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Do April Showers Really Bring May Flowers?

  • 13 hours ago
  • 2 min read

We've all heard the 16th century proverb that "April showers bring May flowers," but is this tale scientifically supported or simply a fun rhyme to lighten the wet, gloomy days in April?


Vibrant tulip garden with red, pink, orange flowers, blue hyacinths and lush green leaves.

Petr Kratochvil/Field of purple, pink, orange, yellow, and red flowers


  1. History


Close-up of pink flowers and green leaves in rain, with a blurred background.

Sreenivas via Unsplash/A rainy day


The proverb originates from the United Kingdom, where April is one of the wettest months of the year due to the position of the jet stream (a band of strong, westerly air currents that surround the globe and influence weather patterns). The often-chilly climate in the UK inhibits the blooming of flowers until late April or early May.


Specifically, the saying most nearly originates from the English poet Thomas Tusser, who published a poem in his work "A Hundred Good Points of Husbandry" that reads, "Sweet April showers, do spring May flowers." While the quote was almost certainly symbolic in his poem, he likely based the line on the genuine weather patterns in his environment.


  1. Science and Accuracy of Proverb in North Carolina


City skyline at sunset with tall buildings silhouetted against a dramatic sky of pink, orange, and purple clouds.

Daniel Weiss via Unsplash/Charlotte skyline


For flowers to bloom efficiently, the ideal conditions include:

Daytime temperature between 65 and 80 degrees

Nighttime temperature between 55 and 68 degrees

1 to 1.5 inches of weekly rainfall

Moist, but not saturated soil

10 to 12 hours of sunlight


During April in North Carolina, the state receives about .5 to 1 inch of rain per week. Compared to other months, like August and September, this is actually relatively dry for the state. Rather, April acts as a transitionary period between wintry storms and hot, summer thunderstorms, and receives surprisingly less rain.


Colorful wildflowers in a field under a clear blue sky

Sue Osborn/Zinnias and Cosmos


Though, interestingly, May is the month that experiences the most blooming of the most variety of flowers in North Carolina. Wildflowers, Trilliums, Foamflowers, Crested Dwarfs, and countless other florals thrive during this period, enchanting the rolling hills and vast plains of the state with vibrantly shaded life.


This is not due to the rainfall, but rather, the increase in temperature in preparation for summer. The average temperature in May rises about 10 degrees from April, and daylight persists about an hour longer with more intensity. This enables flowers to blossom despite April being one of the drier months of the year because they rely more on plentiful sunlight than water for growth. This is because the sun is the primary source of energy for plants, and without it, they starve and cannot perform cell division.


  1. Conclusion


Wildflowers in a field glow in the warm light of a sunset, with trees silhouetted in the background.

Anisa Hasby Fauzia/Wildflower meadow at sunset

While it's true that May fosters widespread floral blooming, it's not exactly due to increased rainfall in April, but rather the increased temperature and sunlight exposure. In other words, about half of the quote is true.


While dissecting the saying's literal accuracy is interesting and insightful, it's also important to consider its figurative reminder that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Days that feel saturated with skies of cascading sorrow are always eclipsed by brighter, happier horizons enabled by the lessons we learn that inspire us to grow.


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