What is the life cycle of Purple Fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana)?

Purple Fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana) is classified as a perennial plant. This means that it has a life cycle that lasts for more than two years. Perennial plants typically grow back each season from their root system after the winter dormancy, producing new foliage and flowers every year. In the case of Cabomba caroliniana, it thrives in aquatic environments, where it can establish itself and persist over time, spreading and forming dense colonies.

Annual plants complete their life cycle in one year, while biennials take two years to mature and reproduce. Seasonal implies a temporary cycle that is associated with specific conditions or times within a single growing season. Since Cabomba caroliniana continues to grow and reproduce over multiple seasons without needing to reestablish from seed each time, it is classified as a perennial, making it well adapted to its aquatic habitats.