WHAT ARE CATKINS?

Catkins are wind-pollinated flowers that are typically long, slim, and hang from tree branches in clusters. They often have no flowers and are usually male. Their appearance strays from the classic bright, scented flowers, which need to attract animals for pollination.

Catkins are first closed, and open up once they mature, releasing lots of pollen into the air. They flower early in late winter or early spring, before the leaves begin to grow, so that they don't get in the way of the pollen travelling!

How they're dispersed

Wind pollination is key to supporting the reproduction of trees with catkins, since they can disperse the pollen from the usually male flowers to a waiting female flower. Catkins produce incredibly high volumes of pollen because lots of pollen can be wasted on this journey. However, it's still extremely efficient at a time when pollinating insects are not yet active.

Several trees produce catkins to disperse pollen. These include hazel, alder, silver birch, oak and white willow.

BEST TIME TO GO CATKIN-SPOTTING

Here is when you can look out for catkins:

• Hazel: January to March
• Alder: February to March
• Silver Birch: March to May
• Oak: April to May
• White Willow: April to May

Catkins have an important role in ensuring the reproduction and survival of many tree species. On your next nature walk, keep an eye out for these fascinating flowers and remember that spring is on the way!