semiwoody

Semiwoody is a descriptive term used in botany and horticulture to describe plants whose stems and woodiness lie between herbaceous and fully woody growth forms. These plants exhibit some persistence of lignified tissue from season to season but do not form the durable, fully developed wood typical of true shrubs and trees.

In many species, woody characteristics develop as the plant ages or in response to favorable conditions. In cooler climates or with harsh winters, stems may die back to a herbaceous crown while older wood remains near the base; in milder climates, semiwoody stems can persist and harden, giving the plant a more durable structure than purely herbaceous types.

The term is descriptive rather than taxonomic, and its use varies by region and author. Some botanists consider semiwoody plants to include subshrubs and certain perennials with partially lignified stems, while others reserve the term for perennials that display woody traits only part of the year. Because it is not a formal category, semiwoody can encompass a range of growth habits.

In cultivation, semiwoody perennials are often pruned to maintain vigor and shape and may require winter protection in colder areas. They can belong to diverse plant families and are common in borders and rock gardens where structural interest persists from year to year.

Related concepts include herbaceous perennial, subshrub, and dwarf shrub. As a practical label, semiwoody helps describe growth habit when a plant does not fit neatly into strictly woody or strictly herbaceous categories.