shrub

Also known as bush

AI overview

A shrub is a woody plant that is smaller than a tree, with multiple stems growing from the base rather than a single trunk. Shrubs matter because they serve important ecological functions, provide food and shelter for wildlife, and are commonly used in landscaping and gardens for their flowers and foliage.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Wikidata facts

Image: Broom bush - geograph.org.uk - 1892798.jpg

Show 3 more facts

Commons category: Shrubs
Commons gallery: Shrubs
OpenStreetMap tag: natural=shrub

Sources (2)

via Wikidata · CC0

~12 min read

Article

6 sections

Contents

Definition
Evolution and adaptive value of growth form
Use in gardens and parks
Botanical structure
List
References

A shrub or bush is a small to medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees by their multiple stems and shorter height, less than tall, the cutoff point varying within this range for any one species due to suitability of growing conditions in any one environment. Some tree species never achieve their mature height because of hostile, less than ideal growing conditions in certain areas, and can resemble shrub-sized plants. Small shrubs, less than tall are sometimes termed as subshrubs. Some shrub species only last about five years in good conditions, while others, usually larger and more woody, live beyond 70 years; on average, shrub species die after about eight years.