Blooming flowers and winter don’t usually go together. However, there’s an exception to almost every rule – and in this case, it’s frost flowers.The temperature has to be just right for the unique flowers to bloom, so spotting one is a real treat. Read on to learn more about this wonderful, wintry phenomenon.
Both beautiful and rare, not many people have seen or even know about frost flowers.
Slomoz/Wikimedia
Despite the moniker, frost flowers aren’t flowers at all. They’re actually made of ice.
Slomoz/Wikimedia
Dubbed “nature’s unusual ice sculptures,” frost flowers form and disappear in such a short span of time, catching a glimpse of one requires great timing, perfect temperatures, and a bit of luck.
Slomoz/Wikimedia
The unique flowers form only when the air temperature is below freezing and the ground temperature is warm enough for the plant’s root system to be active.
Zotel/Wikimedia To get a better understanding of the formation process, think of how cold temperatures can cause pipes to burst. It’s the same concept, except in this case, the pipes are plant stems. When temperatures drop, water and sap in the stem freezes and expands, causing the stem to tear. In the mean time, plant juices flow from the roots up to the stem. The juices then push through tears in the stem, at which point the cold air freezes them.
The size and shape of the icy creations can vary from long, ribbon-like strands to flower-like clusters.
Superchadd/Wikimedia It all depends on the size of the tear in the stem. A small slit results in ribbon-like strands, while a larger split leads to flower-like clusters.
Needle ice is another wintertime phenomenon to look out for.
Wasrts/Wikimedia According to WLOX meteorologist Eric Jeansonne, needle ice forms “when the air above the ground is freezing and the soil remains unfrozen. Moisture in the ground is pulled up to the surface through capillary action and it freezes. As more water is pulled to the surface, it pushes the ice out and creates tiny needles of ice that look like ice pillars to stick out of the soil.”
Last year, both frost flowers and needle ice were spotted in Mississippi.
Jared Stanley/Wikimedia
If you’re hoping to get a glimpse of frost flowers and needle ice, there’s a few things you should keep in mind.
Etamaru/Wikimedia Weather is, of course, a factor. And since icy formations only last until the sun’s warm rays melt them away, mornings are the best time to search for frost flowers and needle ice.
Watch the video below to learn more about this cold weather phenomenon.
Slomoz/Wikimedia
Zotel/Wikimedia
To get a better understanding of the formation process, think of how cold temperatures can cause pipes to burst. It’s the same concept, except in this case, the pipes are plant stems. When temperatures drop, water and sap in the stem freezes and expands, causing the stem to tear. In the mean time, plant juices flow from the roots up to the stem. The juices then push through tears in the stem, at which point the cold air freezes them.
Superchadd/Wikimedia
It all depends on the size of the tear in the stem. A small slit results in ribbon-like strands, while a larger split leads to flower-like clusters.
Wasrts/Wikimedia
According to WLOX meteorologist Eric Jeansonne, needle ice forms “when the air above the ground is freezing and the soil remains unfrozen. Moisture in the ground is pulled up to the surface through capillary action and it freezes. As more water is pulled to the surface, it pushes the ice out and creates tiny needles of ice that look like ice pillars to stick out of the soil.”
Jared Stanley/Wikimedia
Etamaru/Wikimedia
Weather is, of course, a factor. And since icy formations only last until the sun’s warm rays melt them away, mornings are the best time to search for frost flowers and needle ice.
So, have ever spotted any frost flowers? What about needle ice? Did you even know about them? Tell us in the comments section.
Ever snapped a photo of this incredible winter phenomenon? Remember to share it in the Mississippi Nature Lovers Facebook group.
This isn’t the only gift Mother Nature’s given to the Magnolia State! Read about another here.
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