Do Plants Hear Us? New Research Shows Buzzing Bees Make Flowers More Nectar Rich

A team of scientists from the University of Turin has uncovered something extraordinary about flowers. Led by zoologist Francesca Barbero, the group discovered that snapdragon plants can actually respond to the sound of pollinators. When these flowers were exposed to recordings of buzzing bees, they quickly began producing more nectar, and that nectar had a higher sugar content.

The response was surprisingly fast. Within just three minutes of hearing the buzz of snail shell bees, the plants changed the quality of their nectar. This was not a random reaction. When the same flowers were exposed to other sounds, like ambient noise or the buzzing of insects that do not pollinate them, they stayed quiet. Only the specific sound of their preferred pollinators triggered the response.

Scientists believe that the flowers may be using vibration sensitive cells called mechanoreceptors to detect the buzzing. These receptors might work like tiny biological microphones, tuned to respond to the unique frequency of a bee’s wings.

This discovery suggests that plants are far more sensitive and responsive to their environment than we thought. They are not passive. They listen, and when they hear something important, they react.

The research also hints at future uses in farming. If sound can influence nectar production, then sound could also be used to boost pollination. Imagine orchards playing the hum of bees to encourage flowers to prepare for real visitors, naturally improving fruit and seed production.

What was once thought of as silent, still life turns out to be full of sensing and subtle communication. Plants are not speaking in the way we do, but they are definitely listening.

Read more here:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/may/21/plants-produce-more-nectar-when-they-hear-bees-buzzing-scientists-find