Salvia lyrata, a herbaceous plant
A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die at the end of the growing season to the soil level. A herbaceous plant may be annual, biennial or perennial.
Herbaceous perennial plants have stems that die at the end of the growing season. New growth forms from the roots or from underground stems or from crown tissue at the surface of the ground. Examples include bulbs, Peonies, Hosta and grasses. By contrast, non-herbaceous perennial plants are woody plants which have stems above ground that remain alive during winter and grow shoots the next year from the above ground parts, including trees, shrubs and vines.
See also Herbaceous stems.