Is Plant Communication a Real Thing?

New research about plant communication upends older beliefs. Experts share the unique ways plants talk to each other.

By Sofia Quaglia
Apr 28, 2023 1:00 PM
Tree roots communicating in soil
(Credit: Lightspring/Shutterstock)

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How plants communicate has long been a question up for debate.

In fact, it was initially very controversial: Books like “The Secret Life of Plants” (1973) seemingly undermined the credibility of some of the first studies in the field by suggesting that plants thrive if you, say, sing or play classical music.

While many of those statements were later debunked, researchers remain adamant that there is some sort of communication going on between plants — and between plants and animals.

Can Plants Communicate With Each Other?

Plant communication is a perplexing topic. Perhaps because scientists are still learning about the process. What we do know is that plants have a wide range of mechanisms for communicating with each other and their surroundings.

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