Annual | A plant that completes its entire life cycle (germination, flowering, seed production, and death) in one growing season.

Biennial | A plant that grows leaves the first year and flowers and sets seed the second year, then dies.

Bulb | An underground storage structure (like tulips or daffodils) that contains all the nutrients needed to grow a new plant.

Cold Hardy | A plant that can tolerate cold temperatures and light frost without damage.

Container Plant | A plant grown in a pot or decorative container instead of directly in the ground.

Deadheading | Removing spent or faded flowers to encourage more blooms and keep plants looking tidy.

Deciduous | A plant or tree that loses its leaves each fall and grows new ones in spring.

Drought Tolerant | A plant that can survive with minimal watering once established.

Evergreen | A plant that keeps its leaves year‑round instead of dropping them seasonally.

Exposure | The amount of sunlight a plant receives each day. Full Sun = 6+ hours of direct sunlight, Partial Sun / Partial Shade = 3–6 hours, Full Shade = less than 3 hours.

Fertilizer | Plant food that provides nutrients to promote healthy growth and flowering.

Foliage | The leaves of a plant, often valued for color, texture, or shape.

Frost Tolerant | Able to withstand light frost without serious damage.

Germination | The process by which a seed sprouts and begins to grow.

Groundcover | Low‑growing plants that spread to cover soil, helping suppress weeds and prevent erosion.

Hardiness Zone | A geographic area defined by average winter temperatures that helps determine which plants will survive in a given region (based on the USDA Hardiness Zone Map).

Heat Tolerant | Able to withstand high summer temperatures without stress or damage.

Hybrid | A plant created by cross‑breeding two different varieties to combine desirable traits such as color, size, or disease resistance.

Indoor Plant | A plant well‑suited for growing inside the home in indirect or filtered light.

Mulch | Material (such as bark, straw, or compost) placed on top of soil to retain moisture, regulate temperature, and reduce weeds.

Perennial | A plant that lives for more than two years and typically returns each spring after winter dormancy.

Pinching Back | Removing the tips of stems to encourage fuller, bushier growth.

Pruning | Cutting back branches or stems to shape the plant, remove dead growth, and encourage healthy new growth.

Root Ball | The mass of roots and soil removed from a pot or the ground when transplanting.

Shade Loving | Plants that prefer low‑light conditions and grow best with limited direct sunlight.

Soil pH | A measure of how acidic or alkaline the soil is, which affects how plants absorb nutrients.

Tender Plant | A plant that is sensitive to cold and must be protected from frost or grown indoors in winter.

Transplant | Moving a plant from one location or container to another.

Watering In | Thoroughly watering a newly planted plant to settle soil around the roots and remove air pockets.

Well‑Drained Soil | Soil that allows excess water to flow away easily, preventing root rot.