The Timing of Canopy and Epicormic shoot growth in Quercus robur L.

The sequence and timing of shoot development from buds on the branches and trunk of Quercus robur were observed over 2 years. Shoots on crown branches began development before those on existing epicormic branches but both stopped growing at about the same time. Epicormic buds on the trunk began expanding 3–4 weeks after crown buds, and finished growth 3 weeks later. These observations do not support previous claims that new epicormic shoots grow before development of the canopy.