overwintert

Overwintert is not a standard English term. In German, überwintert is the third-person singular present tense of überwintern, meaning “he/she/it overwinters” or “spends the winter.” English usage typically uses overwinter or overwinters (present) rather than overwintert. The form may appear in multilingual texts or when referring to German-language sources.

Overwintering refers to strategies that organisms use to survive winter’s cold, darkness, and reduced resources. It can involve physiological changes, behavioral shifts, or life-cycle timing, enabling persistence until favorable conditions return.

In plants, overwintering often means entering a state of dormancy during winter, with buds or seeds protected by scales or seed coats; perennials may store resources in roots or bulbs. Some species require cold stratification to break dormancy.

In animals, overwintering may take the form of hibernation or brumation, where metabolic rates drop; others migrate to milder climates. Insects may enter diapause; birds and mammals adjust feeding and energy use. Monarch butterflies overwinter in specific temperate regions; bats and ground squirrels hibernate; some species survive by stored fat.

In horticulture and agriculture, overwintering includes protecting crops and ornamentals from frost, bringing potted plants indoors, mulching, or providing greenhouse space. Seeds may be stored in cold conditions to maintain viability; farmers select varieties with suitable winter-hardiness.

See also: overwintering, dormancy, diapause. Etymology: from over + winter; in German, überwintert serves as the third-person singular form of überwintern.