Tree vs. Plant — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on October 5, 2023
A tree is a large, long-lived woody plant with a single main stem. A plant is a living organism that photosynthesizes, encompassing a wide range including trees, shrubs, and grasses.
Difference Between Tree and Plant
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A tree and a plant are both integral parts of the Earth's ecosystem, playing a significant role in the environment. Trees are essentially a subtype of plants. All trees are plants, but not all plants are trees. Trees are distinguished by their woody structure, height, and typically a singular main stem or trunk.
Plants represent a vast kingdom of organisms that have the ability to conduct photosynthesis, converting sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose. This kingdom is diverse, including not only trees but also shrubs, herbs, grasses, ferns, and mosses. Trees, as a subset of plants, have their unique characteristics, setting them apart from other plant types.
The growth patterns of trees and plants differ considerably. Trees usually grow tall and live for many years, even centuries. They provide habitats for various wildlife and offer shade. On the other hand, plants, depending on the type, might have shorter life spans, like annual plants which complete their life cycle in a single year. While trees maintain a persistent woody structure, many plants may die back to the ground seasonally.
Both trees and plants are essential for life on Earth. Trees play a vital role in producing oxygen, absorbing carbon dioxide, and providing habitats. Plants, more broadly, contribute to biodiversity, serve as the base for food chains, and offer medicinal, aesthetic, and economic benefits. From the giant redwoods to the smallest ferns, each has its role in the ecosystem.
In summary, while every tree is a plant, the reverse isn't true. The term "plant" encompasses a vast range of living organisms, of which trees are just one category, characterized by their tall stature, woody composition, and long lifespan.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A large, woody plant with a single main stem.
A living organism that conducts photosynthesis.
Lifespan
Typically long-lived, often years to centuries.
Varies; can be short-lived or perennial.
Structure
Woody with a single main stem or trunk.
Varies; can be woody, herbaceous, or other.
Size
Generally tall.
Ranges from microscopic to large like trees.
Kingdom
Plantae (Subset of plants).
Plantae (Includes all plants).
Compare with Definitions
Tree
A perennial plant with an elongated stem or trunk.
The cherry tree blooms beautifully every spring.
Plant
A multicellular organism lacking locomotion and neural systems.
The Venus flytrap is a fascinating carnivorous plant.
Tree
A large plant that provides shade and habitat.
Birds often nest in the tree outside my window.
Plant
A source of food, oxygen, and often medicinal properties.
The aloe vera plant offers healing properties for burns.
Tree
A member of the plant kingdom with distinct growth rings.
The tree's growth rings tell a story of its age and history.
Plant
Plants are mainly multicellular organisms, predominantly photosynthetic eukaryotes of the kingdom Plantae. Historically, plants were treated as one of two kingdoms including all living things that were not animals, and all algae and fungi were treated as plants.
Tree
In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, supporting branches and leaves in most species. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only wood plants with secondary growth, plants that are usable as lumber or plants above a specified height.
Plant
A living organism of the kind exemplified by trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses, ferns, and mosses, typically growing in a permanent site, absorbing water and inorganic substances through its roots, and synthesizing nutrients in its leaves by photosynthesis using the green pigment chlorophyll.
Tree
A woody perennial plant, typically having a single stem or trunk growing to a considerable height and bearing lateral branches at some distance from the ground.
Plant
A place where an industrial or manufacturing process takes place
A giant car plant
Tree
A wooden structure or part of a structure.
Plant
A person placed in a group as a spy or informer
We thought he was a CIA plant spreading disinformation
Tree
A thing that has a branching structure resembling that of a tree.
Plant
A shot in which the cue ball is made to strike one of two touching or nearly touching balls with the result that the second is potted.
Tree
Force (a hunted animal) to take refuge in a tree.
Plant
Put (a seed, bulb, or plant) in the ground so that it can grow
We planted a lot of fruit trees
Tree
(of an area) planted with trees
Sparsely treed grasslands
Plant
Set or place in a particular position
She planted a kiss on his cheek
He planted himself squarely in front of her
Tree
A perennial woody plant having a main trunk and usually a distinct crown.
Plant
Any of various photosynthetic, eukaryotic, multicellular organisms of the kingdom Plantae characteristically containing chloroplasts, having cell walls made of cellulose, producing embryos, and lacking the power of locomotion. Plants include trees, bushes, herbs, ferns, mosses, and certain green algae.
Tree
An herbaceous plant or shrub resembling a tree in form or size.
Plant
A plant having no permanent woody stem; an herb.
Tree
Something that resembles a tree in form, especially a diagram or arrangement that has branches showing relationships of hierarchy or lineage.
Plant
Any of various fungi, algae, or protists that resemble plants and were formerly classified in the plant kingdom. Not in scientific use.
Tree
(Computers) A structure for organizing or classifying data in which every item can be traced to a single origin through a unique path.
Plant
A building or group of buildings for the manufacture of a product; a factory
Works in an auto plant.
Tree
A wooden beam, post, stake, or bar used as part of a framework or structure.
Plant
The buildings, fixtures, and equipment, including machinery, tools, and instruments, necessary for an industrial operation or an institution
The university's mechanical plant.
Tree
A saddletree.
Plant
A person placed in a group of spectators to influence behavior.
Tree
A gallows.
Plant
A person stationed in a given location as a spy or observer.
Tree
The cross on which Jesus was crucified.
Plant
A misleading piece of evidence placed so as to be discovered.
Tree
To force up a tree
Dogs treed the raccoon.
Plant
A remark or action in a play or narrative that becomes important later.
Tree
(Informal) To force into a difficult position; corner
The reporters finally treed the mayor.
Plant
(Slang) A scheming trick; a swindle.
Tree
To supply or cover with trees
A hillside that is treed with oaks.
Plant
To place or set (seeds, for example) in the ground to grow.
Tree
A perennial woody plant, not exactly defined, but differentiated from a shrub by its larger size (typically over a few meters in height) or growth habit, usually having a single (or few) main axis or trunk unbranched for some distance above the ground and a head of branches and foliage.
Hyperion is the tallest living tree in the world.
Birds have a nest in a tree in the garden.
Plant
To place seeds or young plants in (land); sow
Plant a field in corn.
Tree
Any plant that is reminiscent of the above but not classified as a tree (in any botanical sense).
The banana tree
Plant
To place (spawn or young fish) in water or an underwater bed for cultivation
Plant oysters.
Tree
An object made from a tree trunk and having multiple hooks or storage platforms.
He had the choice of buying a scratching post or a cat tree.
Plant
To stock with spawn or fish.
Tree
A device used to hold or stretch a shoe open.
Plant
To introduce (an animal) into an area.
Tree
The structural frame of a saddle.
Plant
To place or fix in a certain position
Planted both feet on the ground.
Planted a kiss on my cheek.
Tree
(graph theory) A connected graph with no cycles or, if the graph is finite, equivalently a connected graph with n vertices and n−1 edges.
Plant
To deliver (a punch or blow).
Tree
(computing theory) A recursive data structure in which each node has zero or more nodes as children.
Plant
To fix firmly in the mind; implant
"The right of revolution is planted in the heart of man" (Clarence Darrow).
Tree
(graphical user interface) A display or listing of entries or elements such that there are primary and secondary entries shown, usually linked by drawn lines or by indenting to the right.
We’ll show it as a tree list.
Plant
To establish; found
Plant a colony.
Tree
Any structure or construct having branches representing divergence or possible choices.
Family tree; skill tree
Plant
To station (a person) for the purpose of functioning in secret, as by observing, spying, or influencing behavior
Detectives were planted all over the store.
Tree
The structure or wooden frame used in the construction of a saddle used in horse riding.
Plant
To place secretly or deceptively so as to be discovered or made public
Planted a gun on the corpse to make the death look like suicide.
Tree
Marijuana.
Plant
To conceal; hide
Planted the stolen goods in the warehouse.
Tree
(obsolete) A cross or gallows.
Tyburn tree
Plant
(botany) An organism that is not an animal, especially an organism capable of photosynthesis. Typically a small or herbaceous organism of this kind, rather than a tree.
The garden had a couple of trees, and a cluster of colourful plants around the border.
Tree
(chemistry) A mass of crystals, aggregated in arborescent forms, obtained by precipitation of a metal from solution.
Plant
(botany) An organism of the kingdom Plantae; now specifically, a living organism of the Embryophyta (land plants) or of the Chlorophyta (green algae), a eukaryote that includes double-membraned chloroplasts in its cells containing chlorophyll a and b, or any organism closely related to such an organism.
Tree
(cartomancy) The fifth Lenormand card.
Plant
(ecology) Now specifically, a multicellular eukaryote that includes chloroplasts in its cells, which have a cell wall.
Tree
(transitive) To chase (an animal or person) up a tree.
The dog treed the cat.
Plant
Any creature that grows on soil or similar surfaces, including plants and fungi.
Tree
(transitive) To place in a tree.
Black bears can tree their cubs for protection, but grizzly bears cannot.
Plant
A factory or other industrial or institutional building or facility.
Tree
(transitive) To place upon a tree; to fit with a tree; to stretch upon a tree.
To tree a boot
Plant
An object placed surreptitiously in order to cause suspicion to fall upon a person.
That gun's not mine! It's a plant! I've never seen it before!
Tree
(intransitive) To take refuge in a tree.
Plant
Anyone assigned to behave as a member of the public during a covert operation (as in a police investigation).
Tree
Any perennial woody plant of considerable size (usually over twenty feet high) and growing with a single trunk.
Plant
A person, placed amongst an audience, whose role is to cause confusion, laughter etc.
Tree
Something constructed in the form of, or considered as resembling, a tree, consisting of a stem, or stock, and branches; as, a genealogical tree.
Plant
(snooker) A play in which the cue ball knocks one (usually red) ball onto another, in order to pot the second; a set.
Tree
A piece of timber, or something commonly made of timber; - used in composition, as in axletree, boottree, chesstree, crosstree, whiffletree, and the like.
Plant
(uncountable) Machinery, such as the kind used in earthmoving or construction.
Tree
A cross or gallows; as Tyburn tree.
[Jesus] whom they slew and hanged on a tree.
Plant
(obsolete) A young tree; a sapling; hence, a stick or staff.
Tree
Wood; timber.
In a great house ben not only vessels of gold and of silver but also of tree and of earth.
Plant
(obsolete) The sole of the foot.
Tree
A mass of crystals, aggregated in arborescent forms, obtained by precipitation of a metal from solution. See Lead tree, under Lead.
Plant
A plan; a swindle; a trick.
Tree
To drive to a tree; to cause to ascend a tree; as, a dog trees a squirrel.
Plant
An oyster which has been bedded, in distinction from one of natural growth.
Tree
A tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
Plant
A young oyster suitable for transplanting.
Tree
A figure that branches from a single root;
Genealogical tree
Plant
(control theory) The combination of process and actuator.
Tree
English actor and theatrical producer noted for his lavish productions of Shakespeare (1853-1917)
Plant
(ambitransitive) To place (a seed or plant) in soil or other substrate in order that it may live and grow.
Tree
Chase a bear up a tree with dogs and kill it
Plant
(transitive) To place (an object, or sometimes a person), often with the implication of intending deceit.
That gun's not mine! It was planted there by the real murderer!
Tree
A tall plant with a single woody stem or trunk.
The oak tree in our backyard has been there for over a century.
Plant
(transitive) To place or set something firmly or with conviction.
Plant your feet firmly and give the rope a good tug.
To plant cannon against a fort; to plant a flag; to plant one's feet on solid ground
Tree
A woody plant with branches growing from its upper part.
We planted a young maple tree in the park.
Plant
To place in the ground.
Plant
To furnish or supply with plants.
To plant a garden, an orchard, or a forest
Plant
To engender; to generate; to set the germ of.
Plant
To furnish with a fixed and organized population; to settle; to establish.
To plant a colony
Plant
To introduce and establish the principles or seeds of.
To plant Christianity among the heathen
Plant
To set up; to install; to instate.
Plant
A vegetable; an organized living being, generally without feeling and voluntary motion, and having, when complete, a root, stem, and leaves, though consisting sometimes only of a single leafy expansion, or a series of cellules, or even a single cellule.
Plant
A bush, or young tree; a sapling; hence, a stick or staff.
Plant
The sole of the foot.
Plant
The whole machinery and apparatus employed in carrying on a trade or mechanical business; also, sometimes including real estate, and whatever represents investment of capital in the means of carrying on a business, but not including material worked upon or finished products; as, the plant of a foundry, a mill, or a railroad.
Plant
A plan; an artifice; a swindle; a trick.
It was n't a bad plant, that of mine, on Fikey.
Plant
An oyster which has been bedded, in distinction from one of natural growth.
Plant
To put in the ground and cover, as seed for growth; as, to plant maize.
Plant
To set in the ground for growth, as a young tree, or a vegetable with roots.
Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees.
Plant
To furnish, or fit out, with plants; as, to plant a garden, an orchard, or a forest.
Plant
To engender; to generate; to set the germ of.
It engenders choler, planteth anger.
Plant
To furnish with a fixed and organized population; to settle; to establish; as, to plant a colony.
Planting of countries like planting of woods.
Plant
To introduce and establish the principles or seeds of; as, to plant Christianity among the heathen.
Plant
To set firmly; to fix; to set and direct, or point; as, to plant cannon against a fort; to plant a standard in any place; to plant one's feet on solid ground; to plant one's fist in another's face.
Plant
To set up; to install; to instate.
We will plant some other in the throne.
Plant
To perform the act of planting.
I have planted; Apollos watered.
Plant
Buildings for carrying on industrial labor;
They built a large plant to manufacture automobiles
Plant
A living organism lacking the power of locomotion
Plant
Something planted secretly for discovery by another;
The police used a plant to trick the thieves
He claimed that the evidence against him was a plant
Plant
An actor situated in the audience whose acting is rehearsed but seems spontaneous to the audience
Plant
Put or set (seeds or seedlings) into the ground;
Let's plant flowers in the garden
Plant
Fix or set securely or deeply;
He planted a knee in the back of his opponent
The dentist implanted a tooth in the gum
Plant
Set up or lay the groundwork for;
Establish a new department
Plant
Place into a river;
Plant fish
Plant
Place something or someone in a certain position in order to secretly observe or deceive;
Plant a spy in Moscow
Plant bugs in the dissident's apartment
Plant
Put firmly in the mind;
Plant a thought in the students' minds
Plant
A living organism that synthesizes its food through photosynthesis.
The plant in my office helps purify the air.
Plant
Any member of the kingdom Plantae, from trees to mosses.
The diversity of plant species in the rainforest is astounding.
Plant
An organism with roots, stems, and leaves, often green in color.
The plant on my balcony flowers every summer.
Common Curiosities
What distinguishes a tree from other plants?
Trees are typically tall, woody, and have a single main stem or trunk.
How do trees benefit the environment?
Trees provide oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, offer habitats, and prevent soil erosion.
Why are plants green?
Plants are green due to chlorophyll, a pigment essential for photosynthesis.
Are plants essential for human survival?
Absolutely. Plants provide food, oxygen, medicine, and many other resources essential for human life.
Do all trees lose their leaves in fall?
No, only deciduous trees shed their leaves in fall. Evergreen trees retain theirs year-round.
Do all plants need sunlight?
While most plants need sunlight for photosynthesis, some can survive in very low light or are parasitic.
Can trees communicate with each other?
Trees can exchange information and nutrients through fungal networks, often termed the "wood wide web."
Why are some plants considered invasive?
Some plants, when introduced to new environments, grow aggressively and outcompete native species, making them invasive.
How do trees and plants reproduce?
Both can reproduce through seeds, but some plants also use methods like spores, bulbs, or cuttings.
Do all plants perform photosynthesis?
Most plants perform photosynthesis, but some parasitic plants do not.
Can a shrub be classified as a tree?
Generally, shrubs are smaller than trees and have multiple main stems. They're distinct from trees.
Are all trees considered plants?
Yes, all trees are plants, but not all plants are trees.
How do trees and plants adapt to their environment?
Through processes like dormancy, shedding leaves, or growing deeper roots, depending on their environmental needs.
Can plants sense their environment?
Yes, plants can sense light, gravity, touch, and more, and they adjust their growth accordingly.
How do trees and plants benefit urban environments?
They reduce air pollution, provide shade, reduce heat, support biodiversity, and enhance mental well-being.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
