Do Plants Really Communicate?

We often think of communication as the exclusive realm of animals — the chatter of dolphins, the growl of a lion, the speech of humans. But what if we told you that plants, too, have their own language? It’s not made of words or sounds, but of scents, vibrations, chemical trails, and electric pulses.

Welcome to the secret world of plant communication. It’s a slower, subtler form of exchange, but one that plays a vital role in how forests, gardens, and ecosystems survive and adapt. In this article, we’ll explore the ways in which plants send, receive, and respond to signals — and what this means for our understanding of life itself.

Do Plants Really Communicate?

Yes — just not in the ways we’re used to. Plant communication happens through a variety of mechanisms that science is only beginning to fully understand. Here are a few of the most fascinating:

1. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): These airborne chemicals are like warning beacons. When a plant is attacked by pests, it can release VOCs to signal nearby plants to activate their own defenses — a kind of early alert system.
2. Mycorrhizal Networks: Often called the “wood wide web,” these fungal networks connect roots underground and allow trees to share nutrients and even send distress signals. Some scientists believe this is how “mother trees” support young saplings.
3. Root Signaling: Plants also release chemicals into the soil to attract beneficial microbes or deter neighboring competitors. This form of allelopathy helps them secure space and resources.
4. Electrical Impulses: Plants like the Venus flytrap or the Mimosa pudica use electrical signaling to trigger movement in response to touch — a rapid reaction that mimics a primitive nervous system.
5. Sound Detection: Some research suggests that plant roots may respond to certain sound frequencies, such as running water or insect chewing. It’s speculative, but gaining attention in plant science.

Behind the Scenes

Plant communication was once considered pseudoscience. The idea that “green life” could respond to stimuli was mostly relegated to fringe thinkers. But that began to change in the late 20th century with controlled studies showing real biochemical responses between plants.

In 1990, a study published in Nature showed that willows under attack by insects could “warn” nearby willows to produce chemical defenses. In the 2000s, scientists like Dr. Suzanne Simard mapped underground fungal networks that transmit signals and nutrients across forest floors. These findings have transformed plant biology into one of the most exciting frontiers in science.

What Most People Don’t Know

• Plants have memory: Some plants can “learn” to ignore repeated false threats and remember stressful events.
• Mother trees nurture young: Older trees in forests have been observed directing nutrients to related saplings through root systems.
• Plants respond to neighbors: Beans growing next to competitive species grow differently than when grown next to kin.
• Plants “listen”: Experiments suggest roots may grow toward the sound of water, even when it’s not physically present.

From Experts & Explorers

“Plants don’t just sit there. They do things — they sense, they respond, and they interact,” says Dr. Monica Gagliano, a researcher known for her work in plant behavior. Her experiments with pea plants showed they can associate sounds with rewards, similar to how animals learn.

“We need to stop seeing plants as static background characters,” she adds. “They’re deeply aware of their environment and are constantly making decisions based on it.”

Bonus Fact

One of the more whimsical findings in recent years? Arabidopsis thaliana, a small flowering plant used in lab studies, can “cry” — releasing ultrasonic sounds when under drought stress. Though humans can’t hear it, scientists have recorded these sounds and are studying how other plants might respond to them.

Takeaway

Plants may not speak our language, but they’re far from silent. Through scent, sound, signals, and underground exchanges, they create rich networks of information. This isn’t science fiction — it’s an emerging reality that reshapes how we view intelligence and interaction in the natural world.

By learning how plants communicate, we also learn how to protect ecosystems, grow smarter crops, and understand the planet on a deeper level. The next time you walk through a forest, remember: the trees may be talking. We’re just starting to learn how to listen.