subshrub
/ˈsʌbˌʃrʌb/
noun
- A low-growing woody plant that is smaller than a shrub, often with a base that is woody and stems that are partly herbaceous.
- The botanist identified the plant as a subshrub because its lower stems were woody but the upper growth was soft.
- Many subshrubs, like thyme, are used as ground cover in dry climates.
- The garden's border is filled with lavender, a fragrant subshrub.