Texas FFA Nursery Landscape Practice Exam

A plant that remains vegetative during its first season of growth and flowers in the second season is a(n):

1. Propagule

2. Perennial

3. Biennial

4. Annual

The correct answer is: Biennial

A plant that remains vegetative during its first season of growth and flowers in the second season is classified as a biennial. Biennials have a two-year life cycle. In the first year, these plants typically focus on growing roots, stems, and leaves, accumulating resources for the next phase of their life. In the second year, they use the energy stored from the previous year to flower, produce seeds, and then complete their life cycle, often dying after seed production. This distinct growth pattern sets biennials apart from annuals, which complete their life cycle in one year, and perennials, which live for multiple years and usually flower each season. Propagules refer to structures or parts used for reproduction, not a classification of plants based on their life cycle.