It might sound like science fiction, but trees really do communicate—and not just with rustling leaves in the wind. Beneath the forest floor, trees are connected by a complex network often referred to as the “Wood Wide Web.”

1. The Underground Network

Trees form symbiotic relationships with fungi in their root systems, known as mycorrhizae. These fungal threads act like natural internet cables, connecting the roots of different trees and even different species. Through this network, trees can exchange nutrients, water, and chemical signals.

2. Sharing Resources

Healthy trees often send extra sugars or nutrients to young or struggling neighbors. In times of drought or disease, older trees may help support saplings by funneling needed resources through the mycorrhizal network. It’s a cooperative system that benefits the forest as a whole.

3. Warning Signals

When a tree is under attack—say, by insects—it can release chemical signals through its leaves or roots to alert nearby trees. Those neighboring trees may then boost their own defenses by producing bitter chemicals or thickening their bark to prepare for the same threat.

4. Mother Trees

Some larger, older trees—nicknamed “mother trees”—act as hubs in the network, maintaining connections with dozens of younger trees. They often prioritize their own offspring, helping them grow by directing more nutrients their way.

5. Above-Ground Messaging

Trees also communicate through the air. When one tree is damaged, it can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that drift to other trees, triggering them to respond defensively. For example, acacias being grazed by giraffes release ethylene gas, warning nearby acacias to produce bitter tannins in their leaves.

Trees may be rooted in place, but they’re far from isolated. Their ability to communicate—both underground and above—shows just how alive, intelligent, and interconnected forest ecosystems really are. Next time you walk through the woods, remember: the trees are talking.