Trees and the Solstice: Studies Reveal a Seasonal Connection

Trees might use the longest day of the year, the summer solstice, like a calendar.

This helps them know when to grow and make seeds.

Trees in cold places use the solstice to finish building their cells before winter.

They also use it to prepare their leaves for fall.

Beech trees time when they produce seeds based on the temperature after the solstice, creating lots of seeds in warm years.

Scientists believe that the solstice helps trees know when to do all of this.