What is one common characteristic of annual plants?

One common characteristic of annual plants is that they die after one growing season. Annual plants complete their life cycle—from germination to flowering, seed production, and ultimately death—within a single growing season, typically within a year. This means that these plants emerge from seeds, grow, flower, and produce seeds all in the timeframe of one season, after which they die. This lifecycle strategy is an adaptation that allows them to take advantage of favorable environmental conditions quickly.

Although annual plants can indeed grow in various climates, this characteristic is not exclusive to them and is shared with other types of plants as well. Perennial plants, on the other hand, live for multiple growing seasons, which is distinct from the nature of annual plants.