What term describes a plant that continues to grow year after year?

A plant that continues to grow year after year is classified as a perennial. Perennials are characterized by their ability to survive through multiple growing seasons, typically blooming and producing flowers and seeds over several years. This growth cycle allows them to develop extensive root systems and can lead to increased resilience against pests and environmental stresses compared to plants with shorter life cycles.

In contrast, annual plants complete their life cycle within a single year, from germination to seed production, and then die. Biennials, on the other hand, require two years to complete their life cycle, typically growing primarily in the first year and flowering in the second. The term deciduous refers to trees or shrubs that shed their leaves annually, but it doesn't relate to the lifespan or growth pattern of the plant in the same way as the classification of perennials does.