In Ufa, lilacs and apple trees have bloomed for second time in botanical garden

However, secondary flowering is a rather beautiful but energy-consuming phenomenon.

This autumn, an unusual natural phenomenon can be observed in the Ufa Botanical Garden: secondary flowering. Lilacs, spiraeas, mock-oranges, dogwood, weigela, creeping phlox, lavender, and thyme have bloomed again, and in Ufa and its surroundings — also wild strawberries, rose hips, and apple trees.

As the Botanical Garden's specialists explain, several factors drive this phenomenon, all connected to weather and stress. After a drought or a cold snap, warm and humid weather arrives, and the plant mistakenly "thinks" that spring has come. Severe pruning, hail, or pest attacks can also wake dormant buds. Hormonal imbalances in aging shrubs and trees can also trigger repeat flowering, and some varieties are naturally prone to blooming twice a season.

However, secondary flowering is rather a beautiful but energy-consuming phenomenon. Flowers appear sporadically, and although fruits may set, they do not have time to ripen: in autumn, there is no longer enough warmth and time for maturation. Moreover, all the plant's strength goes into preparing for winter — the ripening of wood and the accumulation of reserves, rather than the formation of fruits. Furthermore, repeat flowering often "consumes" the buds laid for the next year, so there may be fewer flowers and fruits in the coming season.