Five plants that are happy when it rains
Some plants like direct sunlight, while others prefer shade. Some prefer cool days, while others like to bask in summer heat.
Then there are the rain-loving plants - breathtaking blooms that are happiest after a downpour.
Here are some plants you can find in Canadian gardens that fit that description.
1. Western trillium
(Wikipedia/The Cosmonaut) CC BY-SA 2.5
Found in the lush woodlands of British Columbia and parts of Alberta, this flower is identified by its stunning white, three-petaled flowers with delicate pink markings. It thrives in moist, well-drained soil, spreading like a carpet on the forest floor. The rain acts as a natural wake-up call for these blooms, which prefer to hang out in the shade. But there can be too much of a good thing: While trilliums tend to like water, they can become waterlogged - which is why soil drainage is important.
2. Fireweed
(Denise Thornington/supplied)
Fireweed, a vibrant magenta-hued wildflower, flourish after it rains, with wet weather sometimes being the trigger for a mass germination event. One plant can produce up to 30,000 seeds in a season. It prefers a dry summer, followed by ample moisture in the fall or winter.
3. Hydrangea
(Gerry Zampini/supplied)
These garden staples simply love the rain, which is fitting, given the name “hydrangea” comes from the ancient Greek word for “water vessel.” Hydrangeas are not native to Canada - they are an introduced species - but they are not considered invasive because they don’t outcompete native plants or damage the ecosystem.
4.Forget-me-not
(S./supplied)
These delicate flowers will self-seed in your garden, first showing up in early spring and often near water’s edge. Though short-lived, they are happy in the wild so long as there is ample rain.
5. Japanese primrose
(Wikipedia/ Aplsdake) CC BY-SA 4.0
While native to Japan, Japanese primrose will grow in Canadian gardens without becoming invasive. While happy in full sun, it prefers moist and damp conditions, which is why it’s on this list of rain-loving plants.
