How plants know when to bloom

What’s Happening

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Red tulips blooming in the tulip fields in the northern Netherlands. Tulips rely on increasing temperatures to know when to bloom. (yes, really)

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The Details

As spring weather settles over the Northern Hemisphere, those barren branches will soon be bursting with color. Just like humans, plants have a circadian clock which helps them tell time.

They rely on seasonal changes to both air temperature and sunlight to know that winter is on its way out and that it’s time to bloom. Plants can also tell when we’re stressed out .

Why This Matters

Longer days and warmer temperatures are the seasonal cues for plants that bloom in the spring. Plants with leaves are particularly sensitive to sunlight, which steadily increases from March until the summer solstice in late June. For plants like daffodils and tulips where the flower comes out of the ground or on branches like cherry trees, increasing temperatures are their main cue to bloom.

Scientists and researchers are watching this development closely.

Key Takeaways

• University of Washington chronobiologist Takato Imaizumi s more about how our planet’s plants sense these seasonal changes.
• How do plants know when to bloom?
• Spring flowering broke down California’s notorious hot and dry Death Valley saw a wildflower superbloom this year thanks to extra rain.
• While the bloom is past peak in some locations, higher elevations will see blooms from April through June.

The Bottom Line

Cool and calm weather can extend the length of the bloom, while a rainy, windy day can halt these delicate blossoms. A late frost can also prevent the trees from blooming at all.

Are you here for this or nah?