Plant Life Cycle

From seed to flower: watch plants grow through every stage

Every flowering plant goes through a life cycle with distinct stages. It begins as a seed, which contains a tiny baby plant (embryo) and a food supply protected by a seed coat. When the seed gets enough water and warmth, it germinates — the seed coat splits open, and a root grows downward while a shoot pushes upward. The young sprout develops leaves that capture sunlight. Through photosynthesis, the plant uses sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to make its own food (sugar) and grow bigger. Eventually the plant produces flowers, which are the reproductive organs. Pollinators like bees carry pollen between flowers. After pollination, the flower develops fruit containing new seeds, and the cycle starts over.