A woody plant is a perennial plant that produces wood as its structural tissue, giving it a hard stem. Unlike herbaceous plants whose above-ground shoots die back at the end of the growing season, woody plants have shoots (such as trunks or stems) that persist year-round, including through dormant seasons like winter. Wood in these plants is mainly composed of xylem tissue, which transports water and nutrients and provides structural support. Woody plants include trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and vines. They typically have secondary growth, meaning their stems and roots increase in diameter over time due to continued growth in specialized tissues called the vascular cambium and cork cambium. The outer surface of woody plants is covered by bark, which protects the plant. They can be deciduous (losing leaves seasonally) or evergreen (retaining leaves year-round), and they serve various aesthetic, architectural, and environmental functions in landscapes. Woody plants are distinguished by their ability to grow taller and sturdier than herbaceous plants because of their wood structure.
In summary, a woody plant is a plant with a hard, lignified stem that persists above ground through seasons, characterized by secondary growth forming wood and bark. Examples include oaks, pines, shrubs, and woody vines.
