Phenology & Planting

What is Phenology?

Phenology is the study of cyclic and seasonal natural phenomena, especially in relation to climate and plant and animal life. For the purposes of this article we will be focused on indicator plants or plants that determine when certain seasons “start” and what can be planted.

What are the Seasons?

We’ve all heard of Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Phenology breaks this down into 10 seasons: early, mid, late Spring; early, mid, late Summer; early, mid, late Fall; and Winter.

Why does this matter?

This all matters because if we watch when these seasons are happening, we know when we can plant certain flowers, vegetables, shrubs, trees, etc. according to nature and not a calendar.

What is the breakdown?

Early Spring when Hazelbrush catkins and Osoberry bloom,
mid spring with Forsythia blooms,
late spring with apple and lilac blooms,
early summer with black elderberry blooms,
mid summer lavender blooms,
late summer crabapples start to ripen,
early autumn black elderberry are ripe,
mid autumn walnut and oak acorns are falling,
late autumn oak and maple leaves turn color,
winter everything is dormant.

What to plant?

I created a Phenology Planting Guide for the Molalla, OR area. Times will likely be different, even within different microclimates, elevations, etc., within Molalla or anywhere that has these plants growing. It’s still a fairly accurate guide if you just pay attention to the actual phenology/nature and not the calendar!

Phenology Planting Guide – Molalla, OR