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Why can some plants survive well in winter? Uncover the secret of plants' superpowers to resist the cold!
People are often amazed during winter at how some plants are able to survive harsh climate conditions. The tenacious vitality of these plants has not only attracted the attention of gardening enthusiasts, but also aroused the interest of scientists. In winter, when the wind is biting, some plants are still green. What is the reason for this?
The cold tolerance of plants enables them to withstand extreme temperatures, significantly impacting their survival in harsh winter conditions.
Cold tolerance of plants
The cold tolerance of plants refers to their ability to survive adverse growing conditions, especially their resistance to cold. Most cold-tolerance traits are related to the plant's origin, as they are adapted to the local climate at a specific latitude, longitude, and altitude. Such properties are often simplified into hardiness zone ratings. In temperate regions, the term is often used to describe a plant's resistance to cold, known as "cold tolerance." Typically, this is measured by the lowest temperature the plant can tolerate.
Winter Hardy Plants
Winter hardy plants are able to continue growing during the winter and even remain in a healthy dormant state. This group includes not only evergreen trees but also many cultivated plants, such as varieties of cabbage and broccoli, and various types of carrots. Some bulbs, such as tulips, require cold winters to flower, while others, such as African violets (freesia), can survive severe winters. The cold-tolerant nature of these plants makes them a key player in winter gardens.
The construction of a winter garden relies on the cultivation of various cold-resistant plants that can not only survive the winter but also provide visual beauty.
Survival Mechanics
There are several mechanisms by which woody plants are able to successfully withstand cold temperatures. One common mechanism is supercooling. These plants are able to inhibit the formation of ice inside living cells or allow water to freeze in parts of the plant that are not affected by freezing. Woody plants that can tolerate temperatures as low as -40 °C (-40 °F) use supercooling mechanisms, while plants growing at lower temperatures generally survive by dehydration, allowing water to freeze between cell walls. , protecting cells from damage.
Standards for cold resistance levels
Different countries and regions have different styles of plant hardiness ratings. In the United States, the most widely used is the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) hardiness zone system, which is based on average annual minimum temperatures. The system is particularly well suited to the diverse climates of the U.S. interior, from parched deserts to frozen tundra.
In the United Kingdom and other Western European countries, there is a maritime climate, which gives these areas a relatively narrow temperature range. In such an environment, the adaptability of plants is particularly important. The Royal Horticultural Society has published a set of local hardiness levels, from H1a (above 15°C) to H7 (below -20°C), which helps gardeners choose suitable plants.
The definition of hardy plants is not usually fixed and varies with region, climate, and maintenance conditions.
Flourishing cold-tolerant plants
Hardy plants are generally considered to be able to tolerate a variety of extreme environmental factors, including cold and hot temperatures. Not only can these plants survive harsh soil and environmental conditions, they often require little maintenance, making them economically advantageous as well.
Other cold-resistant properties
In addition to tolerance to cold, plants also have adaptations to other climatic factors, such as heat tolerance, drought tolerance, and flood tolerance. Although these tolerances are often not included in discussions of "hardiness," they are just as critical to a plant's survival. The tolerance of tropical plants evolved in high temperature areas and their ability to withstand winds have also attracted the attention of some scientists. These adaptive mechanisms determine the ability of plants to survive in harsh environments.
In this cold winter, can we learn from the survival wisdom of plants how to find vitality in adversity and keep moving forward?
