Comprehensive Guide to Plant Lifespans: Trees, Flowers, Vegetables & More

Discover the estimated lifespans of 200+ different plants, including trees, flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Learn about how long various plants live and make informed gardening decisions.

Importance of Knowing Plant Lifespans

Knowing the lifespan of different plants helps you select species that fit your garden’s long-term plans. Whether you’re planting trees that will provide shade for decades or annual flowers that add seasonal color, understanding their longevity ensures you make choices that suit your gardening goals and maintenance preferences.

How Plant Lifespans Affect Gardening

Selecting plants with appropriate lifespans can impact garden design, maintenance, and overall success. Long-lived trees and shrubs might become focal points in your landscape, while annuals and perennials might require more frequent updates. Proper planning based on plant lifespans can lead to a more sustainable and attractive garden.

PlantsEstimated Lifespan
Acacia Tree20-30 years
African Violet (Saintpaulia)2-15 years
Agave (Agave spp.)10-30 years
Aloe Vera (Aloe vera)5-25 years
Amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp.)75 years
Anemone (Anemone spp.)2-3 years
Angelica (Angelica archangelica)2 years (biennial)
Apple Tree (Malus domestica)50-100 years
Apricot Tree (Prunus armeniaca)40-150 years
Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus)3-4 years
Ash Tree (Fraxinus spp.)100-150 years
Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)15-20 years
Aspen Tree (Populus tremuloides)50-150 years
Avocado Tree (Persea americana)50-100 years
Azalea (Rhododendron spp.)50-100 years
Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea)150-200 years
Bamboo (Bambusoideae spp.)15-120 years
Banana Plant (Musa spp.)6-25 years
Banyan Tree (Ficus benghalensis)200-300 years
Baobab Tree (Adansonia spp.)1000-3000 years
Basil (Ocimum basilicum)1 year (annual)
Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis)30-50 years
Begonia (Begonia spp.)2-3 years
Birch Tree (Betula spp.)40-50 years
Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)2 years
Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)30-50 years
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)2-5 years
Blue Spruce (Picea pungens)200-300 years
Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)2-5 years
Bottlebrush (Callistemon spp.)50-75 years
Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spp.)30-50 years
Boxwood (Buxus spp.)20-30 years
Bristlecone Pine (Pinus longaeva)1000-5000 years
Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica)1-2 years
Bromeliad (Bromeliaceae spp.)2-5 years
Brussels Sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera)1-2 years
Buttercup (Ranunculus spp.)1-2 years
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)50-75 years
Caladium (Caladium spp.)1 year (annual)
Camellia (Camellia spp.)50-100 years
Canna Lily (Canna spp.)5-10 years
Carob Tree (Ceratonia siliqua)100-200 years
Carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus)1 year (biennial)
Cashew Tree (Anacardium occidentale)30-50 years
Catalpa Tree (Catalpa spp.)50-70 years
Cedar Tree (Cedrus spp.)1000-2000 years
Celery (Apium graveolens)2 years (biennial)
Cherry Blossom (Prunus serrulata)30-40 years
Chestnut Tree (Castanea spp.)50-150 years
Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)20-40 years
Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum spp.)3-4 years
Citrus Tree (Citrus spp.)50-100 years
Clover (Trifolium spp.)1-2 years
Cockscomb (Celosia argentea)1 year (annual)
Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera)60-80 years
Coffee Plant (Coffea spp.)20-30 years
Coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides)1-3 years
Columbine (Aquilegia spp.)3-4 years
Coral Tree (Erythrina spp.)50-150 years
Corn (Zea mays)1 year (annual)
Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans)15-20 years
Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)50-100 years
Crabapple Tree (Malus spp.)30-50 years
Crocus (Crocus spp.)2-5 years
Croton (Codiaeum variegatum)2-4 years
Cypress (Cupressus spp.)300-600 years
Daffodil (Narcissus spp.)2-5 years
Dahlia (Dahlia spp.)1 year (annual)
Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera)100-150 years
Dogwood (Cornus spp.)80-120 years
Dragon Tree (Dracaena draco)100-150 years
Dwarf Alberta Spruce (Picea glauca ‘Conica’)50-60 years
Echinacea (Echinacea spp.)3-5 years
Elder Tree (Sambucus nigra)60-100 years
Elderberry (Sambucus spp.)10-80 years
Elm Tree (Ulmus spp.)100-300 years
Eucalyptus Tree (Eucalyptus spp.)50-400 years
False Indigo (Baptisia australis)10-15 years
Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata)25-50 years
Fig Tree (Ficus carica)50-75 years
Fir Tree (Abies spp.)300-400 years
Forsythia (Forsythia spp.)20-30 years
Foxglove (Digitalis spp.)2 years (biennial)
Fuchsia (Fuchsia spp.)3-5 years
Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides)10-15 years
Garlic (Allium sativum)1 year (annual)
Geranium (Pelargonium spp.)2-5 years
Ginkgo Tree (Ginkgo biloba)1000-3000 years
Globe Thistle (Echinops spp.)5-10 years
Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)2-3 years
Grapevine (Vitis vinifera)50-100 years
Green Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)1 year (annual)
Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)150-200 years
Hemlock (Tsuga spp.)500-800 years
Hibiscus (Hibiscus spp.)5-10 years
Hickory Tree (Carya spp.)200-300 years
Holly Tree (Ilex spp.)100-300 years
Honeylocust Tree (Gleditsia triacanthos)120-150 years
Hosta (Hosta spp.)20-30 years
Hyacinth (Hyacinthus spp.)2-5 years
Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp.)50-100 years
Indian Laurel (Ficus microcarpa)50-150 years
Iris (Iris spp.)2-5 years
Ironwood (Ostrya virginiana)100-150 years
Jacaranda Tree (Jacaranda mimosifolia)50-75 years
Jackfruit Tree (Artocarpus heterophyllus)60-70 years
Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)100 years
Japanese Yew (Taxus cuspidata)200-300 years
Jasmine (Jasminum spp.)5-15 years
Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)3-4 years
Judas Tree (Cercis siliquastrum)100 years
Juniper (Juniperus spp.)100-200 years
Kalanchoe (Kalanchoe spp.)2-7 years
Kentucky Coffee Tree (Gymnocladus dioicus)100-150 years
Kiwi Vine (Actinidia spp.)30-50 years
Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla mollis)5-10 years
Lantana (Lantana camara)2-3 years
Larch Tree (Larix spp.)100-250 years
Lavender (Lavandula spp.)5-10 years
Leek (Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum)1-2 years
Lemon Tree (Citrus limon)50-100 years
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)1 year (annual)
Lilac (Syringa spp.)50-100 years
Lily (Lilium spp.)2-3 years (bulbs can last longer)
Linden (Tilia spp.)100-300 years
Linden Tree (Tilia spp.)100-400 years
Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)1 year (perennial, but individual plants live 1 year)
Lungwort (Pulmonaria spp.)5-10 years
Magnolia Tree (Magnolia spp.)100-200 years
Mahogany Tree (Swietenia spp.)150-350 years
Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum spp.)10-15 years
Mango Tree (Mangifera indica)100-200 years
Maple Tree (Acer spp.)100-150 years
Marigold (Tagetes spp.)1 year (annual)
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)2-5 years
Mesquite Tree (Prosopis spp.)200 years
Mimosa Tree (Albizia julibrissin)20-30 years
Mint (Mentha spp.)5-10 years
Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria araucana)700-2000 years
Morning Glory (Ipomoea spp.)1 year (annual)
Mulberry Tree (Morus spp.)100-200 years
Nasturtium (Tropaeolum spp.)1 year (annual)
Nettle (Urtica dioica)2-3 years
Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)20-30 years
Oak Tree (Quercus spp.)200-300 years
Olive Tree (Olea europaea)500-1500 years
Onion (Allium cepa)1-2 years
Orange Tree (Citrus sinensis)50-60 years
Orchid (Orchidaceae spp.)15-20 years
Oregano (Origanum vulgare)5-10 years
Palm Tree (Arecaceae spp.)70-100 years
Pansy (Viola tricolor var. hortensis)1 year (annual)
Papaya Tree (Carica papaya)3-4 years
Passionfruit Vine (Passiflora edulis)5-7 years
Peach Tree (Prunus persica)10-20 years
Peanut Plant (Arachis hypogaea)1 year (annual)
Pecan Tree (Carya illinoinensis)200-300 years
Peony (Paeonia spp.)50-100 years
Periwinkle (Vinca spp.)2-5 years
Persimmon (Diospyros spp.)50-75 years
Pine Tree (Pinus spp.)100-1000 years (varies by species)
Pineapple (Ananas comosus)2-3 years
Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans)1-2 years
Pistachio Tree (Pistacia vera)100-300 years
Plum Tree (Prunus domestica)10-15 years
Pomegranate Tree (Punica granatum)50-150 years
Popcorn Plant (Senna didymobotrya)2-3 years
Poplar Tree (Populus spp.)50-150 years
Potato (Solanum tuberosum)1 year (annual)
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)5-10 years
Primrose (Primula spp.)2-3 years
Privet (Ligustrum spp.)30-50 years
Quince Tree (Cydonia oblonga)50-100 years
Radish (Raphanus sativus)1 year (annual)
Red Oak (Quercus rubra)200-300 years
Redbud Tree (Cercis spp.)50-70 years
Redwood Tree (Sequoia sempervirens)1000-2000 years
Rhododendron (Rhododendron spp.)50-100 years
Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum)10-15 years
Rock Rose (Cistus spp.)10-15 years
Rose (Rosa spp.)35 years
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)10-20 years
Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica)25-50 years
Sage (Salvia officinalis)5-10 years
Sea Holly (Eryngium spp.)2-3 years
Sequoia Tree (Sequoiadendron giganteum)2000-3000 years
Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)40-50 years
Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)100-150 years
Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria)20-30 years
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum spp.)1 year (annual)
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)1 year (annual)
Spirea (Spiraea spp.)20-30 years
Spruce Tree (Picea spp.)200-300 years
Squash (Cucurbita spp.)1 year (annual)
Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)50-100 years
Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa)5-6 years
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)200-300 years
Sumac (Rhus spp.)30-50 years
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)1 year (annual)
Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa)600-800 years
Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua)150-200 years
Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas)1 year (annual)
Sycamore Tree (Platanus spp.)200-600 years
Tamarind Tree (Tamarindus indica)200-300 years
Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)2-3 years
Tea Plant (Camellia sinensis)30-50 years
Thistle (Cirsium spp.)2 years (biennial)
Thyme (Thymus spp.)5-6 years
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)1 year (annual)
Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans)50 years
Tulip (Tulipa spp.)2-5 years
Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)300-500 years
Vanilla Orchid (Vanilla planifolia)10-15 years
Verbena (Verbena spp.)2-3 years
Vinca (Catharanthus roseus)1-2 years
Violet (Viola spp.)2-5 years
Voodoo Lily (Amorphophallus spp.)5-10 years
Walnut Tree (Juglans spp.)150-300 years
Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)1 year (annual)
Water Lily (Nymphaea spp.)10-15 years
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)1 year (annual)
Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica)40-75 years
White Oak (Quercus alba)200-300 years
Willow Tree (Salix spp.)40-75 years
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)30-40 years
Wisteria (Wisteria spp.)50-100 years
Yew Tree (Taxus spp.)200-300 years
Yucca (Yucca spp.)5-15 years
Zinnia (Zinnia spp.)1 year (annual)
Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo)1 year (annual)