15 Unusual Ways Plants Communicate With Each Other

Home General 15 Unusual Ways Plants Communicate With Each Other

General

15 Unusual Ways Plants Communicate With Each Other

By Trista - September 5, 2025

Plants are often perceived as silent and passive organisms, but recent scientific breakthroughs have unveiled a complex network of communication among them. Studies have demonstrated that plants release volatile compounds to warn neighboring plants of threats, such as pest infestations, prompting them to bolster their defenses. (time.com) Additionally, research has shown that plants emit ultrasonic distress signals when under stress, which can be detected by insects like moths, influencing their behavior. (reuters.com) These findings challenge traditional views and highlight the sophisticated ways plants interact to survive and adapt.

NEXT >>

1. Chemical Alarm Signals

15 Unusual Ways Plants Communicate With Each Other — Source: Pexels

Plants like acacias and tomatoes release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) when attacked by herbivores. These airborne chemicals alert neighboring plants to boost their defenses. For example, Lima beans emit signals that trigger defense chemicals in nearby beans. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) Similarly, tomato plants infested by cutworm caterpillars release VOCs that induce neighboring plants to enhance their defenses. (time.com)

<< Previous

NEXT >>

2. Underground Mycorrhizal Networks

Through symbiotic fungi, plants create vast ‘wood wide webs.’ These underground networks allow trees and plants to transfer nutrients, chemical signals, and warnings. For example, Douglas firs and birches are connected through mycorrhizal networks, facilitating nutrient exchange and communication. (bbc.com) This subterranean system enables plants to share resources and information, enhancing their survival and adaptation.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

3. Electrical Impulses via Leaves

Mimosa pudica and other plants send rapid electrical signals across leaves in response to touch or injury. These impulses resemble animal nerve signals and coordinately trigger defense mechanisms. For instance, when a leaf is touched, an electrical signal travels through the plant, leading to the folding of leaflets. This movement is facilitated by changes in turgor pressure within specialized motor cells called pulvini. The electrical signal triggers the rapid efflux of potassium ions from the pulvini cells, leading to a loss of water and a decrease in turgor pressure, causing the leaflets to fold. This response may serve as a defense mechanism to deter herbivores or to reduce water loss by minimizing the surface area exposed to the environment. (pearson.com)

<< Previous

NEXT >>

4. Emitting Distress Sounds

Stressed plants emit ultrasonic sounds detectable by specialized equipment. Research suggests these noises may signal drought or injury to nearby plants, prompting them to adjust water use. For example, tomato and tobacco plants subjected to drought conditions emitted ultrasonic clicks at frequencies between 40-80 kHz, which could be detected up to five meters away. These sounds were more frequent in stressed plants compared to unstressed ones. (theguardian.com)

<< Previous

NEXT >>

5. Leaf-to-Leaf Cascade Signaling

When attacked, some plants coordinate defense by sending chemical signals from one leaf to another, activating protective genes systemically. Arabidopsis thaliana demonstrates this rapid internal communication. For instance, upon wounding, Arabidopsis initiates a systemic response involving the jasmonic acid (JA) and ethylene (ET) signaling pathways, leading to the expression of defense-related genes throughout the plant. This coordinated response enhances the plant’s resistance to subsequent attacks. (pnas.org)

<< Previous

NEXT >>

6. Root Exudates as Language

Plants release specific compounds from their roots, influencing neighboring plants’ growth and chemical behavior. These root exudates can inhibit or promote nearby roots, seen in corn and ryegrass interactions. For example, maize (Zea mays) root exudates change in quality and quantity during plant development, affecting soil microbial communities and nutrient cycling. (sciencedirect.com) Additionally, root exudates can alter soil microbial composition, impacting plant health during disease infection. (sciencedirect.com)

<< Previous

NEXT >>

7. Mimicking Neighbor Scents

Dodder vines, known as Cuscuta, detect volatile organic compounds released by potential host plants and grow toward them. (npr.org) They exhibit a preference for certain hosts; for instance, they favor tomato plants over wheat. (snexplores.org) Once attached, dodder forms haustoria to extract nutrients, effectively parasitizing the host. (bygl.osu.edu)

<< Previous

NEXT >>

8. Shade Avoidance Cues

Plants sense changes in the red-to-far-red light ratio (R:FR) caused by nearby leaves, prompting vertical growth to avoid shade. This mechanism ensures better access to sunlight and is prevalent in dense habitats. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

<< Previous

NEXT >>

9. Allelopathy – Inhibiting Competitors

Black walnut and eucalyptus trees release allelochemicals into the soil, suppressing the growth of competing plants. Black walnut trees produce juglone, a compound toxic to many plants, including tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers. Eucalyptus trees release chemicals that can inhibit seed germination and stunt the growth of nearby plants. This chemical warfare helps them dominate their environment. (gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu, yates.co.nz)

<< Previous

NEXT >>

10. Attraction Signals for Helpers

Maize plants under insect attack release specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that attract predatory insects like parasitic wasps. These wasps locate and parasitize the herbivorous pests, providing natural pest control. For example, maize plants infested with caterpillars emit a blend of VOCs that attract parasitic wasps, aiding in the plant’s defense against herbivores. (sciencedirect.com)

<< Previous

NEXT >>

11. Synchronized Flowering Pulses

Some bamboo species exhibit synchronized flowering, known as gregarious flowering, where all plants in a population flower simultaneously after long vegetative periods, sometimes spanning decades. This mass flowering overwhelms seed predators, ensuring that enough seeds survive to propagate the species. For example, the species Phyllostachys bambusoides flowers every 120 years, leading to a massive seed production that satiates predators. (en.wikipedia.org)

<< Previous

NEXT >>

12. Ant Recruitment via Nectar

Acacias and peonies produce extrafloral nectar, signaling and rewarding protective ants. This mutualistic communication recruits ant ‘bodyguards,’ deterring herbivores and keeping plants safe. For instance, peonies secrete nectar on their buds, attracting ants that protect the flowers from pests. Similarly, acacias offer nectar to ants, which in return defend the plant against herbivores. (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

<< Previous

NEXT >>

13. Spore and Seed Cloud Warnings

Some ferns and mosses coordinate spore release based on cues from neighbors, maximizing reproductive success and signaling optimal dispersal times. For instance, the moss species *Physcomitrella patens* exhibits cross-kingdom signaling that regulates spore germination, indicating a complex interaction between mosses and their environment. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

<< Previous

NEXT >>

14. Rapid Movement as a Signal

Venus flytraps and sensitive plants use rapid movement to deter predators or attract pollinators, signaling readiness or warning neighbors—an unusual form of plant body language. For instance, the Venus flytrap snaps shut in about 100 milliseconds when its trigger hairs are stimulated, capturing prey efficiently. Similarly, the sensitive plant *Mimosa pudica* folds its leaves rapidly when touched, deterring herbivores. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, en.wikipedia.org)

<< Previous

NEXT >>

15. Transmission of Viral Warning Messages

When infected by viruses, some plants alert neighbors by sending viral RNA fragments via their roots or by releasing airborne cues, prompting nearby plants to activate immune responses and restrict disease spread. For instance, studies have shown that plants can transport viral RNAs, mRNAs, miRNAs, and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) systemically through the phloem, potentially facilitating interplant communication. (en.wikipedia.org) Additionally, research indicates that plants can exchange microRNAs (miRNAs) that silence genes in recipient plants, suggesting that these nucleic acids may act as signaling molecules to coordinate defense responses. (the-scientist.com)

<< Previous

NEXT >>

Conclusion

The diverse and surprising communication strategies among plants, such as emitting ultrasonic distress signals to deter herbivores and forming mycorrhizal networks for nutrient exchange, (en.wikipedia.org) highlight the complexity of plant interactions. Understanding these mechanisms shifts our perspective on plant intelligence and ecological interactions, emphasizing the need for further botanical research to uncover the full extent of plant communication. (earth.com)

.article-content-img img { width: 100% }

<< Previous