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The Nature of Plants: An Introduction to How Plants Work
Choice Outstanding Academic Title Florida Book Awards, Bronze Medal for General Nonfiction Plants play a critical role in how we experience our environment. They create calming green spaces, provide oxygen for us to breathe, and nourish our senses. In The Nature of Plants , ecologist and nursery owner Craig Huegel demystifies the complex lives of plants and provides readers with an elucidating journey into their inner and outer workings. Beginning with the importance of light, water, and soil, Huegel describes photosynthesis, plant circadian rhythms, and how best to position plants to receive optimal sunlight. He explains choosing artificial lights for landscaping, giving lucky bamboo its twisted shape, and tricking flowers like poinsettias to bloom at a specific time of year. He reveals how plants use water, what paths it takes to move nutrients and fuel growth, and why too much―or too little―can hurt. He also explains what essential elements plants need to flourish and what friendly bacteria, fungi, and insects help make a healthy soil. Sections on plant structure and reproduction focus in detail on major plant organs―roots, stems, and leaves―and cover flowering, pollination, fruit development, and seed germination. The intricacies behind how plants reproduce are unraveled, including why not all flowering plants need pollinators, how it can take decades for some plants to produce offspring, and whether parents recognize their kin. Huegel even delves into the mysterious world of plant communication, exploring the messages and warnings conveyed to animals or other plants through chemical scents and hormones. With color illustrations, photographs, and real-life examples from his own gardening experiences, Huegel equips budding botanists, ecologists, and even the most novice gardeners with knowledge that will help them understand and foster plants of all types.
288 pages, Paperback
Published April 16, 2019
33 people are currently reading
243 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
November 28, 2025
True to its title, this book sets out to provide a foundational understanding of plant physiology and biology. While Huegel has presented an impressive volume of information, the book isn’t without its ups and downs.
As someone who isn't exactly blessed with a green thumb, I approached “The Nature of Plants” with the hope of a beginner-friendly guide. However, it quickly became evident that this book caters more to those already rooted in the botanical realm. The discussions, while rich and detailed, often assumed a level of plant knowledge that went beyond my occasional potted plant endeavors. For a true novice like me, it was a bit confusing. However, I think those with more general gardening knowledge will find it great. I’m just not a gardener.
Let's start with the good stuff.
Huegel’s passion for botany shines through every page. He explains complex processes in a way that feels almost like storytelling, making it a lot less intimidating for someone who might've last studied plants back in high school. The book spans a myriad of topics - from basic plant anatomy and photosynthesis to more nuanced discussions on plant responses to environmental factors. I especially appreciated the chapter on plant reproduction and growth. It explained the how and why behind the growth patterns of different plants, and I couldn’t help but glance at my potted ferns with newfound respect.
Visually, “The Nature of Plants” doesn’t disappoint either. There’s a great balance of diagrams, close-up photos, and illustrations that break up the text and offer visual learners a welcome respite. For someone who often struggles with dense scientific texts, these visual aids were a lifesaver. I also commend the author for making an effort to touch upon the importance of plants in human culture and history, which added another layer to my understanding and appreciation.
However, not all sections of the book shone equally bright.
This book could have used a little pruning (pun intended). Several chapters, especially the one on plant defense mechanisms, seemed trapped in a repetitive loop, It just needed a good editorial trim. Instead of a smooth journey through the botanical realm, I often found myself bogged down, wishing for a more rhythmic and engaging flow to the narrative.
Another gripe of mine is the somewhat haphazard organization of topics in a few chapters. There were moments where I’d be reading about a specific plant process, only to be yanked out of that thought and introduced to a seemingly unrelated topic. A more streamlined flow would have definitely aided in comprehension.
That said, “The Nature of Plants” still gets more right than it does wrong. For those seeking a casual introduction to the world of plants without getting bogged down in jargon and complexity, this book is a solid pick. It’s not perfect, but as a springboard into the vast and fascinating world of botany, Huegel's work does the job admirably. If you’re like me and your experience with plants has been limited to watering them (and sometimes forgetting to), this book might just be the nudge you need to view them in a whole new light. 🌱
As someone who isn't exactly blessed with a green thumb, I approached “The Nature of Plants” with the hope of a beginner-friendly guide. However, it quickly became evident that this book caters more to those already rooted in the botanical realm. The discussions, while rich and detailed, often assumed a level of plant knowledge that went beyond my occasional potted plant endeavors. For a true novice like me, it was a bit confusing. However, I think those with more general gardening knowledge will find it great. I’m just not a gardener.
Let's start with the good stuff.
Huegel’s passion for botany shines through every page. He explains complex processes in a way that feels almost like storytelling, making it a lot less intimidating for someone who might've last studied plants back in high school. The book spans a myriad of topics - from basic plant anatomy and photosynthesis to more nuanced discussions on plant responses to environmental factors. I especially appreciated the chapter on plant reproduction and growth. It explained the how and why behind the growth patterns of different plants, and I couldn’t help but glance at my potted ferns with newfound respect.
Visually, “The Nature of Plants” doesn’t disappoint either. There’s a great balance of diagrams, close-up photos, and illustrations that break up the text and offer visual learners a welcome respite. For someone who often struggles with dense scientific texts, these visual aids were a lifesaver. I also commend the author for making an effort to touch upon the importance of plants in human culture and history, which added another layer to my understanding and appreciation.
However, not all sections of the book shone equally bright.
This book could have used a little pruning (pun intended). Several chapters, especially the one on plant defense mechanisms, seemed trapped in a repetitive loop, It just needed a good editorial trim. Instead of a smooth journey through the botanical realm, I often found myself bogged down, wishing for a more rhythmic and engaging flow to the narrative.
Another gripe of mine is the somewhat haphazard organization of topics in a few chapters. There were moments where I’d be reading about a specific plant process, only to be yanked out of that thought and introduced to a seemingly unrelated topic. A more streamlined flow would have definitely aided in comprehension.
That said, “The Nature of Plants” still gets more right than it does wrong. For those seeking a casual introduction to the world of plants without getting bogged down in jargon and complexity, this book is a solid pick. It’s not perfect, but as a springboard into the vast and fascinating world of botany, Huegel's work does the job admirably. If you’re like me and your experience with plants has been limited to watering them (and sometimes forgetting to), this book might just be the nudge you need to view them in a whole new light. 🌱
March 21, 2021
Listening to some of the basics of botany again, I was still thrilled. It's like reading/listening to a favorite set of myths being treated by different writers. But unlike just reworking an old story, a science writer always has the latest discoveries and nuances to bring to the reader. In this book, Heugel has especially interesting chapters on the latest understanding of plant hormones and plant communications. Highly recommended.
[Audiobook note: Reader Tom Parks doesn't miss a beat on any of the scientific language. He brings a pacing and an enthusiasm to the performance that is first rate.]
[Audiobook note: Reader Tom Parks doesn't miss a beat on any of the scientific language. He brings a pacing and an enthusiasm to the performance that is first rate.]
January 8, 2024
So boring if you’re not interested in botany! Luckily I am and I love learning about every essential hormone and chemical and mechanism in plants, so 10/10
This book is ridiculously comprehensive and well-researched, and (despite being like quite dry and factual and dense) is written in very accessible language so you don’t really need any background knowledge to understand it all :)
This book is ridiculously comprehensive and well-researched, and (despite being like quite dry and factual and dense) is written in very accessible language so you don’t really need any background knowledge to understand it all :)
July 19, 2020
This is a nice textbook alternative! I picked it up for a lil review of my plant bio knowledge. Admittedly stopped reading (152 of 261) halfway because apparently I remembered more than I realized. Great photos throughout. Not totally sure who should read this, though — reads at a little too high a level for someone with truly no biology/plant knowledge, yet is fairly basic in its depth. Maybe for someone like a non-plant biologist who wants to brush up on plants.
July 18, 2022
This is more like a refference book, it is very in depth but also quite clear and understandable. It covers everything from the initial photon hitting a plant leaf to roots growing to how to care for them. Great book, you can also read it a chapter that is relevant to you rather than everything. Lots of good tid bits for gardeners and plant fans. Great read.
September 6, 2022
Fascinating overview, even for a layperson such as myself. I learned a ton about the fascinating life of plants. If that interests you, you will enjoy this one.
March 1, 2023
Very good basic botany and plant physiology book for novices. Best sections: those on plant hormones and how to tell the technical difference between a fruit, a seed and a nut.
August 4, 2024
As someone who managed to kill a cactus, I knew virtually nothing about plants when I started this book. It was an amazing read: well written, very well structured, and well narrated. The last chapters (about seeds, plant hormones and plant communication) were especially interesting. The book is packed with information, and I'll probably reread it a couple of times in the future.
May 23, 2022
I’m astonished at how great this book has been. It isn’t a book of solutions, but instead the basic conceptual framework I needed to understand a great many other books or articles or advice on plants. If, like me, you’re rather incapable of memorizing disparate facts that are divorced of meaning - partly out of inattention and disinterest, partly out of training in science, math, logic, language, and philosophy, then you may get a lot out of this book. Bless the author for explaining at the correct level and also explicitly saying what we don’t know about plants. I am so frustrated later when I find an expert has waved their hands when they just don’t know. This author communicates inspiration and purpose as much as mechanism and general observation.
March 14, 2021
There is a great deal of detailed and useful information in this book. There are some really interesting things I learned as well. Unfortunately it's terribly boring. It was hard to get through because it's not terribly narrative and there is a lot of scientific detail. Still worth slogging through if you're a plant enthusiast!
August 23, 2022
Summary: Plants are often perceived as boring and inanimate, less interesting than animals because they do not move. Yet, it is this very fact that makes plants so interesting; because plants have to stay in the same location, they adapt creative methods to produce energy, gather nutrients, repel predators, and give their descendants a maximal chance of survival.
Plants produce their energy via photosynthesis, which is a process that occurs mostly in the leaves, though green stem plants also produce energy in the stems. Because plant competition is very intense, producing enough energy in an environment with a lot of other plants is an imperative. Thus, plants try to spread their leaves as widely as possible, grow their leaves to face the sun, and trees, which are woody as adults, have green stems as juveniles. In order to get nutrients, they use roots to gather water which travels through the plant via transpiration (the evaporation of water through the leaves). Plants have various tissue systems that transport sugars and other nutrients to all areas of the plants. In difficult environments where plants may be too cold, too hot, have too little light, or have too little/too much water in the soil, plants have strategies to continue surviving. First, they conserve their energy by not growing, and if difficulty continues, they stop reproducing. If difficulty continues, plants will often wilt (an absence of turgor - water in vacuoles in the leaves and stems).
Danger is not limited to the environment, herbivores, parasites, and infections attack plants on a regular basis. Plants use defensive mechanism to protect themselves against these threats, producing poisons to ward off herbivores and toxins to prevent parasites and infections from taking root in the plant. Not all plant relationships are negative for the plant, however; plants have mutualistic relationship with many different types of fungi, which protect the plants from parasites like nematodes, and insects like ladybugs and wasps, who eat other insects which eat plants. These insects can often be attracted by scents that the plant emits or nectar that the plant offers. Lastly, reproduction is achieved in many different ways by plants. Plants typically come in male and female parts, with the males producing sperm and the females producing eggs. Sperm meets egg via a variety of methods; some plants attract pollinators like bees to spread gametes to the eggs and others use the wind to spread pollen. Complicated relationships have evolved between pollinator and plant, as many plants have evolve to take advantage of a single pollinator's activity. After plants are pollinated, the fertilized seed breaks off from the parent plant using various methods. The goal is for the daughter of the parent to get into the most fertile possible location without competing with the parent plant directly. Plants who grow up with their siblings or relatives often restrict their competition in order not to crowd out their siblings/parents. Plants also try to communicate with each other, warning each other of danger through chemical signals.
In sum, plants are complicated and live in a world completely parallel to ours. The anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and genetics of plants have developed so that plants can survive and thrive in a ruthlessly competitive world.
Plants produce their energy via photosynthesis, which is a process that occurs mostly in the leaves, though green stem plants also produce energy in the stems. Because plant competition is very intense, producing enough energy in an environment with a lot of other plants is an imperative. Thus, plants try to spread their leaves as widely as possible, grow their leaves to face the sun, and trees, which are woody as adults, have green stems as juveniles. In order to get nutrients, they use roots to gather water which travels through the plant via transpiration (the evaporation of water through the leaves). Plants have various tissue systems that transport sugars and other nutrients to all areas of the plants. In difficult environments where plants may be too cold, too hot, have too little light, or have too little/too much water in the soil, plants have strategies to continue surviving. First, they conserve their energy by not growing, and if difficulty continues, they stop reproducing. If difficulty continues, plants will often wilt (an absence of turgor - water in vacuoles in the leaves and stems).
Danger is not limited to the environment, herbivores, parasites, and infections attack plants on a regular basis. Plants use defensive mechanism to protect themselves against these threats, producing poisons to ward off herbivores and toxins to prevent parasites and infections from taking root in the plant. Not all plant relationships are negative for the plant, however; plants have mutualistic relationship with many different types of fungi, which protect the plants from parasites like nematodes, and insects like ladybugs and wasps, who eat other insects which eat plants. These insects can often be attracted by scents that the plant emits or nectar that the plant offers. Lastly, reproduction is achieved in many different ways by plants. Plants typically come in male and female parts, with the males producing sperm and the females producing eggs. Sperm meets egg via a variety of methods; some plants attract pollinators like bees to spread gametes to the eggs and others use the wind to spread pollen. Complicated relationships have evolved between pollinator and plant, as many plants have evolve to take advantage of a single pollinator's activity. After plants are pollinated, the fertilized seed breaks off from the parent plant using various methods. The goal is for the daughter of the parent to get into the most fertile possible location without competing with the parent plant directly. Plants who grow up with their siblings or relatives often restrict their competition in order not to crowd out their siblings/parents. Plants also try to communicate with each other, warning each other of danger through chemical signals.
In sum, plants are complicated and live in a world completely parallel to ours. The anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and genetics of plants have developed so that plants can survive and thrive in a ruthlessly competitive world.
October 5, 2019
When I looked at a plant before I read this book I did not think much about what processes were going on in the plant even thought i had read botany for dummies and should have known better. This book heavy physically and its heavy with what it has in its pages. Its packed with interesting information. I can't say I had a favorite chapter because they were all my favorite chapters.
If you want to know more about the inner workings of plants read this book. I am glad I did. The only problem is that I can't remember ever single word that is in the book. I wish books could be downloaded into my brain. The nature of plants was a fascinating read.
If you want to know more about the inner workings of plants read this book. I am glad I did. The only problem is that I can't remember ever single word that is in the book. I wish books could be downloaded into my brain. The nature of plants was a fascinating read.
September 6, 2020
Excellent book on plant biology. I used it to brush up on botany (it’s been many years since took class in college!). It’s detailed but more readable than a textbook and includes practical application for gardeners. I wouldn’t recommend it for the casual reader, unless they’re very interested in how plants work. But I really enjoyed it.
December 31, 2020
A wide, comfortably shallow pool of botanical knowledge. Great for a enthusiasts to brush up on their knowledge, and for novices to challenge themselves. At times the flow of information seemed a little disjointed and/or repetitive, but overall I found myself learning a lot all throughout the book.
February 18, 2025
The Nature of Plants was fantastic and thorough! My background is more-so in plant ecology rather than botany proper, and I've always felt I've put the cart before the horse. As such, I took a lot away from Huegel's work here. He does a fantastic job of making the information accessible and comprehensible.
October 10, 2025
Very informative, scientific read that bridges the science of plants to puzzles, situations, questions, that may have arisen from gardening or otherwise.
Having read this book, my view of plants has changed quite a bit. I look at them quite differently. They're marvels. All of them. And so amazing in what they achieve.
Having read this book, my view of plants has changed quite a bit. I look at them quite differently. They're marvels. All of them. And so amazing in what they achieve.
January 29, 2025
A great intro to plant biology. I am an avid gardener and going to school for horticulture so this was very valid and an easy read. It could be a little over someones head with no understanding of how plants work, but still worth a read!
July 20, 2025
I liked the book, but I was looking forward to learning more things about plants in order to take better care of my plants and I didn’t learn much. I guess is a great book for someone who is new in plants.
October 12, 2025
A bit hard going in places for a beginner in the subject. It would probably have better in physical book form than the audiobook I listened to, as I could have flicked back and forth to look up the technical terms. However, I certainly learned things from it.
September 24, 2020
The Nature of Plants
Well written, accessible and chock full of up-to-date information coming from the latest in plant scholarship. Great book for gardeners.
Well written, accessible and chock full of up-to-date information coming from the latest in plant scholarship. Great book for gardeners.
October 26, 2020
Fascinating.
January 12, 2021
Superb book on how plants live and grow. I learned much from it.
August 17, 2021
I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in learning more about plants.
April 4, 2022
very American
May 10, 2022
I have learned almost nothing about plants. This is basic to the point of uselessness.
August 30, 2022
Learned a couple things.
April 30, 2023
If you garden you’ll want to read this book.
Lots of details but also chock full of A-Hearing devices moments.
Tend your Garden
Lots of details but also chock full of A-Hearing devices moments.
Tend your Garden
July 29, 2023
I felt pure nostalgia reading this book, it felt like my entire college experience packed into a single book. I will probably read this book again & again & again
June 15, 2024
Some of it was interesting but I found the writing style rather dull
June 11, 2025
I'll have to get a physical copy. Very interesting but quite complicated even. Captivated my attention for most of the time though and I know a bit more about plants!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews