The Sceptical Botanist

by Tim Entwisle

Do trees talk to one another? Can a plant use up the oxygen in a room while you sleep? What is a native plant and what is a weed? Are some plants truly immortal?

Through 50 beautifully crafted essays, former director of preeminent botanic gardens and self-confessed plant punk Tim Entwisle shines a gentle light on everyday questions about plants and gardens, guiding the reader through fact and fiction.

Including the best of his contributions to gardening magazines and newspapers over four decades, as well as 24 pieces written specially for this book, The Sceptical Botanist is a tour de force of investigative writing from one of Australia's most thoughtful and inquisitive botanical minds.

Pick up The Sceptical Botanist and you'll never look at a plant or garden in the same way again!

Genres: Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2025

Reviews

[Orphia Nay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debunking the myths about plants and gardening. The author is the former head of the Sydney and Melbourne Botanic Gardens, and also held a senior role at Kew Gardens. This is a collection of writings from the past 30 years, updated, and some new pieces, in a sequence that flows as logically as the arguments within. Science with a sense of humour!

I found myself mentioning different topics to friends several times over the past 2 months. The only complaint I have is the copy editing could have been more thorough - I came across several typos or missing words.

I still enjoyed it a great deal. Entwisle seems like one of those authors you wish was a close friend so you could ask them questions and learn from them.

[Glenys Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting, clearly written essays on various aspects of the plant with some emphasis on Australia.