Definition:

A rosette plant is one that grows with all its leaves radiating outwards from a short stem that is at the soil level. The rosette habit enables such plants to survive grazing and to better compete with other species for space. Commonly known rosette plants include dandelions, daisies, and lettuce.

Biennial rosettes form the base leaf structure in the first year of the plant's life, while establishing a root structure and storage system.


In the second year the plant will grow up, usually into a stemmed formation, and will no longer need the rosette formation.

Perennial plants use the rosette form temporarily as an early season growth mechanism. Once there is an abundance of sunlight and warm temperatures, the plant no longer needs the rosette and develops a stalk or stem. Strawberries are and example of perennial plants that use rosette forms.

Perpetual rosettes are plants that retain the rosette form permanently, and are the types of rosette plants seen in aquariums. Rosette aquarium plants are fairly common, and include the Cryptocoryne species, Sagittaria, Hairgrass, Swords, and Vallisneria species, to name a few.