Which type of plants complete their life cycle in two years?

Biennial plants are characterized by their life cycle, which spans two years. In the first year, they typically focus on vegetative growth, developing roots, leaves, and sometimes a rosette structure, but they do not produce flowers or seeds. The second year is when biennials complete their life cycle by flowering, producing seeds, and subsequently dying off.

This contrasts with annual plants, which complete their life cycle in one year, from germination to seed production, and then die. Perennial plants, on the other hand, live for multiple years, often flowering and producing seeds repeatedly throughout their life. Herbaceous denotes a category of plants that have non-woody stems, which can include annuals, biennials, and perennials, but it does not define the life cycle duration. This clarity helps highlight why biennial is the correct type for plants that complete their life cycle over two years.