Do April showers really bring May flowers? | WeatherIQ

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — May is around the corner and with it some of your favorite flowers. In fact, nearly 4,000 native flowering plants grow every year in North Carolina.  But many of them bloomed recently, right? 

Without fail, on rainy days in April, most of us say “April showers bring May flowers.” The old adage dates back hundreds of years, but does it ring true for the Carolinas?  

According to the folklore, May is traditionally when some expect to see flowers flourish. That is of course if you believe April showers are truly responsible for May flowers. 

Here’s what you need for perfect blooms:

• Temperatures: Ideally between 65 and 80 degrees during the day and 55 to 68 degrees at night. 
• Rainfall: About 1 to 1.5 inches per week to keep soil moist but not soaked. 
• Sunlight: At least 10 to 12 hours of daylight. 

Now let’s bring it closer to home. On average, April brings about 3.84 inches of rain to the Queen City. May tends to be just a little bit drier with an average of 3.36 inches. So April does bring showers, but not dramatically more than other spring months. In fact, March is often wetter than April. 

But here’s the thing: Flowers need more than just water. They also need sunlight and warmer temperatures to thrive — and that’s where May comes in.

Our average high jumps from the low 70s in April to near 80 by May, with plenty more sunshine as daylight hours go from near 13 hours in April to 14 hours in May. So while April showers do help hydrate the soil, it’s the longer days and warming temperatures that truly bring the flowers we love like geranium, irises, and dogwoods. 

For a comprehensive list of flowers, you may see in your neighborhood, check out the NC State Extension Plant Toolbox online. 

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