A woody plant is a perennial plant that produces wood as its structural tissue, which gives it a hard stem. Unlike herbaceous plants whose above- ground stems die back each year, woody plants have shoots (stems, branches, trunks) that persist year-round and increase in diameter through secondary growth. This growth is mainly due to the development of wood (secondary xylem) and bark formed by lateral meristems such as the vascular cambium and cork cambium. Woody plants include trees, shrubs, vines, and groundcovers. They generally live for many years, sometimes centuries or even millennia. Their woody stems provide structural support that allows them to grow taller and larger than herbaceous plants. The wood tissue is made up primarily of dead lignified cells that function to transport water and provide support. There are three main types of woody plants based on growth habit and leaf type: deciduous (shedding leaves in fall), broadleaf evergreen (retaining leaves year-round), and conifers (mostly evergreen with needle-like leaves). In summary, woody plants are characterized by:
- Hard, woody stems that persist year-round
- Secondary growth increasing stem diameter
- Trees, shrubs, and woody vines
- Typically perennial life span
- Structural wood tissue made of lignified cells for support
This contrasts with herbaceous plants, whose above-ground parts usually die back annually and do not have woody stems.
