What Are the Different Types of Herbaceous Plant?

Different herbaceous plant types include annuals, biennials and perennials. Other herbaceous plants are classified as bulbs or ferns, and some are even classified as grasses. As is the case with other woody or non-herbal plant varieties, a herbaceous plant is also generally referred to by at least two different names, one which is known as an official or scientific name and a second one that is a common name.

An annual herbaceous plant is a specific type that only grows in certain weather conditions and dies whenever temperatures drop to produce a light frost or more severe freezing temperatures. A biennial herbaceous plant is one which grows for two consecutive years, but experiences its most productive growth stage in its second year and dies afterward. Perennial herbaceous plants differ from both of the previous types in that these type of plants grow year round and do not die if properly nourished.

Whether annual, biennial or perennial, several herbaceous plant varieties grow like a grass or a fern, while others grow in a bulb-like fashion. Some also flourish as vines. It is not unusual for herbaceous plants to also produce flowers that many find useful as herbal remedies or that may be displayed for decorative purposes.

Regardless of its type, a herbaceous plant usually has two different names by which it is identified. Its scientific name, also known as its official name, is the one most commonly used by botanists, scientists and others who study plant biology or the use of different herbs. This name is generally created from and consists of two parts. A second name, also known as a common name, is the one most often used by people who do not study plants from a solely scientific point of view, but use common names when referring to a specific type of culinary or medicinal herb. Examples of such dual naming include Thymus vulgaris which is most commonly referred to simply as the cooking spice thyme, and Allium tuberosum which is also known simply as garlic chives.

Herbaceous plant varieties are further classified according to the family each plant belongs to. Within a single family, a variety of sub-types commonly exist. For instance, within the Liliaceae family of herbaceous plants more than 55 different types of plants exist including tulips, the day lily and a popular flower known as lily of the valley.