are characterized by which feature?

• A. They live for more than two years and can blossom year after year without reseeding.
• B. They complete a life cycle within one year.
• C. They require two growing seasons to complete life cycle.
• D. They lose their leaves in the fall.

Answer: (A)

Perennials survive for multiple years, regrowing each season from their established root systems or crowns. This quality allows them to bloom year after year without needing to reseed every season, which is why this option best describes perennials.

In contrast, annuals complete their life cycle in one growing season and die after setting seed, while biennials take two growing seasons to finish their life cycle, typically flowering in their second year. The fact that a plant loses its leaves in fall isn’t what defines a perennial either—many perennials are deciduous, though others are evergreen.