In Defense of Plants: An Exploration into the Wonder of Plants

by Matt Candeias

“Matt Candeias succeeds in evoking the wonder of plants with wit and wisdom.” ― James T. Costa , PhD, executive director, Highlands Biological Station and author of  Darwin's Backyard #1 New Release in Nature & Ecology, Plants, Botany, Horticulture, Trees, Biological Sciences, and Nature Writing & Essays In his debut book, internationally-recognized blogger and podcaster Matt Candeias celebrates the nature of plants and the extraordinary world of plant organisms. A botanist’s defense.  Since his early days of plant restoration, this amateur plant scientist has been enchanted with flora and the greater environmental ecology of the planet. Now, he looks at the study of plants through the lens of his ever-growing houseplant collection. Using gardening, houseplants, and examples of plants around you,  In Defense of Plants  changes your relationship with the world from the comfort of your windowsill. The ruthless, horny, and wonderful nature of plants.  Understand how plants evolve and live on Earth with a never-before-seen look into their daily drama. Inside, Candeias explores the incredible ways plants live, fight, and conquer new territory. Whether a blossoming botanist or a professional plant scientist,  In Defense of Plants  is for anyone who sees plants as more than just static backdrops to more charismatic life forms. In this easily accessible introduction to the incredible world of plants, you’ll If you enjoyed books like  The Botany of Desire ,  What a Plant Knows , or  The Soul of an Octopus , then you’ll love  In Defense of Plants .

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Nature, Plants, Biology, Ecology, Environment

279 pages, Hardcover

First published February 16, 2021

Reviews

[Isabelle reads a book a day because she has no friends · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a newfound passion for all things plants after an amazing botany professor opened my eyes to the natural world. I mean, sure, I’ve always loved flowers, but now I really love flowers. And weeds. And the giant green things that grow on trunks.
This book had been on my TBR a year before this, so apparently I have always had an interest, but I chose the perfect time to read it—I deeply understood things I never would have thought twice about otherwise. This could have influenced my opinion, true, but I am pretty sure the book is just incredible on its own. I highly recommend this as reading for anyone even slightly interested in botany, as it will introduce you to the most astonishing aspects of many plants, and is just plain fun. 5/5 stars, would reread.

[jrendocrine at least reading is good · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

This reads as the author's paean to Himself. The 2 chapters I managed to get through didn't translate the wonder of plants but how wonderful it is that the author thinks they are wonderful. Alongside his obsessive obsessions (one paragraph used the word obsession maybe 3 or 4 times, pats self on back) we hear his significant other gives him a plant, he has a need to plant, he needs weird plants - His neediness is palpable.

2. The writing is high florid without nuance.

Summary: self promotion, scant content.
Then again, I could only bear 2 chapters, maybe it gets better?
Thunk.

[Anne Jordan-Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book from beginning to end. Who knew a book about plants would have no dull moments?! I’m inspired to learn more about the plants where I live and those I encounter in my travels, and I will be helping our small urban yard to grow local plants. One of the best books I’ve read in a long time.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Getting and sharing articles and memes on the internet isn't going to lift us out of impending ecological disaster, but getting up and doing something can"

I wish I could have read this book 15 years ago. For a long time I whined about my state (Kansas), feeling that other regions of the US were so much more exciting. I was interested in edible gardens, house plants and herbalism. Matt mentions in the book that one does not need to travel to witness the wonder and beauty of botany and plant ecology. I want everyone to hear this argument and to be encouraged to interact with their surroundings in a responsible manner.

The "In Defense of Plants" podcast can lean towards science-heavy topics. I assume the targeted audiences for the book and the podcast are two different groups. Anyone even casually interested in plants or nature could make it through this book without feeling overwhelmed by jargon or complex concepts. Like other reviews have mentioned, this books content is easily to "digest" while still being exciting enough to keep one turning pages. My only gripe is that I wish it had more photos. About every third page a species would be mentioned and I'd find myself reaching for a device to use a search engine for photos of specimens.

[Amanda Mueller · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. While I agree with other reviews that Candeias's acceptance of his own anthropomorphic tendencies while being critical of others is... *annoying,* he redeems himself in my eyes when he draws a connection between the "nature-exsists-for-human-use" teachings of western religions, and the unremorseful exploitation of the planet. True, the book would be much improved with color photos. I believe this was likely skipped due to financial constraints. Overall I am very supportive of the authors work, including the podcast and am glad I have purchased and read this book.

[Vilma Porres · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much reasons to love plants ! This book contains great examples and advances in what we know about them. For more information I definitely recommend the podcast ( for those who didn’t come from there ) “In defense of plants “ it is practically a library with so much information and great interviews with experts about specific topics.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book with tons of Information on little known species. Matt makes a wonderful argument for respecting and loving plants. All plants and not just a the pretty ones. A book worth reading again and a must have for anyone who is into botany or ecology.

[Ashton B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I preferred Candeias' podcast episodes to this book, but it was still an informative and interesting book about his personal experiences with plants as well as a survey of some pretty neat types of plants

[Evin Kubicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should read this book! As someone who has a lot of houseplants and a happy garden at the moment, I was really curious to learn more about the history of plants and how they work. This was the perfect book for me to pick up. Easy to read if you love science and learning about how things work! I was fascinated the whole time reading this book.

[Sivasothi N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Discover the battle by plants to survive.

Matt’s research job at graduation was to restore a post-mining landscape, but this was hampered by a lack of fundamental knowledge about the ecology of plants. An endangered species of butterfly depended on it but he could not simply just scatter seeds.

Fascinated by how much there was to learn, but how badly neglected plants were, Matt Candeias embarked on a career in plant ecology research and education.

Want to save wildlife? Get to know a little about plants – dispersal, reproduction, mutualism, parasitism, carnivory and habitat restoration. It was enjoyable and relaxing and I read a chapter at a go amidst a stressful and very busy period.

Matt takes a holistic evolutionary-ecological approach so you realise principles. There naturally is a US-emphasis but he’s tried to be global, and anyway, the principles apply to all.

I love that urges us at the end to not despair over the depressing news over social media but to act now, locally and to embrace the opportunity each small patch of land offers towards habitat restoration.

He has a podcast by the same name, with more than 300 episodes to relish.

[Ann Drosendahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to hear about this book and love the premise. I'm a plant lover from way back so this is just my kind of thing. I would have given it a higher rating except for two things: 1) the writer takes a front seat too often. I agree with other reviewers in that he seems to pat himself on the back at times. It's intrusive. 2) Really? A book about the varied glories of plants with black and white pictures? Whose pea-brained idea was that?
As a plant lover I did enjoy reading about some of the weird and wonderful plants in our world. The author's passion is undeniable. It's a worthy read if one can get past points 1 and 2.

[JMA · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The authors love of plants is infectious. He takes you on a journey across a wide spectrum of topics by describing his own love with different species and types of plants.

Negative points for the pictures being black and white and for his apparent distaste for modern world - though several of his points are valid.

[Kiddinek · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Defense of Plants might just be my favourite plant blog, so I was very excited to read this book. It's a charming look at some of the weird and wonderful plants we share a world with, and encourages readers to think about how they can help preserve native species and ecosystems.

[Sara Abeita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book! I loved the first and last chapters, with more personal narratives. All of the chapters in between detailing strange and surprising plants were also great - I found something new and fun in each chapter. All around a fun, important read!

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have even a passing interest in nature, you will probably enjoy this book. Candeias concisely packed an impressive amount of fascinating information in to this short book—all while carefully avoiding jargon. A great read!

[Tang Siu · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book introducing plants from different perspective

[Simon Power · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even as a career plant ecologist, this was very enjoyable book to read. Matt did a great job of reminding and reaffirming my love for plants and the role in ecosystems.

[Aidan · Rating 5 out of 5]

So interesting!! very plainly written which makes the science-y parts easier to understand

[Sophie Hirshfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate this man’s passion

[Em Castro · Rating 4 out of 5]

“In Defense of Plants” is a fantastic place to kick off an exploration of the beauty and expansiveness of plant life.

I am by no means an ecologist. I remember some things from grade school biology. I am a moderately successful keeper of a dozen houseplants (including a new jewel orchid, inspired by an early anecdote in this book). That was all the background I needed to follow the key ideas.

After a somewhat slow start, the chapters get progressively more interesting. Chapter 4, “Plants on the Move” picked up the pace — literally and figuratively! I found myself hurtling toward the end, a bit sad that the last few chapters weren’t longer.

If Candeias wrote a follow-up highlighting species he couldn’t get to in this book, or covering slightly more complex topics, I would absolutely read it.

I have a few minor gripes that keep this book at 4/5 stars. I noticed several typos and grammatical issues in almost every chapter. Normally I don’t mind a few, but these were frequent and noticeable enough to distract me from the text. I did buy from the first print, so I wonder if these issues were fixed in subsequent printings.

I also very much wish this book had an edition with color photographs. I found myself googling the plants highlighted in fuzzy black and white pictures, which was certainly worth it, but slowed me down.

I agree with 99% of Candeias’s conclusions in the final chapter, “The Problems Plants Face.” Every single one of us has an obligation to support native plant life. Lawns are a scourge for biodiversity and we should eradicate the ones in our control. We need to get off the internet and literally touch some grass.

While I do understand the inherent tension between construction and thriving ecosystems, I wish he hadn’t painted development with such a broad brush. After reading a few paragraphs, I think the author’s main issue is with sprawling, car-centric, wasteful suburban development tearing up miles and miles of previously undisturbed land. I agree wholeheartedly with that. Still, I wish he had left a bit of space in his conclusion for the role of efficient, ecologically-sensitive urban development. The human harms of treeless, concrete wastelands are well known. Many people are working to undo some of that damage and design cities that connect humans to the beauty and benefits of lush, local plant life and urban gardening. Granted, this is more my line of work than his. A major takeaway I had from this book is to align my influence in the community development space with the needs of our local ecosystems.

All that to say, this is overall an EXCELLENT read! Go pick up a copy and let yourself be pulled into the wonderful world of plants.

[Samantha Surber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminded me of all the things that made me want to be a plant biologist. I loved that aspect and loved the call to action at the end. I didn’t really appreciate the condescending attitude to some other science communication people in different areas of plant research. But I can oversee that as a jab to non science experts trying to make conclusions that were never stated by those who did the research. Overall, would recommend to anyone not deeply intertwined in plant biology or ecology because of the wide range of topics that explain the weird and wacky ways plants live. Biggest and saddest point though is I wish the pictures were in color. Whoever thought of real pictures being in black and white was a dingus. Just do more illustrations if we are gonna do that.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"Ecology is not an issue best left to nature nerds or scientists; it is something we all need to care more about because all aspects of our lives depend on it. Whether you are a social activist trying to improve the lives of marginalized groups, a political scientist worried about growing unrest in countries ravaged with drought and famine, or a parent who wants their child to have a healthy and prosperous future, we all need functioning eco systems to support us. Without functioning eco systems, we have nothing..." - Matt Candeias, PhD

[ItalianWith AShotgun · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beginning two chapters were a bore fest and painful to get through.

Middle had some cool facts about the actual plants which is why I gave this two stars.

Tbh the author is just boring. If I didn't already love plants.... the writing in this book may have made me apathetic to them :/

[Henry DeForest · Rating 5 out of 5]

This made for an overall enjoyable book. The organization felt very natural, and I feel that Candeias did a very good job of distilling a range of nuanced botanical concepts into very easy-to-understand examples. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone even tangentially interested in plants; even if you work with them for a living I suspect he'll have an example you haven't heard of.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like I’d need to go through the book again for the details he writes about to be solidified, but I really enjoyed how the book was concluded. Would definitely recommend to someone who was interested in ecology and natural resource conservation/restoration.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a great read solely for the interesting and accurate descriptions of weird plants and their ecology-- perfect for a quick introductory read or as a resource for case studies for teaching botany.

I value all the work the author has done towards botany outreach and science communication, but I did not love his writing (it was an engaging and quick read though).

Favorite parts were chapters 2 & 3, about pollination (of course).

[Norjak · Rating 3 out of 5]

mostly an intro to plants via interesting/exotic examples.

[Johnny Altomonte · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely essential piece of literature for those deep into the world of plants and for those without the slightest inclination. Matt runs the gamut of fascinating plants and their various interactions with the world, instilling a deep sense of wonder for the reader.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic and very easy to read with a great call to action.

[Bill Leach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chandeias starts with his early work in habitat restoration in an abandoned quarry. One of his objectives was to establish blue lupine which is the main food source for the blue karner butterfly's caterpillar. Interestingly, the caterpillar produces a sugary exudant that is relished by ants who then protect the caterpillar. The key to establishment of the blue lupine was protection of the seedlings by neighbouring plants over the year it took to put the tap root down.

Pollination in plants is often aided by animals other than the familiar birds and bees. Fire moss depends upon springtails. Cycads began using beetles and thrips well before birds and butterflies evolved. Surprising pollen transfer mechanisms include the placement of pollen on swallowtail butterfly wings by lilies, and the attraction of seed snipes to the very unusual Darwin's slipper. Bat pollination is common for plants from the saguaro cactus to the sea bean.

Plants have the ability to move, primarily through seed dispersion. Movement of seed via the wind and animal transport are familiar. Some plants are remarkable for their ability to project their seeds explosively, including the lodgepole pine dwarf mistletoe which can project seeds at 100 kph and the dynamite tree which can project full seed carpels at 250 kph.

Competition among plants is often not recognized but it is constant. The sandhill rosemary produces compounds that keep the soil clear of fire adapted plants for a few metres in radius around it. Common blackberry is able to transport manganese to its leaves and the surrounding soil. The production of toxins, raphides (calcium oxalate crystals) or the accumulation of heavy metals give plants protection - methyl jasmonate can turn feeding caterpillars into cannibals. Plants provide homes for protective ants and some trees provide homes for predatory mites.

Many plants have evolved carnivory to deal with insufficient nitrogen and phosphorous. While the Nepenthes are well known as tropical pitcher plants that trap insects for digestion, a number of species have moved beyond. N. lowii positions its lid to encourage tree shrew droppings, N. hemsleyana similarly positions its lid for bats, N. albomarginata produces special trichomes to feed termites which are then caught in mass, and N. ampullaria depends on the accumulation of leaf matter in its basal pitchers.

Parasitism is common in plants. Mistletoe and dodder are well known. Scientists have discovered that dodder not only obtains nutrients from its host, but also extracts genes and incorporates them into its own genome through horizontal gene transfer. Without the need to produce leaves for photosynthesis, some parasitic plants develop unusual forms. At the extreme are the obligate parasites such as a mistletoes that conceals itself entirely inside cactus until it flowers and the rafflesia which stays within vines of the grape family, only becoming visible when they produce the giant rafflesia flower.

Chandeias concludes with a chapter on threats to plant life. These are many and include habitat destruction, the introduction of non-native plants,
food foraging, and the poaching of plants such as orchids and cycads. He makes a number of recommendations of things the reader can do to aid plants: "... plants are foundation of functioning ecosystems."