I have this conversation with vegans and vegetarians all.the.time... They somehow think they're "special" because they don't kill animals. But something has to die, and plants realize when they're in trouble. We need to stop thinking as plants as unfeeling "foliage"... There's so much more to them than we can even fathom right now.

I wouldn't say ''intelligence'' but will certainly agree that chemistry is what's happening here. Plants/trees often send signals to one another. Reptilian lives are often based on chemistry, as are those of insects, such as bees. I'm very much afraid the world will be irreparably damaged before we begin to recognize the wonders around us!

They showed an experiment on tv where they put two identical plants inside two identical terrariums and placed them on each side of a doorway. They then instructed school kids to talk sweetly and compliment plant #1 on a daily basis. The instructions for plant #2 were the opposite..be mean and insulting to the plant on a daily basis. Within a few weeks, plant #1 was flourishing with new growth and vibrant colors. Not so with plant #2..it was whithered and dried up , with leaves of brown.
Both plants received the exact same amount of water, sun and food..the only difference in their care was the messages they received on a daily basis. If this doesn't prove that words have power, I don't know what does!

I teach horticulture and I believe that there are many more discoveries coming down the pike that will blow our minds. [bbc.com]

Still intriguing! all part of the vast unknown that drives us to seek answers through religion or science. I'll weigh in on the side of science... but that doesn't mean I can't let my imagination run wild and use this in a short story or something.