12 plants and trees for humid climates

Ferns are shade plants

Just as a circle does not fit into a square, a tree originating in a dry and warm place is not suitable for a humid place with a lot of rain.

The best thing to have a beautiful garden is to study the climate of the place where we live well and, with these data in mind, choose those plants and trees that are ideal for the climatic conditions. Therefore, if it rains frequently in your area, then we are going to recommend plants and trees for humid climates.

What are the characteristics of humid climates?

Plants are highly dependent on the weather

Before going into the subject, it is important to know what are the main characteristics of those humid climates, since this way you can be sure that the plants that you will be able to see in the photos of this article will be some of those that you can grow in your garden. , patio or terrace.

As well. When we talk about this type of climate, we refer to one in which at least 800 liters per square meter are recorded in a year. There are of several types:

  • Tropical wet: Also called equatorial climate, it can register more than 2500mm per year of rainfall, and the average temperature is about 27ºC.
  • Humid subtropical: it is located in the temperate zone of the planet but close to the tropics, so summers are warm. The temperature in winter can drop below 0 degrees, perhaps reaching -1ºC, but it will be very weak and occasional frosts. Average rainfall is around 1000mm.
  • Oceanic: the summers are mild, and the winters are cold but without reaching the extreme. Average rainfall is about 800mm per year.
  • Wet mountain: is the one in tropical latitudes, at an average altitude of 2500 meters. Rainfall can reach 1500mm per year, and the average temperature is 15ºC.
  • Subpolar oceanic: it is characterized by having cold summers, and by snowing in winter.

As we can see, when we look for plants we do not have to think only about the rains, but also about the temperatures, because for example the maples live in oceanic climates, but not in tropical climates. So if you have doubts, you can take a look at our post about weather stations to find out how a 😉 can help you.

That said, now yes, here are some recommendations:

Trees for humid climates

Delonix direction

View of the flamboyan

Image - Wikimedia / Anna Anichkova

Or flamboyán, it is an evergreen tree, semi-deciduous or expired depending on the temperatures and the rains that there are, which grows up to 12 meters high. It develops a parasol crown, composed of leaves composed of 20 to 40 pairs of green leaflets or pinnae. Its flowers are red, or orange in the variety Delonix regia var. flavid.

It resists frosts down to -2ºC if it is an adult and is acclimatized, but prefers less rigorous climates.

Flamboyan tree
Related article:
Flamboyan

Fagus

Specimen of Fagus sylvatica 'Atropurpurea'

Fagus sylvatica 'Atropurpurea'. Image - Treeseedonline.com

Called beech, they are deciduous trees that they can reach 35 meters in height. Its trunk is usually straight, but it will lean if it doesn't have room to grow. In autumn they turn reddish / orange before losing their foliage.

They resist frosts down to -18ºC, but they will not live in tropical climates.

Fagus are deciduous trees
Related article:
Fagus

Pseudobombox ellipticum

View of Pseudobombax ellipticum

Image - Flickr / Cyndy Sims Parr

Popularly called coquito, cocuche or carnation, it is a deciduous tree (it loses its leaves shortly before the dry season, or cold if it lives in a temperate zone) that reaches a height of 15 to 30 meters, with large, compound leaves over 20cm wide. Produces white flowers.

From my own experience I will tell you that it resists weak frosts of up to -2ºC, but prefers that the temperatures remain above 0 degrees all year round.

Salix

View of the Salix fragilis

Image - Wikimedia / Kruczy89

Willows, as they are called, are deciduous trees and shrubs that love wet terrain. They reach a height of about 10 meters, with a dense glass being able to be weeping as in the case of weeping willow o salix babylonica.

They resist frosts of up to 18ºC, some species, such as the Salix herbacea, more.

View of the willow tree in a garden
Related article:
Willow (Salix)

Plants and shrubs for moisture

Archontophoenix

Archontophoenix maxima crown of leaves

Image - Davesgarden.com

It is a genus of fast-growing palm trees that They can reach 25-30 meters in height with a trunk that is only about 40cm thick. They develop pinnate leaves up to 5-6 meters long, and very showy branched inflorescences.

Ideal for tropical and subtropical climates. The species Archontophoenix cunninghamiana resists up to -2ºC, and Archontophoenix Alexandrae. up to -3ºC.

Archontophoenix cunninghamiana
Related article:
Archontophoenix

Dianthus

Carnations are small plants

Known as carnations, they are a genus of perennial herbaceous plants that produce flowers with five petals of very varied colors: white, pink, red, ... They reach a height of only 30-40cm.

They resist frosts down to -12ºC.

Dianthus flowers are very cheerful
Related article:
Carnation (Dianthus)

Lonicera

Lonicera are climbing plants

Known as honeysuckle, it is a normally deciduous climbing shrub that produces small white flowers in spring. Grows up to 6 meters, as long as you have a guide to climb on, although it can also be grown as a bonsai.

It resists frosts down to -12ºC.

Characteristics of the Etruscan Lonicera
Related article:
Etruscan Lonicera

Strelitzia

Strelitzia are very decorative herbaceous

Also known as starletsia, bird of paradise, crane flower or fire birds, these are perennial herbaceous plants with leaves with long petioles that they can reach a height of 1 to 7 meters depending on the species.

They resist weak frosts down to -4ºC.

Strelitzia are very pretty flowering plants
Related article:
Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia spp)

Small plants that live in humid environments

Calathea

Calatea are perennial herbaceous

Calatea are herbaceous plants that can reach up to a meter in height, but are usually no more than 60 centimeters. Its leaves are very ornamental, of different colors (green, reddish, variegated, with spots…).

They are ideal for tropical gardens.

wet leaves with dry edges
Related article:
Calathea (Calathea orbifolia)

Maranta

View of the Maranta arundinacea 'Variegata'

Image - Wikimedia / Mokkie

Maranta are herbaceous perennials that reach 50 centimeters in height and that produce very decorative leaves of varied colors: green, red or cream, variegated.

They are tropical plants, which do not resist frost.

Maranta
Related article:
Keep your Maranta leaves healthy with these tricks

Pteris

View of the Pteris fern

Image - Flickr / Patricio Novoa Quezada

It is a genus of trunkless ferns that reach a height of 40-50 centimeters, with linear or subpalmate fronds (leaves) of green color.

They can't stand the cold.

Pteris cretica
Related article:
Peteris (Pteris)

Zantesdechia aethiopica

Alcatraz flower

Known as calla lilies, Ethiopian ring or water lilies, they are perennial and rhizomatous herbaceous plants up to a meter high. The leaves are shiny green and petiolate, but its main attraction is its inflorescences called spadices, which are white in color.

They resist frosts down to -4ºC.

Cala Flower
Related article:
How are water lilies cared for?

Do you know other plants and trees for humid places?


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