The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Frutescent \Fru*tes"cent\, a. [L. frutex, fruticis, shrub, bush:
   cf. F. frutescent, L. fruticescens, p. pr.] (Bot.)
   Somewhat shrubby in character; imperfectly shrubby, as the
   American species of Wisteria.
   [1913 Webster]