If You Know a Cow, You Should Know a Sycamore: Tackling Plant Blindness in the Landscape

You’ve probably had this moment. You’re driving past a pasture with a friend, and someone says, “Hey, look—horses!” or “There’s a cow!” No hesitation. No pause. No “Wait…what is that again?” We all know it’s a cow or a horse.

But when we pass a sycamore, a coast live oak, or a row of jacarandas in bloom? Silence. Or maybe: “Ooooh, pretty tree.”

Most people can name fewer than ten plants, even though plants make up 80–90% of the visible life on Earth. That phenomenon has a name: plant blindness.

What Is Plant Blindness?

Plant blindness is a term coined by botanists James Wandersee and Elisabeth Schussler to describe our tendency to overlook the plants around us. It’s the human inclination to see animals as more interesting or important than plants—and to forget that we depend on plants for almost everything.

It’s not just about not knowing plant names. It’s a broader failure to notice plants at all, to see them as dynamic, essential parts of the world. We walk by them every day. We landscape with them, sit under them, eat from them, water them—but often don’t see them.

Why It Matters

So why does this even matter? Isn’t it okay to like animals more than plants?

Sure. But plant blindness has real consequences.

1. Environmental indifference: If you don’t recognize or value the plants in your environment, it’s challenging to care about protecting native species, preventing the spread of invasive ones, or supporting biodiversity.
2. Poor landscaping decisions: Ignorance of your plants can lead to overwatering, unnecessary pesticide use, and inadequate maintenance. It costs money and resources and results in unhealthy landscapes.
3. Missed educational opportunities: Plants are nature’s most accessible teachers. They teach biology, ecology, patience, observation, and seasonal awareness—if we’re paying attention.
4. Food insecurity: When people lack understanding of where food comes from or how it is grown, they’re less likely to support sustainable agriculture, community gardens, or resilient food systems.

Plant blindness also creates a more profound disconnect between us and the natural world. We start to see nature as a backdrop rather than as a living, breathing system we’re part of. That’s dangerous—not just for ecosystems but for our own mental health and well-being.

How to Fix It: Start Noticing

The good news? You can fix plant blindness. It starts with simply noticing the plants around you. No PhD in botany is required.

Here are a few simple, low-barrier steps to get started:

1. Learn 10 Plant Names

Start with the trees and shrubs in your yard or neighborhood. Learn the name of the big tree on your street, the bush with the purple flowers, or the vines on your fence. You’ll be shocked at how quickly your awareness changes.

2. Say the Names Out Loud

Just like we do with animals. “Oh, look—that’s a crape myrtle!” It helps cement the knowledge. And yes, people might look at you funny, but they’ll probably be curious, too.

3. Start a Garden

Even a small patio garden changes your relationship with plants. When you’ve grown tomatoes from seed or tended to a pepper plant, you’ll never overlook a vegetable bed again.

4. Take a Nature Walk With a Guidebook

Old-school? Maybe. But flipping through pages and matching leaves or flowers helps you slow down and notice details. It’s mindfulness and science rolled into one.

5. Talk to a Gardener

Find a neighbor with a green thumb or join a local gardening club. Gardeners love sharing plant knowledge, and most will happily walk you through what’s growing in their yard.

The Role of the Green Industry

If you’re in the green industry, tackling plant blindness isn’t just good practice—it’s good business.

Your customers may not know the difference between St. Augustine and tall fescue, but they’ll make better decisions when they do. Educating customers helps you sell better solutions, such as climate-appropriate plants, smart irrigation systems, and more effective maintenance plans.

In the process, you’re creating landscapes that are healthier, more sustainable, and more meaningful to the people who inhabit them.

Rediscovering the Green World

The more you know plants, the more connected you feel to the places you live, walk, and work. You’ll start to see patterns in the seasons. You’ll know when the oaks are leafing out or when the jacarandas are about to bloom. You’ll anticipate the smell of jasmine or the firework burst of bottlebrush flowers.

You’ll start to see it again.

Just like knowing a cow or a horse in a field, you’ll know that’s a sycamore, or a manzanita, or a rosemary hedge. And when you see it again, you won’t just walk past it. You’ll remember it. You’ll appreciate it. You’ll call it by name.

Let’s work to fix plant blindness—one tree, shrub, or ground cover at a time.

And if you’d like to learn more about the plants in your region or how to create a more connected, sustainable landscape, I’m always happy to help. Shoot me a message, join one of our upcoming webinars, or follow along on Twitter @H2oTrends.