Plants are not static items on your Upland property like map assets. Plants are alive. Not only do they need to be fed and maintained, but it takes time for them to grow. When planted, a maple tree doesn’t just magically appear to be 15 feet tall. Below you can see the different growth stages of a maple tree.
When it comes to how plants can change, there are 2 systems in place – the growth cycle and the bloom cycle.
The growth cycle is shown above, where each plant has its own stages of growth that happen over time. This determines how long it will take for the plant to fully mature (given that it is properly fed and maintained). These growth cycles continue across seasons and are not reset by the seasonal bloom cycle. If you are impatient and can’t wait, you can opt to pay UPX for miracle growth where your plant will instantly advance a growth phase.
The bloom cycle represents the 4 different annual seasons throughout the year – autumn, winter, spring and summer. Within each Upland season (which lasts 6 weeks), every plant will go through these 4 season. Each different plant reaches its peak bloom at different parts of the bloom cycle. Just like in the real world, some plants thrive in specific seasons while others remain consistent year-round.
For example, evergreen trees will remain green through the winter, while other plants may fully bloom in the spring or reach their peak in the summer. This creates a more natural and varied environment, where properties evolve differently depending on what is planted.
As the seasons progress, properties will shift in appearance. Some will become more vibrant during spring, others will stand out in summer, and some will maintain a steady presence across all seasons.