Dogwood Winter is a folk-weather term used primarily in the Southern and Midwestern United States to describe a brief cold snap in late spring. This temporary return to wintry conditions, which can bring frost or a significant temperature drop, typically occurs in mid-to-late April. The name is derived from the fact that this cold spell often coincides with the blooming of the dogwood trees. This natural event has served as a marker for farmers and gardeners, signaling a period of unpredictable weather that precedes stable warmth.
The Sequential Cold Snaps That Follow
The Dogwood Winter is one of several “little winters” or weather “singularities” that characterize the volatile transition period from spring to summer. These cold snaps are named after natural phenomena that occur around the same time, giving them a predictive quality based on local observation rather than official meteorology. The immediate and most widely recognized successor to the Dogwood cold snap is often the Blackberry Winter.
Blackberry Winter usually arrives in early to mid-May, aligning with the time when wild blackberry bushes are in full bloom. This cold period frequently brings temperatures close to freezing, which historically has been observed to coincide with the last significant frost of the spring season. The cooler air is beneficial for the plants, as it helps the blackberry vines set their buds, promising a good harvest later in the summer.
Other sequential cold snaps may follow, though their timing and prevalence vary by specific region and elevation. One such snap is the Locust Winter, which is commonly associated with the blooming of the trees in early May. The Whippoorwill Winter is another recognized event, typically occurring in mid-to-late May. It is named for the time when the whippoorwill birds begin to sing their characteristic calls.
Some regions also recognize the Cotton Britches Winter, sometimes called Linsey-Woolsey Britches Winter. This is generally the final and mildest of these cool-weather periods. This late-May or early-June event is less about a hard freeze and more about the last time one might need to wear heavier, warmer clothing before reliably switching to lighter summer attire.
Signaling the Arrival of Stable Warm Weather
The significance of the sequence of cold snaps, from Dogwood to Blackberry and beyond, lies in its role as an indicator of when the period of unpredictable, late-season frost is finally over. For farmers and gardeners, the passing of the final “little winter” is the signal that the soil and air temperatures are consistently warm enough for tender crops. This folk wisdom provided a rule-of-thumb guide before the advent of modern weather forecasts.
Warm-season plants, such as tomatoes, peppers, squash, and melons, are highly sensitive to temperatures dropping into the low 40s Fahrenheit and will suffer significant damage or death from a light frost. The tradition of waiting until after the last named cold snap gave growers a margin of safety against catastrophic crop loss. The end of this sequence marks the point when the risk of a hard freeze or killing frost has historically passed, allowing for the planting of vulnerable seedlings.
The conclusion of the “little winters” signifies the definitive transition from the volatility of spring to the consistent warmth of early summer. This is when the growing season begins in earnest. Gardeners can be confident that overnight temperatures will remain high enough to support the growth of heat-loving plants.