Do Native Plants Talk to Each Other? The Hidden Science of Plant Communication

Recent scientific discoveries reveal that plants can communicate using underground networks, airborne signals, and chemical messages.

When we think of communication, we usually imagine humans speaking, birds chirping, or whales singing. But did you know that plants...yes, even your favourite New Zealand natives, have their own form of communication?

Recent scientific discoveries reveal that plants can communicate using underground networks, airborne signals, and chemical messages. It’s not science fiction—it’s real, and it’s changing how we think about ecosystems, reforestation, and the resilience of native landscapes.

Native Restorations explores the science of plant communication, how native plants "talk", and why this hidden network is vital for our environment.

The Wood Wide Web: Nature’s Underground Communication System

One of the most astonishing discoveries in modern botany is the mycorrhizal network—a vast underground fungal web connecting plant roots. Sometimes referred to as the "Wood Wide Web", this network allows trees and plants to exchange nutrients, share warning signals, and even support weaker neighbours.

The secret to how plants “talk” lies in their roots—and the fungi that surround them. Here's how this incredible process works:

The Relationship Between Mycorrhizal Fungi & Plant Roots

At the heart of this communication network are mycorrhizal fungi. These tiny fungi form symbiotic relationships with plant roots, meaning both the plant and the fungi benefit. The fungi receive sugars produced through the plant’s photosynthesis, while the plant gains enhanced access to water and vital nutrients—especially phosphorus and nitrogen—that the fungi absorb from the surrounding soil.

At the heart of this communication network are mycorrhizal fungi

Understanding The Underground Network

Once connected, the fungi don't just stick to one plant—they extend their thread-like structures, called hyphae, into the surrounding soil, linking the roots of different plants—even across species. This creates an underground network akin to the internet, which researchers have dubbed the “Wood Wide Web.”

The Beauty of Chemical Signalling Between Plants

Through this fungal web, plants can send chemical and hormonal signals to one another. These messages can serve as alerts or even requests for help, allowing plants to respond to threats or changes in their environment in real-time. The fungi essentially act as couriers, transmitting the messages between plants via this living conduit.

But…What Are the Plants Saying?

So what exactly are these silent signals saying? As it turns out, plant conversations are both practical and surprisingly empathetic.

Warnings About Pests or Drought

When a plant is attacked by insects or exposed to drought conditions, it can send a warning signal to its neighbours. These nearby plants then increase their defences—producing bitter compounds, toxins, or thicker leaves to deter pests or conserve water. It’s nature’s version of an early-warning system.

Nutrient Sharing

In some cases, larger or healthier trees share resources—like carbon, nitrogen, or water—with smaller, younger, or shaded plants nearby. This nutrient exchange is critical in dense native forests, where young seedlings often struggle to access light or nutrients on their own. Mature trees essentially nurture the next generation, helping to stabilise the ecosystem.

There is also a well-documented phenomenon called cladoptosis, or self-pruning, in which trees naturally drop shaded or unproductive branches—often to allow more sunlight into the canopy or to conserve resources. In dense forests, it’s thought that trees shedding lower or overcrowded limbs helps seedlings below access the light they need to grow!

This process isn’t random—by shedding underperforming limbs, mature trees improve light penetration in the understory and reduce energy expenditure on branches that are no longer contributing to photosynthesis or growth. Helping each other grow and keeping the tree colony happy.

Once connected, the fungi don't just stick to one plant—they extend their thread-like structures, called hyphae, into the surrounding soil.

Support During Stress

Plants also use the fungal network to support each other during periods of stress—such as fire recovery, soil disturbance, or disease outbreaks. Through the mycorrhizal network, more vigorous plants may bolster weaker ones, enhancing the overall resilience of the plant community.

Airborne Plant-to-Plant Communication

Plants can also communicate above ground by releasing volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—airborne chemicals that nearby plants can detect. These volatile organic compounds (VOCs) serve as warning signals, enabling plants to alert nearby vegetation to threats such as insect infestations or herbivore grazing, triggering protective responses in advance.

For example, if pests attack one plant, it may release VOCs that “warn” neighbouring plants, allowing them to produce defensive chemicals before the pests arrive.

Do New Zealand Native Plants Communicate Too?

While much of the foundational research on plant communication has focused on Northern Hemisphere ecosystems, many New Zealand natives form mycorrhizal associations, meaning they likely participate in these underground conversations.

Native Examples:

• Beech trees (Nothofagus spp.) in NZ forests are known to form ectomycorrhizal networks—the same type found in global research studies.

• Mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) and kānuka (Kunzea spp.) are also known to form relationships with mycorrhizal fungi, especially in nutrient-poor soils.

These relationships can enhance seedling survival in restoration projects and contribute to greater biodiversity and resilience.

Why Do Plants Talk?

So, what’s the evolutionary point of all this silent chatter?

1. Survival & Defence

Plants under attack (e.g. by insects) signal others to boost their defences—kind of like a community alarm system.

2. Cooperation

Large plants can share nutrients with smaller or younger plants—especially common in native forests, where older trees support saplings.

3. Community Resilience

Plant communication promotes ecosystem stability, making entire landscapes more adaptable to threats like drought, fire, or invasive species.

What This Means for Restoration Projects

For businesses like Native Restorations, understanding and supporting these natural networks can significantly improve replanting success.

Practical Tips:

• Minimise soil disturbance to preserve underground fungal networks.

• Plant a diverse mix of native species that naturally coexist and support each other.

• Use locally sourced compost or mulch to promote fungal growth.

• Avoid fungicides or herbicides that may disrupt mycorrhizal connections.

The idea that plants communicate, sharing resources, warning each other, and supporting their neighbours, reframes the way we see our landscapes. It’s no longer a collection of individual plants, but rather a connected community of life, working together silently beneath our feet.

By planting and protecting New Zealand native species, we’re not just rebuilding the bush, we’re restoring ancient communication systems that have evolved over millions of years.