What type of plant completes its life cycle within one year?

An annual plant is characterized by its life cycle, which is completed within one year. This means that it germinates from seed, grows, flowers, produces seeds, and then dies all within a single growing season. Examples of annual plants include many common garden favorites, such as marigolds, sunflowers, and tomatoes.

The distinction is important as understanding plant life cycles helps in effective pest management and agricultural practices. Annual plants can often be planted in succession, allowing for multiple harvests in a single year, which is a strategy used in various gardening and farming practices.

In contrast, biennial plants require two growing seasons to complete their life cycle, typically growing foliage in the first year and flowering in the second. Perennial plants live for more than two years and may flower and seed multiple times throughout their lifespan. The term "multiyear plant" is not a standard classification in botany and does not have a specific definition in this context.