redbud winter
A cold snap in early spring when the redbud trees are blooming.
Also called little winter.
Updated September 24, 2026
redbud winter pronunciation
/RED-bud WIN-ter/
Meaning
Redbud winter is one of the South's "little winters": a brief return of chilly weather after spring has already started teasing you. It lines up with redbud bloom, often mid-March into early April in Tennessee country, later up in the mountains. Farmers watch it because a frost can sting new plantings. Cousin names include dogwood winter and blackberry winter.
How folks use it
- “Don't set your tomatoes out yet; redbud winter ain't done.”
- “We got a hard frost in redbud winter and lost the early blooms.”
Origin and etymology
Southern farming folk named spring cold snaps after what was blooming or singing at the time. The Tennessee Historical Society lists redbud winter with dogwood, blackberry, locust, and whippoorwill winters. Dates shift with elevation: mountain country runs later than Middle or West Tennessee. It is phenology talk more than a calendar holiday.
Frequently asked questions
Is redbud winter the same as blackberry winter?
No. Redbud winter comes earlier, with the redbuds. Blackberry winter usually hits later, when blackberries bloom.