Sainte-Catherine traditions face changing climate and local initiatives

The traditional French proverb “À la Sainte-Catherine, tout bois prend racine” (At Sainte-Catherine, every wood takes root) is becoming less reliable for gardeners due to climate change. While the date of November 25 historically signaled the onset of plant dormancy, warming autumns and shifting weather patterns mean trees may not yet be in a vegetative rest state.

Agronomic observations from INRAE suggest that milder temperatures and extreme rainfall can disrupt planting success. Experts advise that instead of following the calendar, gardeners should wait for natural signals, such as deciduous trees being completely bare and night temperatures consistently around 5 °C, to ensure bare-root plants focus on root development rather than leaf production.

In Pornic, the municipality continues to honor the tradition through its annual plant distribution. Since 1992, the city has distributed over 40,000 trees and shrubs to residents. For the upcoming event, the city provides selected plants adapted to local ecological conditions, with technical services offering advice to ensure successful planting and plant survival.