If you’ve ever found yourself talking to your plants or getting unreasonably excited about a new sprout, you’re in the right place. Growing plants is a great, hands-on way to study biology, ecosystems and even human history. And if you’re even a bit curious about the science of what’s going on in your garden (or your pot on the windowsill), growing a few educational plants can make for a rewarding way to geek out and get your hands dirty.
Whether you're a plant newbie with a windowsill or someone with a full-on veggie patch in your backyard, this guide is for anyone hungry to learn a bit more about the plant world — without wading through textbook-level jargon. We’re talking real-life growing experiences that also teach you about plant cycles, propagation, biodiversity and even cultural connections.
So, let’s dig in (pun intended).
Cannabis
Okay, let’s talk about the green elephant in the grow tent — cannabis. There’s more to this incredible plant than just rolling papers and tired stereotypes. From a botanical standpoint, cannabis is extremely interesting and makes for an excellent educational plant (legally, of course) to grow. Cannabis plants teach you loads about photoperiodism (how plants respond to light cycles), plant sex (they’ve got male and female varieties), and even genetics if you start diving into hybrid strains. When you’re getting started, you’ll likely come across terms like feminised, autoflowering, and regular when shopping for cannabis seeds. Sounds incredibly complicated, but it really isn’t. Each type offers a different learning experience.
Basically, feminised cannabis seeds are bred to remove male chromosomes — so they will produce mainly bud-bearing female plants. Autoflowers are fantastic for beginners because they flower automatically (as the name suggests) regardless of light cycle, providing you a crash course in plant development without too much work. And regular seeds? They’re a mixed bag, producing both male and female plants — ideal if you’re interested in breeding or cloning.
Growing cannabis (again, where it’s legal) is like conducting a mini science experiment at home, one that yields real-time results and a bit of unique personality in each plant.
Sunflowers
Sunflowers are one of the best plants to grow if you want to get behind the curtain and see biology in action. Watching a sunflower sprout from a seed to a towering giant is a magnificent way to learn about germination, phototropism (they literally follow the sun, hence their name) and seed production. And of course, these happy little blooms are also just ridiculously satisfying to grow, which is why they also feature on our list of our favourite summer flowers.
Educational-wise, sunflowers are great for learning about pollination too. Bees love them, which makes sunflowers perfect for anyone curious about how insects interact with plants. You can also gather up the seeds yourself and roast them to snack on. The full life cycle of the plant — from seed to snack — is an amazing lesson in sustainability. Plus, they’re pretty low maintenance, so they’re great if you’re still working on your green thumb confidence.
Aloe Vera
There’s a reason this one is a staple in just about every granny’s house. Aloe vera is a tough-as- nails, no-fuss succulent that comes with a ton of teachable moments. From propagation techniques (spoiler alert: they produce baby plants called “pups” that you can separate and repot) to understanding how plants store water, aloe vera is essentially a mini textbook on drought survival wrapped up into a spiky green package.
You also get a little chemistry lesson every time you cut open a leaf and see the gel oozing out. That goop is chock-full of compounds found in thousands of skin-care products, thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. If you have any interest in natural remedies or skincare, cultivating aloe offers an opportunity to delve into the intersection of botany and wellness. It’s also the sort of plant that tolerates a little neglect, which makes it a great teacher for beginners still figuring out their plant-care regimen.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a classic for a reason. They’re fast-growing, high-yielding and well-suited to different conditions. Whether you’re growing them in the ground, a hanging pot, or upside down in a DIY contraption, tomatoes give you a solid lesson in soil health, fertilisers, pruning techniques, and pest control.
You’ll also get a little bit of insight into flowering and fruiting — two stages that are key to understand if you plan to produce anything edible. Tomatoes also have the most ridiculous number of varieties, from tiny cherry types to wacky heirlooms. It’s easy enough to get into seed saving and look at how different strains perform, making tomatoes something of a gateway plant to the wider world of home horticulture.
Basil
Small but mighty, basil is like a little green lab sitting on your kitchen windowsill. It’s one of the easiest herbs to get started with as a novice gardener because it grows quickly and responds noticeably to the treatment you give it — ideal if you’re looking to learn by trial and error.
By growing basil, you can learn about pruning and harvesting for longevity, how light affects leaf development and even hydroponic growing if you want to get a little fancy. Bonus: it smells great in your kitchen, and you get to eat your experiments. There’s something pretty cool about pinching a few fresh leaves and tossing them right onto a pizza or into a pasta sauce — it really reinforces that concept of plant-to-plate learning.
Lettuce and Leafy Greens
Lettuce may not be the most exciting plant on the list, but it’s a speed demon when it comes to growth. You can go from seed to salad in a matter of weeks, which is highly exciting and motivating if you’re a beginner. It’s an excellent choice for learning about cool-season crops, spacing and generating multiple harvests from a single plant with the “cut and come again” approach.
Leafy greens also offer opportunities to experiment with indoor versus outdoor growing. They don’t require a ton of room, a fact that makes them the ideal choice for balcony gardens or those utilising vertical growing systems. Plus, you can experiment with microgreens — basically the babies of these plants that are pulled early for maximum nutrients and flavour. It’s like plant-growing, but on fast-forward.
Mimosa Pudica (The Sensitive Plant)
Now here’s one for the plant nerds who love a bit of drama. Mimosa pudica is known as the “touch-me-not” plant because its leaves fold up when you touch them. Talk about sensitive! It’s a party trick of sorts, but also an excellent way into the world of plant defence mechanisms and non-verbal communication in the plant kingdom.
This little weirdo of a plant teaches you that plants are not just passive green things — they respond to touch, light and even time of day. Children adore it — and, truthfully, so do grown-ups. Watching it move in real time makes you rethink what a plant is actually capable of, which is a bit of a mind-bender if you’re used to the idea that plants just sit there looking pretty.
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Getting into botany doesn’t mean you need to enrol in a course or start reading boring old-school field guides. Sometimes, the most useful way to learn is to just grow some things and see what happens. Whether it’s working with cannabis seeds, observing a sunflower track the sky, or getting up close and personal with a mimosa and feeling it curl up with your touch — there’s something to learn from every plant species.
So, if you’re even slightly curious about the natural world, grab a few packets of seeds, get your hands in some dirt, and let the growing (and learning) begin.