Plant Facts
"There wasn't a curve in sight." Straight bananas found growing on remote Caribbean island
Is it the end of the bendy banana?
Strange organism that looks like a tongue found in English woodland. It has never been seen before in the UK
The rare blue-based earthtongue fungus was discovered at Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve in West Sussex.
Stunning wildflower 'superbloom' sweeps through Death Valley. It's the best display in a decade
The hottest place on the planet has transformed into a sea of colour, as desert gold and notch-leaf phacelia flowers fill the valley floor.
Do plants sleep?
When the sun goes down, some flowers appear to tuck themselves in for the night.
But this curious habit is actually driven by a fascinating piece of plant science.
“These beacons of light in the mud do so much more than promise us brighter days ahead.”
The first signs of spring aren’t just beautiful – they’re essential to awakening wildlife, too
What's new?
It's as big as a tractor tyre and smells like a rotting corpse
Why the biggest flower in the world is also the smelliest...
"When it blooms, it emits a horrendous aroma, similar to that of rotting meat" – 14 weirdest, bizarrest flowers on the planet
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
Mysterious red cups are appearing on woodland floors. But they're not fairy baths, as people once thought...
Look to the floor on your next forest walk and you may spot these vivid jewels among the leaf litter, says Ben Hoare.
It looks like an extra-terrestrial being that fell to Earth, behaves like a vampire and smells like rotting meat
We take a look at one of the world's strangest and smelliest plants
Scientists looked beneath one of oldest trees on Earth. What they found is astounding
The researchers discovered a hidden world of life among the roots of Chile's ancient alerce trees. Here's why that's important.
Flowers
It’s longer than a blue whale, is thousands of years old and drinks fog – meet this weird ‘living fossil’
This living fossil (having unchanged for more than 200 million years) can survive some of the harshest conditions on Earth
After nuclear disaster, sunflowers were planted. And they could transform the landscape in a very interesting way
From golden fields to buzzing pollinators, the sunflower is more than just a pretty face – it’s a powerhouse of nature that could help clean nuclear pollution
Has nature gone rogue? Discover 10 freaky monstrous plants that think they're animals, from vampires to zombies
Over the course of evolution some plants have developped amazing animal-like traits. Here are 10 of the oddest species
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.
Fungi
"Eating it leads to liver failure, kidney failure, and death." 9 deadliest fungi on the planet – mushrooms 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!
It's the equivalent of a humongous 1,500 soccer fields and is 8,650 years old
This humongous fungus is the biggest organism in the world
It may look like ice – but don't be fooled for this is a rare and alive eerie woodland phenomenon that even astounds the experts...
Nick Baker takes a look at the weird phenomenon that produces hair ice, a rare winter wonder formed by a bit of alchemy magic
Fungi
It has bizarre tentacles, oozes yucky black goo and stinks of death – and could be near you right now
The octopus stinkhorn, also known as devil's fingers, is a type of fungus that grows from egg-like spores
7 weirdest fungi in the world you (probably) haven't heard of, from the gross-looking bleeding tooth to the creepy dead man's fingers
Fungi can be very strange. Here's our round-up of some of the weirdest fungi on the planet.
The weird fungus that turns animals into zombies and kills them precisely at sunset
It's like something out of a horror movie...
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
It’s taller than Big Ben, can live for thousands of years and even regenerates after an entire forest burns down
Did you know the tallest tree species in the world can grow to more than 100 metres? Learn all about them
Does a tree know it's being eaten?
Can a tree protect itself if being eaten?
It’s older than the Roman Empire, taller than the Statue of Liberty and as heavy as 7 blue whales
Meet the General Sherman tree – the largest tree on the planet.
Trees
It weighs up to a whopping 30kg, has a diameter of 50cm and is the biggest seed on the planet
BBC Wildlife section editor Sarah McPherson answers your wild question.
10 epic photos of the most monumental trees on Earth
Astonishing images of some of the world's largest trees, from towering giant sequoias and coastal redwoods to colossal cedars and statuesque baobabs.
Scientists are desperately trying to resurrect Australia’s ‘zombie tree’
Researchers say they are in a race against time to save the tree from a deadly fungal disease.
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.
