Annual
A plant that grows from seed, flowers, sets seed and dies within a single growing season.
An annual completes its whole life in one season. Because it has only one chance to make seed, it tends to flower hard and for a long time. That makes annuals the main source of quick colour in gardens and of many seasonal cut flowers. Marigolds, zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers, sweet peas and cornflowers are annuals. Gardeners in cold climates also treat some tender perennials, such as petunias, as annuals, because frost kills them.