Do Plants Communicate With Each Other? The Science of Plant “Talk”

I have a small but proud plant collection—some pothos, a fiercely independent fiddle leaf fig, and a snake plant that I swear could survive on a prayer and a teaspoon of sunlight. Like many plant parents, I talk to them. Out loud. “You’re doing great,” I told my peace lily last week, half-laughing and fully hoping it would stop drooping.

But recently, I stumbled into a rabbit hole of research and found myself wondering: what if they’re talking back? Not to me, necessarily—but to each other?

It turns out that science has been asking this question for a while now. And the answer is more fascinating—and more complicated—than I expected.

Do Plants Really “Talk”?

Let’s set some expectations here. Plants don’t chat the way we do—there’s no whispering between tulips or late-night gossip among succulents.

But communication? Yes. Plants absolutely send, receive, and respond to signals from each other and their environment. It’s not speech, and it’s not conscious. But it’s purposeful. And in some cases, it's astonishingly sophisticated.

Plant communication happens in a few main ways:

• Through the air (chemical signals)
• Through their roots (chemical and electrical signals)
• Via shared underground networks (yep, the “Wood Wide Web” is real)

Let’s dig into the science behind it—and explore what it could mean for how we understand nature, ecosystems, and maybe even our own relationship with the living world around us.

Airborne Warnings: Chemical "Messages" Between Leaves

One of the most widely studied forms of plant communication is what happens above ground, particularly when a plant is under attack.

Here’s a well-known example: when a leaf-eating insect munches on a plant (say, a tomato or a corn stalk), the plant doesn’t just suffer silently. It releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—tiny molecules that float through the air.

These VOCs serve as warning signals to neighboring plants of the same species—and sometimes different species. The message? “Trouble is coming. Defend yourself.”

In response, nearby plants may ramp up their chemical defenses—producing bitter compounds or even toxins to make themselves less appealing to the same hungry pest.

This isn't sci-fi. It's science.

In a study published in Science (2006), researchers found that sagebrush plants infested by herbivores released VOCs that nearby wild tobacco plants “picked up,” leading them to produce more defensive enzymes—before they were attacked.

In other words, plants are eavesdropping on each other’s distress signals—and proactively responding.

That’s not just cool. It’s adaptive survival strategy.

Underground Signals: Roots and the Hidden Language of Soil

While above-ground plant “talk” is impressive, what’s happening *beneath the surface might be even more intricate.

Plants don’t just absorb nutrients through their roots—they also release chemicals into the soil to influence the behavior of other organisms, including neighboring plants, fungi, and microbes.

These root-released chemicals (called root exudates) can:

• Inhibit the growth of competing plants
• Attract beneficial microbes
• Signal distress or danger to nearby roots

It’s almost like plants are texting each other through the soil. They don’t have eyes or ears, but they can sense chemical changes in their environment and respond accordingly—sometimes by growing in a different direction or slowing their metabolism to conserve resources.

Enter the “Wood Wide Web”: Plants + Fungi = Secret Network

Now for my favorite part: the underground internet of the plant world.

More than 90% of land plants form symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi—tiny threadlike organisms that connect to plant roots and extend into the soil.

These fungi trade nutrients for sugars from the plant. But that’s just the beginning.

Mycorrhizal networks link multiple plants together, allowing them to:

• Share nutrients
• Warn each other of threats (like insect attacks or disease)
• Even send carbon to weaker or younger plants in the community

It’s not a hive mind, but it’s close.

A groundbreaking study by Dr. Suzanne Simard, showed that trees in a forest actively shared carbon with each other through these fungal networks—favoring their “relatives” over unrelated species. This phenomenon has since been dubbed the “Wood Wide Web.”

It’s not entirely altruistic—it’s still about survival—but it does challenge the old idea that plants are passive or competitive-only beings. There’s cooperation in the forest.

So… Are Plants “Intelligent”?

Now, this is where the debate gets thorny.

Let’s be clear: plants don’t have brains or nervous systems. They don’t “think” or “feel” in the way animals do. But they do respond to stimuli, process information, and make decisions—at least in a biological sense.

In fact, the field of plant neurobiology explores how plants integrate information from their environment and coordinate responses. Some scientists argue that this could be considered a form of intelligence—just not the kind we’re used to.

For example, plants:

• Can “remember” droughts and adjust future responses
• Use internal signaling pathways (hormonal and electrical)
• Prioritize where to grow based on past experiences

Is it consciousness? Probably not. But it’s far from mindless.

What This Means for Science—and for Us

The science of plant communication is still evolving. Many studies are in early stages, and scientists continue to debate just how far we should stretch terms like “talk” or “intelligence.”

Still, this field of research is doing something profound: it’s reshaping how we understand life itself.

Plants aren't just passive scenery. They're active agents in ecosystems—sensing, adapting, cooperating, and protecting one another. That understanding has big implications for:

• Ecology and forest management
• Agricultural practices
• Climate adaptation strategies
• Our ethical relationship with nature

When we recognize that plants are more than just background life forms, we might take more care in how we interact with the living world—and how we design systems that depend on it.

Key Takeaways

• Plants communicate through chemical, electrical, and fungal networks, often in response to threats or environmental changes.
• Airborne signals help nearby plants prepare for herbivore attacks or stress.
• Root systems and underground fungal networks allow nutrient sharing and signal transfer, sometimes between different species.
• While plants don’t have brains, they process information and make decisions—suggesting a unique form of biological intelligence.
• This science challenges the old view of plants as passive, showing they are dynamic participants in ecosystems.

Listening to the Green World

The idea that plants “talk” may sound poetic, even whimsical—but it’s grounded in solid, emerging science. And while the word “talk” might be metaphorical, the communication is real.

As for me, I still talk to my plants. Not because I expect a reply, but because I respect what’s happening behind the scenes. In the silence, in the roots, in the chemical exchanges I can’t see.

There’s wisdom in the natural world that doesn’t need words. And sometimes, the quietest lives are the ones with the most to say.