In higher plants, growth is open because plants retain the capacity for unlimited growth throughout their life. This is due to the presence of meristems at certain locations in their body. The cells of meristems have the capacity to divide and self-perpetuate. New cells are always being added to the plant body by the activity of the meristem, and this form of growth is called the open form of growth.

Similarly, differentiation in plants is also open because cells and tissues arising from the same meristem have different structures at maturity. The final structure at maturity of a cell or tissue is determined by the location of the cell within the organ.

For example, cells positioned away from root apical meristems differentiate as root-cap cells, while those pushed to the periphery mature as epidermis. Thus, both growth and differentiation are open processes in higher plants.