pérenne

Pérenne is a French adjective meaning lasting for a long time, enduring, or recurring over several years. It is used to describe things that persist beyond short-term cycles, including processes designed for long-term continuity. In ecological, agricultural, and economic contexts, pérenne conveys durability and sustainability.

In botany and horticulture, plante pérenne or vivace denotes a plant that lives for more than two years, continuing to grow and flower across seasons. This is in contrast to annuals, which complete their life cycle in a single year, and biennials, which take two years. Perennial plants may be herbaceous or woody; common examples include lavender, peony, hosta, olive trees, and many grasses. The term pérenne is often translated as perennial in English.

The etymology traces to Latin perennis, from per- “through” or “throughout” + annus “year,” originally meaning lasting year after year. In French, pérenne has broad figurative use beyond botany, applied to institutions, practices, or investments intended to endure over the long term.

Pérennité is the related noun that denotes the quality of being pérenne—long-term durability or sustainability. The verb pérenniser means to make something last or secure its continuation, as in sustaining a program, an activity, or a resource.