Which type of plant can remain alive for several growing seasons while continuing to grow and reproduce?

A perennial plant is characterized by its ability to live for multiple growing seasons, during which it can continually grow and reproduce year after year. This type of plant typically establishes a strong root system that allows it to survive through seasonal changes, including droughts or freezing temperatures.

Perennials often have adaptations that enable them to thrive in their environments, allowing them to return each spring after going dormant in the winter. Additionally, many perennial plants can reproduce both sexually through seeds and asexually via root systems or other vegetative means, which contributes to their persistence in the ecosystem.

In contrast, annual plants complete their life cycle—growth, reproduction, and death—within a single growing season. Biennial plants typically have a two-year life cycle, growing in the first year and reproducing in the second, thus not surviving for several seasons. Succulent plants refer more to their physiological adaptations to store water and do not define a plant’s lifespan or reproductive strategy. Hence, perennial plants are uniquely equipped to endure and reproduce across several seasons, making them the correct choice.