Not all buds are the same. In fact, there are significant differences that have a significant influence on the professional pruning of ornamental and fruit trees. This guide will familiarize you with the most important types of buds and their function in the growth process.
What types of buds are there on plants?
There are different types of buds in plants: flower buds develop into flowers and are located on one- to three-year-old shoots, leaf buds sprout leaves and/or side shoots on the shoot axis, terminal buds form leaves or flowers at the end of a woody shoot, adventitious buds grow spontaneously from old wood and proventive buds (sleeping eyes) restore lost plant parts, mainly in fruit trees.
What is a bud?
All higher plants, such as herbaceous perennials and flowers as well as woody plants, have growth points, the buds. These form during the vegetation phase on all parts of the plant, from the shoot or trunk to the roots. Think of a bud as a tiny powerhouse that contains all the components needed for this year's growth. A bud receives the signal for budding via plant hormones, which in turn are controlled by the weather conditions.
Bud types at a glance
The type of plant, the growth behavior, the time of planting and the position determine whether buds turn into a flower, a leaf or a shoot. Summer-flowering shrubs place their flower buds on this year's shoots, whereas spring-flowering shrubs complete this task the previous year. Sometimes a bud remains dormant and remains tiny for a long time, only to suddenly sprout. The following overview presents the most important types of buds and their main functions:
| Types of buds | Main function | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Flower bud | Unfolding into flowering | mostly on one-, two- or three-year-old shoots |
| leaf bud | Spring of leaves and/or side shoots | along the shoot axis |
| Terminal bud | Spring of leaves and/or flowers | at the end of a woody shoot |
| Adventive bud | Growth of leaves, flowers, shoots and roots from old wood | spontaneously on the trunk, shoots and roots |
| Sleeping Eye (Proventive Bud) | Restoration of lost plant parts, primarily on fruit trees | long time under the bark |
Adventitious buds and sleeping eyes are the secret reserve of shrubs and trees. On older trees they can sprout spontaneously and directly from the cambium, like adventitious buds. Or they wait years for their big appearance, like preventative buds. If severe pruning results in a large loss of branches, the affected plant resorts to budding undergrowth to compensate. Thanks to these types of buds, numerous trees are able to sprout from old wood after a rejuvenation cut.
Tip
The essential importance of buds for plant growth requires special pruning for woody plants. A bud must not be injured because it will then dry out and die. In return, there should not be a long stub above the growth point because this can develop into a source of infection. Therefore, place the cutting tool a few millimeters above a bud in a slightly inclined position.
