Plant Facts
Why one cunning plant stinks of dying ants
Japanese botanists says it's the first example ever recorded of plants copying ants in the name of pollination
Tree ring count reveals true age of iconic, world-famous Sycamore Gap tree
Historic England scientists have confirmed the iconic Sycamore Gap tree, felled in 2023, was more than a century old
In the 1970s, scientists noticed that trees in a US mountain range were migrating. Now they know why
Trees are on the move. While they are not exactly uprooting themselves, they are showing remarkable resilience to climate change and shifting their ranges.
Is this ordinary plant a secret, yet deadly, meat eater?
The thistle that has a taste for meat
10 dangerous, criminal weeds that could land you in legal trouble and having to pay a hefty fine if they're on your land
We take a look at some dangerous weeds that could cost your pocket
What's new?
A tree that grows underneath the ground? Discover the trees that grow trunks, fruit and even flowers below the earth
Whether for wildfire dodging or sucking up moisture, growing underground is a clever tactic for trees in remote savannahs and sandy environments.
The weird fungus that turns animals into zombies and kills them precisely at sunset
It's like something out of a horror movie...
10 desert plants that thrive in hostile and inhospitable conditions – often in extreme temperatures
Deserts are home to some of the most extraordinary plants on Earth. Here are our top 10 species, from Antarctica flowers to delicious date palms
Did you know amber is fossilized resin and millions of years old? It might look nice as jewellery but it also reveals secrets from ancient animals...
Amber is fossilised resin that can preserve the structures of small creatures, but, sadly, can’t bring back the dinosaurs.
What's the world's most poisonous tree?
The world's most poisonous tree must rely on tides and currents to disperse its fruits.
Flowers
Nectar vs pollen: what's the difference between these two substances that bees love?
Nectar and pollen are loved by pollinators such as bees – but what exactly is the difference between them?
Why do flowers point up or down?
Botanist Phil Gates discusses the adaptations of flowering plants.
How can you spot an ancient woodland?
Naturalist and author Amy-Jane Beer answers your wild question.
Flowers
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
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
Fungi
Cordyceps and Orphiocordyceps: 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.
What is ringworm?
Is ringworm a worm, or even a parasite? Stuart Blackman explains.
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!
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
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
This tree is one of the most toxic in the world, with just 50g of foliage able to kill a human within hours
Old and gnarled, yew trees are a familiar tree in our landscape and are often associated with churchyards. Our expert guide explores this native tree.
New DNA study suggests ash trees are evolving to resist deadly dieback disease
The discovery offers new hope in the fight against the deadly fungus that is threatening the survival of ash trees across Europe.
8 of the world's most dangerous trees – including the exploding 'dynamite tree' that fires seeds at speeds up to 160mph
From tropical terrors to coniferous killers – here are some tree species you might want to avoid the next time you’re walking in the woods.
Trees
Weirdest trees in the world: Discover nature's 8 wackiest - including a deadly exploding one that's named the 'dynamite tree'
Meet some of the weirdest and oddest trees on the planet
“A new layer of complexity”: scientists record bioelectrical tree communication during solar eclipse
A new study carried out in Italy's Dolomite Mountains provides further evidence that trees are capable of complex communication, say researchers.
"I thought, what's that?" Hiker makes extraordinary discovery in Sequoia National Park
Ecologist Professor Hugh Safford was walking in California's High Sierra when he stumbled across a truly unlikely thing.
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.