Temperate tree species with non-porous, diffuse-porous and ring-porous woods diverge substantially in the strategy of coping with freezing-induced hydraulic dysfunction, which can be closely associated with the timing of both leaf phenology and xylogenesis. Nevertheless, we still know little about their potential differences in the intra-annual process of xylogenesis as well as the association of this process with leaf phenology. Here, we monitored leaf phenology and xylogenesis in a non-porous ( Pinus), a diffuse-porous ( Populus), and a ring-porous ( Ulmus) temperate tree species in a common garden. The results showed clear divergences in leaf and cambium phenologies and their chronological orders. The two angiosperm tree species exhibited earlier bud burst and leaf unfolding than the conifer. The cambial activity of the ring-porous species began earlier than the diffuse-porous species, although the leaf phenology of the diffuse-porous species was earlier. The conifer species showed the latest leaf phenology but the initiation of cambium activity was as early as the ring-porous species. The results revealed that leaf and cambium phenologies are closely interconnected due to the coordination between xylem water transport and leaf water demand. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the divergent adaptive strategies of temperate trees with different wood types.