A plant that lives 10 years is a__________.

A plant that lives for 10 years is classified as a perennial. Perennials are plants that persist for several growing seasons, typically returning each year from their root systems. They complete their life cycle over multiple years, allowing them to develop extensive root systems, which can help them access water and nutrients more effectively in the long term.

In contrast, annual plants complete their life cycle within a single growing season, from germination to seed formation, and then die at the end of that season. Biennials take two years to complete their life cycle, usually growing vegetatively in the first year and flowering in the second. The term "temporary" is not a standard classification for plant lifespan and does not accurately describe plants based on their longevity or life cycle characteristics. This further underlines the importance of proper classifications in understanding plant biology.