Green weather heralds: Ten plants that predict rain
Created: 05/13/2022, 11:30 am
By: Ines Alms
How will be the weather?
Sun or rain, plants like the wild carrot or the silver thistle are good weather forecasters and compete with meteorologists.
Munich – Sometimes plants are the more reliable meteorologists, one might think.
They open or close their flower heads and you already know which way the wind is blowing.
Or?
At least as far as rain is concerned, plants like the wild carrot or the silver thistle make a good weather forecast and tell you whether you can leave the watering can out for the time being.
Plants predict the weather: will there be sun or rain?
The wild carrot (Daucus carota) closes its umbels with seeds when it rains.
(Iconic image) © blickwinkel/Imago
Plants are often very sensitive to the weather.
When the temperature fluctuates or the humidity changes, many adjust their fragrance intensity or flower orientation and are thus considered quite reliable weather forecasters.
With this change, they protect their flowers or seeds, for example.
If you want to know what the weather will be like, keep an eye on these plants:
Wild carrot: If the plant has already formed umbels of seeds, it bends them inwards as soon as rain threatens.
Mullein: It is also called the weather candle.
Do the mullein flowers face east or west?
In the east, the signs are pointing to the sun, while looking west suggests rain.
Kapkörbchen: Closed flowers signal: There will be rain.
Weather Thistle: The silver thistle is legendary as a weather prophet.
Even when dried, closed flowers are said to herald rain showers or thunderstorms.
Lady's Mantle: Small water beads on the edges of the leaves indicate rain.
However, if the lady's mantle in the garden forms water droplets on the leaf surface, this gives hope for sun.
Marigolds: With increased humidity, the flowers usually close their blooms a few hours before the rain.
Meadow clover: If it lets its flower head droop, there could be rain.
Little heads in the air?
Then it stays nice for the next few hours.
Wood sorrel: the weather-sensitive.
The more the leaves are folded, the closer the rain is.
But it could also be that the clover is very hot, reducing the surface area for evaporation.
Linden: Does it smell intensely of linden blossoms?
Have the umbrella ready.
Birch trees: As humidity increases, birch trees smell increasingly spicier.
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Plants as weather messengers: Plants also need weather protection
At least a few hours in advance, weather plants are a good indicator.
Concerning the next few days you should rather trust the meteorologists.
The weather forecast of plants should not be confused with flowers, which always open or close their blossoms at the same time of day - this includes, for example, the ice plant.
Even if flowers sometimes predict the weather, they are often defenseless against it.
Therefore, you should protect the plants, especially in spring, when there is a risk of severe weather and temperature fluctuations.
Heavy showers, on the other hand, do not bother most flowers, especially fuchsias and hanging geraniums are fairly rain-resistant plants.
