12 plants and trees for humid climates

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?

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 are referring to one in which at least 800 liters per square meter are recorded in a year. There are several types:

Humid tropical: 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 found 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: summers are mild, and winters are cold but without reaching the extreme. Average rainfall is about 800mm per year.
Humid mountain: it is the one in tropical latitudes, at an average altitude of 2,500 meters. Precipitation 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 rainfall, but also about temperatures, because for example maples live in oceanic climates, but not in tropical climates. So if you have questions, you can take a look at our post on weather stations to find out how one can help you .

That said, now, here are some recommendations:

Trees for humid climates

Delonix regia

Image – Wikimedia/ Anna Anichkova

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

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

Fagus

Fagus sylvatica ‘Atropurpurea’. Image – Treeseedonline.com

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

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

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 leaves and composed of more than 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

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 crown that can be weeping as in the case of the weeping willow or Salix babylonica.

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

Plants and shrubs for moisture

Archontophoenix

Image – Davesgarden.com

It is a genus of fast growing palm trees that 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 Archontophoenix cunninghamiana species resists up to -2ºC, and Archontophoenix alexandrae up to -3ºC.

Dianthus

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.

Lonicera

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

It resists frosts down to -12ºC.

Strelitzia

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

They resist weak frosts down to -4ºC.

Small plants that live in humid environments

Calathea

Calatea are herbaceous plants that can reach up to a meter in height, but generally do not exceed 60 centimeters. Its leaves are very ornamental, of different colors (green, reddish, variegated, with spots…).

They are ideal for tropical gardens.

Related article:Calatea (Calathea orbifolia)

Maranta

Image – Wikimedia/ Mokkie

The maranta are perennial herbaceous plants that reach 50 centimeters in height and that produce highly decorative leaves of varied colors: green, red or cream, variegated.

They are tropical plants, which do not resist frost.