Plant Facts
Enormous drones sent on mission over English moors – they could help save one of Earth's most threatened ecosystems
75,000 native tree seeds have been dropped by drones in Bodmin in an initiative that may prove to be vital in protecting temperate rainforests.
Monkey faces, naked men and swaddled babies: These are the weirdest flowers in the world
Nature has a wild imagination, and nowhere is that more obvious than in the world of flowers. From leaves shaped like lips to enormous flowers that smell of rotting flesh, these are some of the weirdest, most unusual flowers in the world
Are there any black flowers?
Wondering why we don't see black flowers? Phil Gates explains
Camera traps reveal formidable animal rampaging through rare monkey puzzle forests in Chile
Researchers say the large invasive mammals pose a threat to endangered monkey puzzle trees, as well as other wildlife in the Patagonian Andes.
World's most poisonous mushrooms: 9 deadly fungi you don't want to mess with
Mushrooms can be a great and tasty source of food, but foragers beware, some should be avoided at all cost!
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How many trees are there in China? Scientists just counted them and here's what they found
The researchers discovered that there are roughly 100 trees for every person living in China.
How does the deadly Venus flytrap snare – and dissolve – its prey?
Once this plant's trap doors close there's no chance of escape...
Blazing star discovered in cloud forests of Peru
A new and striking species of plant from the blazing star family has been found in the high-altitude forests of the Peruvian Andes, highlighting the powerful role citizen science can play in conservation.
The strange tree whose trunk is a rainbow of colour
Why the eucalyptus tree is a multicoloured piece of art
Flowers
It reeks of rotten flesh, blooms for 24 hours and heats itself up – meet one of the world’s most fascinating plants
The world's smelliest plant draws in thousands of visitors, and often makes global headline news when it blooms
10 plants that think they're animals: From warm-hearted cabbages to parasites that cry and vegetable vampires
Over the course of evolution some plants have developped amazing animal-like traits. Here are 10 of the oddest species
Ghost hunt: astoundingly rare orchid emerges from shadows of British woodland for first time in 15 years
The rarest plant in Britain, the ghost orchid, has been found flowering for the first time since 2009.
Flowers
How a barren desert transforms into a vibrant blooming wonderland. Discover the stunning colours of South Africa's Namaqualand
When the rains fall, the arid lands of South Africa are set ablaze with breathtaking botanical colour
Sown vs native road verges: which is best?
Local councils and institutions are transforming road verges into rivers of flowers – and saving money while they do it. But are these sown ‘meadows’ any good for pollinators and other wildlife?
What’s the difference between wild and cultivated daffodils?
Amy-Jane Beer takes a look at how cultivated daffodils differ to their wild cousins
Fungi
It lives in poo and detonates its spores at 90kmh. Meet the exploding fungus dubbed the 'dung cannon'
Fungi aren’t generally known for their speed, yet one group is quicker off the mark than perhaps any other organism on the planet, the Pilobolus crystallinus
7 of the weirdest fungi in the world you (probably) haven't heard of, from the bleeding tooth to dead man's fingers
Fungi can be very strange. Here's our round-up of some of the weirdest fungi on the planet.
Fungi guide: all you need to know about nature's hidden kingdom, including how fungi differs to plants
All you need to know about fungi, including how it reproduces
Fungi
What is a fairy ring and what causes mushrooms to form a circle?
Just how and why do fairy rings form? We take a look
Hair ice fungus: what it is and how this rare magical winter sight forms
Nick Baker takes a look at the weird phenomenon that produces hair ice, a rare winter wonder formed by a bit of alchemy magic
Cordyceps and Ophicordyceps: the zombie fungi made famous by The Last Of Us
Cordyceps and Ophiocordyceps are the stuff of nightmares – if you’re an insect, or if you've played or watched The Last Of Us.
Plant ID
Wild garlic guide: how to identify, when and how to forage, and recipe ideas
In the forager's calendar, spring is one of the best times – when wild garlic grows in shaded woodlands, filling the air with a light garlicky scent.
Wild roses and rosehips guide: how to identify, and how to make rosehip syrup
With its white-pink flowers in summer and bright red rosehips in autumn and winter, the dog rose is a familiar plant of our countryside.
How to identify non-native summer flowers
If you get the urge to gather a guilt-free garland of colourful midsummer blooms, these garden escapees may fit the bill. Naturalist and presenter Brett Westwood shares 12 for you to spot this summer.
Plant ID
Elder guide: how to identify, when and how to forage for elderflowers and elderberries, and recipe ideas
Elder has made the slow journey from protective mother-spirit to often being deemed as a hedgerow and garden weed, fit only to be sawn down.
How to identify common 'weeds'
‘Weeds’ are familiar plants to many of us, sprouting up and thriving on pavements and disturbed ground. Learn to identify 12 common species in this illustrated guide.
British wildlife in March
As spring brings an abundance of new life, it’s time to talk about the birds and the bee-flies. Here is selection of the month's best wildlife spectacles from around the British countryside in March.
Trees
Weirdest trees in the world: Discover nature's wackiest tree wonders
Meet some of the weirdest and oddest trees on the planet
Mystery of the weird and wonderful 'upside-down tree' finally solved
Scientists have solved the puzzle behind the origin, evolution and worldwide dispersal of the extraordinary baobab tree, according to a new study.
A tree that can walk? How one 'walking tree' is said to be able to move itself to a sunnier spot
There's a walking tree? Stuart Blackman investigates a tree that is said to be able to move
Trees
What's the oldest tree in the world?
There is some debate surrounding the world's oldest tree. Here's why
What's the tallest tree in the world?
Did you know the tallest tree species in the world can grow to more than 100 metres? Learn all about them
How to grow an oak tree from an acorn
Autumn is the perfect time to try growing an oak tree, here's how
Water Plants
What is seaweed and how does it differ to plants?
What exactly is seaweed? Is it a plant and how does it grow? Lara Howe, Marine Officer at Manx Wildlife Trusts, explains the mysteries of this slimy water plant
Algae: What it is, why algae blooms can be toxic and how it differs to plants
All you need to know about algae, from what it is to why algae blooms are toxic
Bladderwort guide: how this carnivorous pond plant catches its unsuspecting prey - fast
The sinister secret of this free-floating pond plant lies beneath the water’s surface. Meet the bladderwort and its highly effective trap
Water Plants
How do plants breathe underwater?
We all know plants need air to survive, so how do aquatic and underwater plants cope?
Red seaweed: why is it red?
Matt Doggett explains why red seaweed is red - and why sometimes its green...
Eelgrass guide: what it is and why eelgrass meadows are crucial for some marine and bird life
Phil Gates explains all you need to know about eelgrass, an often overlooked sea plant that is important for conservation
Wildlife Garden
Best plants to grow for pollinators in your wildlife garden
Dave Goulson, author of The Garden Jungle, reveals some of the best plants you can grow to give garden pollinators and other species a helping hand.
British wildlife in February
From fruiting fungus to winter birds, here is selection of the month's best wildlife spectacles from around the British countryside in February.
Best garden plants for wildlife
Discover the best plants to attract more wildlife and colour to your garden with our expert guide.
Wildlife Garden
How to build and care for your wildlife pond
Ponds are one of the most important features to include in a wildlife-friendly garden as a huge variety of species depend on them. Learn how to care for your wildlife pond with our expert guide, including best pond plants to grow each season and how to attract more visitors to your pond.
Truth or fiction: gardens can save our wildlife
Can small isolated patches of habitat really offset the damage we are doing to our environment? Professor of biodiversity and conservation Kevin Gaston provides the answer.
How to make a butterfly-friendly garden
It's easy to attract a range of butterfly species to your garden, and our expert guide offers some top tips for doing so.