Two plants of the same species, even in the same location, aren't necessarily going to look identical. When identifying plants out in nature, we need to keep in mind that individual plants go at their own pace. As an example, below, we have two leaf buds photographed on the same day. Both are red buckeye terminal leaf buds. The plants are located in the same area of the arboretum, so they are exposed to many of the same growing conditions and restrictions. But on this particular day, the leaf buds look very different: leaves are already emerging from one plant, while the leaf buds of the other plant look dormant.
Both photos were snapped on February 12, 2021.
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| Leaves are emerging from this terminal leaf bud. |
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| On a nearby red buckeye, the terminal leaf buds appear relatively inactive. |
