King Charles once revealed he talks to his plants – and experts now say he might be onto something. Studies suggest sound can help plants grow and even thrive in certain environments
With King Charles making his annual appearance at the Chelsea Flower Show today, all eyes are once again on the monarch’s lifelong love affair with gardening.
But while most royal-watchers admire his lush gardens and carefully curated landscapes, it’s his delightfully quirky gardening tip that has resurfaced decades later. It was back in a 1986 interview that Charles first admitted he “talks to the plants” and even claimed they “respond.”
The then-Prince of Wales clarified it in a 2012 follow-up, saying, “I just come and talk to the plants, really.” In more recent interviews, he’s even upgraded the interaction, explaining that he now “instructs them instead.” And while it might sound strange to some, there might actually be some truth behind it.
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“On King Charles’ famous claim that plants respond to people talking to them… I believe there’s something in it,” says Mikey Leach, Head Gardener at The Alnwick Garden in Northumberland.
“While the notion of plants thriving on conversation might sound more poetic than practical, there are actually studies that suggest sound can influence how plants grow and behave,” Leach explains. “Plants can grow better in response to classical music than to rock music. So why not in response to voice, too?”
The concept is known as phonotropism – the idea that plants can detect and respond to sound vibrations in their environment. “They don’t have ears or a nervous system, so they don’t ‘hear’ like we do,” says Leach, “but they do pick up on vibrations.”
One study by the Royal Horticultural Society found that tomato plants exposed to human voices grew more than those left in silence. Other research has even shown roots growing toward the sound of running water. “There’s evidence that sound frequencies can trigger internal changes – boosting growth hormones or helping plants deal with stress,” Leach adds.
“As for me – I believe there’s a connection. Like dropping a stone into a still pond, even a single word can send ripples through the plant world.”
It’s not just professional gardeners who see merit in Charles’ unconventional advice. Darren Gallagher, Home and Property Expert at Elite Realty Invest, says it may be the ultimate low-effort home improvement tip.
“King Charles got a fair bit of stick years ago for admitting he chats to his plants, but honestly, he might have been right,” Gallagher says. “There’s research suggesting that plants respond to sound and even grow a little faster when they’re spoken to.”
“Is it the vibrations? The carbon dioxide? Who knows. But if you’re stood in the garden having a natter with your roses, it’s doing more good than harm,” he adds.
“When it comes to making a house feel like a home, the little things matter – and if a few kind words to your houseplants help them thrive, I say go for it. His Majesty might be onto something.”
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