annual plant

Giant senecio, Shira Plateau, Tanzania. The Senecio genus comprises shrubs, trees, herbs, and climbers - including groundsel and ragwort - and can be found throughout the world. The plants pictured grow in the Afro-Alpine zone of the East African mountains, at around 3,660 m/12,000 ft.

Plant that completes its life cycle within one year, during which time it germinates, grows to maturity, bears flowers, produces seed, and then dies.

Examples include the field poppy Papaver rhoeas and golden ragwort Senecio aureus vulgaris. Among garden plants, some that are described as ‘annuals’ are actually perennials, although usually cultivated as annuals because they cannot survive winter frosts. See also ephemeral, biennial.