A subshrub (Latin suffrutex) is a horticultural rather than strictly botanical category of woody perennial plant, distinguished from a shrub by variously its ground-hugging stems and lower height, with overwintering perennial woody growth typically less than 10-20 cm tall, or by being only weakly woody and/or only persisting for a few years. Small, low shrubs such as lavender, periwinkle and thyme, and many members of the family Ericaceae such as cranberries, are often classed as subshrubs.