shrubby

Shrubby is an adjective used in botany and horticulture to describe the growth form of plants that resemble shrubs. In practical terms, a shrubby plant has a woody, multi-stemmed habit with dense, bushy growth, typically shorter than a tree. The term focuses on form rather than size alone and can apply to evergreen or deciduous species. It is commonly used to distinguish shrubs from single-stemmed trees, herbaceous perennials, or groundcovers.

In morphology, a shrubby habit usually features multiple stems arising from near the base, with branching that contributes to a compact, rounded, or irregular silhouette. Some plants may be classified as shrubby even when they reach considerable height, provided their growth remains multi-stemmed and bushy rather than featuring a single dominant trunk.

In horticulture and landscape design, shrubby plants are valued for dense foliage, privacy screening, and low maintenance forms. They are frequently used in hedges, mass plantings, or naturalistic settings and are commonly pruned to maintain a desired shape or size. Pruning techniques vary by species and desired effect, from formal to lax, naturalistic styles.

Ecologically, shrubby vegetation occurs worldwide and is a characteristic component of many habitats, including chaparral, scrublands, heathlands, and Mediterranean-type ecosystems. Shrubby species encompass a wide range of genera and growth patterns, reflecting broad adaptation to climate, soil, and disturbance regimes.

The word shrubby derives from shrub plus -y, reflecting its meaning as resembling or characteristic of a shrub. It is informal and primarily used in descriptive contexts.