When winter comes to an end, the poplars begin to bloom. The characteristic catkins, which have different appearances depending on the species and sex, are among the early risers among the native tree blossoms.
The poplar flowers before it has any leaves
Flowering time before foliage time
The typical catkin blossoms are the first thing the poplar produces in the year. The typical hanging spike inflorescences can appear in bare branches as early as the end of winter. Either only male or only female flowers then appear on the individual poplar trees. The males soon fall off when they have completed their pollination task.
The foliage takes a little longer and goes dormant into spring. The flowers leave the stage until after they have faded.
However, the flowering time depends on the region. In more northern latitudes of the northern hemisphere, where poplar species are ubiquitous, the catkins sometimes do not appear until March or April. The individual location of a single tree can also influence the flowering time, so that even within a group of poplars, one specimen will flower much earlier than the other.