what are shrubs

A shrub is a type of woody plant that has several perennial stems that may be erect or may lie close to the ground. Shrubs are distinguished from trees by their height and multiple stems, and they usually have a height less than 10 feet and stems no more than about three inches in diameter. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen, and they can be grown as shade shrubs. They are often used in gardens and parks, and an area largely dedicated to shrubs is called a shrubbery, shrub border, or shrub garden. Some shrubs are considered small trees, but they are still defined as shrubs. The terms "shrub" and "bush" are often used interchangeably, but a bush describes the way a shrub or other plant grows.