herbaceous

adjective

her·​ba·​ceous ˌ(h)ər-ˈbā-shəs 

1

a

: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of an herb

b

of a stem : having little or no woody tissue and persisting usually for a single growing season

2

: having the texture, color, or appearance of a leaf

Examples of herbaceous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Signature cocktails feel thoughtful rather than trendy, including the dirty pineapple, a combination of Tulsi gin, pineapple brine, vermouth and Strega orange liqueur that has layers of tropical fruit, herbaceous notes and subtle salinity. — Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026

Many herbaceous perennials benefit from cutting back in late winter before new growth emerges. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 July 2026

Maintain even moisture Tree and woodland peonies do better in dappled light, but herbaceous peonies require 6 to 8 hours of full sunlight daily for best flowering and upright growth. — Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 29 June 2026

There are savory and herbaceous notes of green pepper, pineapple, wet earth, and stone fruit on the palate, making this a complex and engaging sipper. — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 18 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1640, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing herbaceous

• herbaceous border

Rhymes for herbaceous

• arenaceous
• argillaceous
• carbonaceous
• contumacious
• coriaceous
• efficacious
• farinaceous
• foliaceous
• membranaceous
• ochraceous
• olivaceous
• ostentatious

Kids Definition

herbaceous

adjective

her·​ba·​ceous ˌ(h)ər-ˈbā-shəs 

1

: of, relating to, or resembling an herb

2

: being a stem with little or no woody tissue and lasting usually only for a single growing season