evergreen vs perennial

evergreen

noun
  • A shrub or tree that does not shed its leaves or needles seasonally. 

  • A conifer tree. 

  • A news story that can be published or broadcast at any time. 

adj
  • Being a clause which causes an automatic renewal of a contract unless action is taken. 

  • Of a document, a piece of software, or a dataset, being continually up-to-date (as opposed to being published at regular intervals and outdated in the meantime) 

  • Of plants, especially trees, that do not shed their leaves seasonally. 

  • Suitable for transmission at any time; not urgent or time-dependent. 

verb
  • To extend the term of a patent beyond the normal legal limit, usually through repeated small modifications. 

  • To set the repayment rate of a loan at or below the interest rate, so low that the principal will never be repaid. 

perennial

noun
  • A plant that is active throughout the year, or has a life cycle of more than two growing seasons. 

  • A thing that lasts forever. 

  • A person or thing (such as a problem) that appears or returns regularly. 

adj
  • Lasting or remaining active throughout the year, or all the time. 

  • Appearing or recurring again and again; recurrent. 

  • Continuing without cessation or intermission for several years, or for an undetermined or infinite period; neverending or never failing; perpetual, unceasing. 

  • Of a plant: active throughout the year, or having a life cycle of more than two growing seasons. 

  • Appearing again each year; annual. 

How often have the words evergreen and perennial occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )