How are plants classified according to their height and stem type?

Plants are classified according to their height and stem type into three main groups: herbs, shrubs, and trees. This classification is based on the size of the plant and the nature of its stem.

Herbs are usually small plants with soft, green, and tender stems. Shrubs are medium-sized plants that have harder, woody stems with several branches growing near the base. Trees are tall plants with a thick, strong, woody stem called a trunk, which supports branches at some height above the ground.

The differences in height, stem strength, and branching pattern help distinguish these plant groups from one another.