Just like animals, plants have ways to deal with the cold and frozen precipitation that envelop them during winter. A lot of them may look dead, but only the annual plants have actually died. These are the low-growing plants that you can pull up easily, roots and all. They die after producing and scattering their seeds. Some plants take two years before their seeds mature, and these are known as biennials.
Many plants live for more than two years.
These are the perennials. Trees are the most visible members of this group. Some plants are sensitive to changes in temperature. They relax and unfurl when it's warmer. Many guide books include tiny silhouettes to help you identify the trees.