Skip to main content

(401) 764-5885

What is Plant Phenology and How

Published on
March 22, 2022

Do you know what the word “phenology” means? If you don’t, you’re not alone. Most people never even heard of the word. But, thanks to the critical changes occurring in our weather patterns, it’s a term you’ll be hearing a lot more about. You might even want to join RITree’s research and data collection efforts in phrenology at some point as we try to track what’s happening with our planet and climate.

Phenology refers to the “cyclical and seasonal natural phenomena in relation to climate, vegetation, and animal life.” Phenology studies when species in geographic areas change. Why is this information critical? Because it tells us about our food supply and ecosystem. It also helps us determine if species critical to our survival will endure in our changing world.

Uses of Plant Phenology

Phenology is nature’s calendar. It’s also a critical survival tool. Without its help, we might not be able to survive on the planet for long. Knowing the timing of plant and insect life, for example, helps farmers and gardeners decide when to use fertilizers and pesticides and when to plant to avoid frosts.  

Many people use phenology to prepare for seasonal events and don’t even know it. Taking medication to prepare for the allergy season, for example, is an example of phenology in action. Here are some other uses of phenology:

  • Manage invasive species and forest pests
  • Predict human-health related evens (mosquitos)
  • Select the right time to fertilize and harvest crops
  • Understand the timing of some ecosystem processes (carbon cycling)
  • Guage the vulnerability of species, populations, and ecological communities

Charles Morren, a Belgian botanist, first used the term in 1853. But it was Robert Marsham, an English naturalist, who wrote the first phrenological text in 1736, called Indications of Spring. Interest in phenology as a science has grown since then.

Research in phenology is becoming more urgent, thanks mainly to climate change activities. When events, such as weather patterns, impact phenology, the outcomes can often be catastrophic.

Phenology and Climate Change

Phenological change is one way to study climate change. Flowers, for example, might bloom later than usual. Animals might migrate on a different schedule. And leaves might fall later than usual.

These changes may seem small at first. But they can have huge impact on climate change. They might also lead to issues within species that might have a domino effect on the ecosystem.

Phenology can also help us daily. Trees, shrubs, and flowers, for instance, are susceptible to changes in daylight and time of day. These plants develop regularly based on the local environment and conditions.

Other natural phenomena like bird migration and the emergence of insects can also signify a change in the climate. While not perfect, following nature’s clock helps us tune in to the rhythm of life around us.

If you’re a gardener, for example, it helps to observe the following “firsts” in your garden:

  • First bud (of various plants)
  • First bloom (of various plants)
  • First animal migration
  • First appearance of different insects
  • First emergence of hibernating animals
  • First amphibian (like spring peepers)

You can use these events as indicators for when it’s the ideal time for planting things like potatoes, cabbage, or broccoli.   

Phenology and RI Tree

RITree’s Plant Phenology Project tracks plant development over the annual plant growing season. It’s the ultimate outdoor activity. All you have to do is observe plants, record what you see, and send us the results. You don’t even have to leave the home grounds.

You can monitor plants in your yard or neighborhood. The whole process shouldn’t take long. You’ll be satisfying your curiosity, experiencing nature in a new way, and benefiting plant science and the RI Tree Council. No advanced training is required.

Our site provides all the materials you will need to get started. They can be downloaded and include: Monitoring Instructions (Definitions), Data Recording Sheet, and Target Plant Slide Shows (Shrubbery, Small Flowering Trees and Large Trees) illustrating essential plant features.

If you want to know more about plant phenology or participate in our plant phenology project, contact RI Tree at (401) 764-5885. You’ll increase your plant knowledge and improve your plant skills.