plants

A black-throated green warbler perches on a funerary statue at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.

Three historic cemeteries, designed as refuges of the dead, are bringing their landscapes back to life for native plants and animals.

Giant sequoias are Earth’s most massive trees.

A local organization is aiming to fill Detroit’s vacant land with gigantic forests.

Gourds (left) and squash (right) are similar, but one shouldn’t be eaten.

Matters become more confusing when you add pumpkins to the mix.

More people get to witness Virginia’s beauty in fall.

Fall just got more colorful for colorblind visitors to Virginia’s state parks.

They may look weird, but they are perfectly fine to eat.

Some gourds are bred to have a bumpy appearance.

Golden lettuce isn’t just pretty—it’s good for you, too.

From Henry David Thoreau's 'Autumnal Tints' to the origins of the term 'leaf-peeper.'

Air pollution may keep these pollinators from doing their jobs.

Air pollution is making it hard for bees to pollinate flowers.

What leaf-peeper doesn't love gorgeous, golden aspens?

Trees like aspens, sugar maples, and black gums are known for their vibrant fall foliage.

You think you just fell out of a coconut tree? It may have actually been a different type of palm tree.

If you’re hoping to pass on your love of nature to the next generation, you may be inclined to choose a name rooted in the natural world. Oliver, Olivia, Violet, and Rowan are all top contenders.

Unfortunately, those blooms you clipped from your home garden or snagged from a local farmer’s market won’t last forever.

A grove of mountain cedar releases clouds of pollen.

The allergy-inducing mountain cedar may be the most hated tree in Texas.

“Shoot, did that plant have leaves of three?”

Dogs can potentially have an allergic reaction to poison ivy, and they can also transmit the irritating oils to people. Here's what to do if you pet encounters the plant.

She probably wound up with bug bites in some very uncomfortable places.

Like gardening naked? You may want to move to one of these cities.

A semi-accurate rendering of a crocodile.

From the “dark politicks” of cuttlefish to the “prodigious bigness” of snakes, here are 10 accounts of the first times explorers encountered new animals, foods, and more.

The word ‘blueberry’ may be false advertising.

Blue pigmentation doesn't exist in the plant kingdom, but blueberries have found a unique way around this.

From record-breaking plants and incredible animal news to space superlatives and the awesome power of Taylor Swift fans, here’s the long list of things we learned in 2023.

It wasn't always associated with the holidays.

The hardy plant’s ability to stay vibrant through the winter made it a natural choice for pre-Christian winter festivals, but why is holly now associated with Christmas?