Explore the Botanical World

HerbSpeak’s mission is to unravel the mystery of the botanical world, making plant knowledge accessible in everyday life.

What does that mean? As you read different terms and concepts, you will be introduced to a new, in-depth world to explore. Science does not have to be intimidating; by breaking down the language around it, you can freely explore the curiosities of life. Is a leaf ‘undulate’ or whacky-wavy-crazy? Both!

One answer is just a succinct way of describing it in the scientific language to convey direct meaning, while the other is approachable and understandable by most everyone. There’s no wrong answer when you stay curious and open-minded.

Whether you live next to the wild unknown, or if you are stuck in big-city traffic, plants are a part of our everyday lives. Once we recall what it’s like to live within our ecosystem, we can live more fulfilled and sustainable lives. It all starts with knowledge and curiosity.

Let's Get Planty
Learn all about
Botany

The complexities of the natural world, broken down into simple concepts. There is magic in everyday life under the label of science.

Explore the world of
Gardening

Find care guides and tips for popular houseplants, become an intuitive grower, and explore nature in containers or in-ground gardens.

Expand your knowledge of the
Environment

We live in a diverse ecosystem where we each play a role in the health and stability of the environment. Learn what you can do here.

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Calathea zebrina in the foreground, and Calathea lancifolia spotted in the background with their own darker leaf-like patterning.

Learn About the Botanical World Around You

The HerbSpeak blog covers topics from how plants work, to how they shape our environment. Plants are always evolving, growing, and shaping the world around us, and these organisms never cease to amaze, dazzle, and frighten.

Learn about different varieties of plants, how to care for them, how basic plant functions work, and how to identify different plant families, even if you’ve never seen that particular plant before.

In the botanical world, learning never stops. There are up to 400,000 species of flowering plants alone, which can sound overwhelming. The trick is to find what you are passionate about. Explore the website to learn more about specific topics in bite-sized pieces.

The Origin of HerbSpeak

HerbSpeak was founded by Destynnie K. Berard (D.K. Berard) based on a love of the botanical world.

HerbSpeak’s mission is to make plants more accessible in everyday life, no matter where you live. We are all a part of one ecosystem, contributing to the cycle of life in our own way. By understanding the vast botanical world, we can better understand our own choices and actions, and how it affects our ecosystem.

Join her on this botanical journey and browse your favorite topics, sign up for the newsletter for the latest news and updates.

Dracaena warneckii “Lemon Lime”

Over time, you may just re-discover what its like to love learning, staying curious in everyday life. Re-discovering plants can be a long and sometimes personal journey, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Let HerbSpeak help guide you and give you a voice in this budding community.

The work you see on this website community-driven, which means you have an affect on the publications you see here. Every comment is replied to, every email is reviewed. If you don’t see something you’re interested in here, just send in the idea; you might even see it as the next top article!

Most Recent Publication:

Review: The Green Planet by BBC Earth

There is nothing not to love about the recent series from BBC Earth ‘The Green Planet’ narrated by David Attenborough. Originally airing in 2022, it was primarily celebrated in the UK as a groundbreaking series focused on the world from the perspective of plants. Unfortunately, it was not available in the United States, and as time went on, many of the potential audience forgot about this series. Now that it’s available in the US – is it any good? Let’s find out.

Read More

What Are The Benefits of a Garden?

For centuries, gardening has been apart of our lives. If it wasn’t to feed the household, it has been a hobby to bring the mind peace. Whether you are a seasoned gardener or are considering starting your own garden, you will gain a deeper appreciation for the many benefits of this relaxing activity.

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How Do Ferns Reproduce?

Ferns have captured the imagination of many scientists’, with many aspects of these unique plants becoming a dissertation research subject. Some people have even dedicated their lives to studying the subject, always finding more questions than answers. Without diving too deep into the weeds with this subject, how exactly do ferns reproduce? Let’s find out…

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What Is a Plant Sanctuary?

You’ve probably heard about wildlife sanctuaries, which are swaths of land dedicated to providing habitat for certain species of wildlife. Lesser known, however, are plant sanctuaries. These sanctuaries serve the same purpose, but on a more foundational scale.

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Or visit the Author’s Corner for an exploration of the natural world from a more personal perspective.

See All Recent Articles
Reviews
Review: The Green Planet by BBC Earth

Review: The Green Planet by BBC Earth

There is nothing not to love about the recent series from BBC Earth 'The Green Planet' narrated by David Attenborough. Originally airing in 2022, it was primarily celebrated in the UK as a groundbreaking series focused on the world from the perspective of plants. Unfortunately, it was not available in the United States, and as time went on, many of the potential audience forgot about this series. Now that it's available in the US - is it any good? Let's find out.

Read More

| Mar 13, 2023 | 11 min

Botany
How Do Ferns Reproduce?

How Do Ferns Reproduce?

Ferns have captured the imagination of many scientists’, with many aspects of these unique plants becoming a dissertation research subject. Some people have even dedicated their lives to studying the subject, always finding more questions than answers. Without diving too deep into the weeds with this subject, how exactly do ferns reproduce? Let's find out...

Read More

| Mar 9, 2023 | 6 min

Botany
The Life Cycle of a Plant Explained

The Life Cycle of a Plant Explained

It’s one thing to think about the cycle of life in terms of seasons. In northern climates, winter is a time of snow cover and cold. A few plants have specialized to live in these climates, but most begin life in the spring or summer and die (or go dormant) in the autumn. In this article, we answer how that works and dive into the life cycle of a plant.

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| Feb 21, 2023 | 6 min

Gardening
Can I Grow Ginseng at Home?

Can I Grow Ginseng at Home?

Ginseng used to be plentiful in the United States and southern Canada, but the ‘gold rush’ of ginseng in the colonial era left the population on the decline. Today, we can change the trend and help steward in a new generation of plants. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing ginseng pop out of the ground year after year in a thriving ecosystem.

Read More

| Jan 9, 2023 | 4 min

Explore New Topics

There is so much on HerbSpeak for you to discover.

GARDENING

Gardening is good for the soul, and learning more about the different plants in your life is a valuable way to reconnect with nature.

Whether you are an indoor gardener exploring the world of houseplants or an outdoor gardener looking for some insight, you will find everything you need to know in this section. From plant profiles to nontoxic plants, urban farming, and much more. Discover the best in gardening in this section.

BOTANY

Explore the wild and colorful world around you through the deeper understanding provided by these botanical articles. Learn how wild plants alike move throughout the day, and the mechanisms that makes it possible for them to communicate with each other.

Discover science experiments, connect with flora on an intellectual level, and remember the joys of learning. These pieces dive further into the details about plants, helping foster a better understanding of this life form and how it interacts with the world.

What will your next discovery be?  Find out by exploring topics in this section.

ENVIRONMENT

Are you searching for ways to reconnect with your environment, or better understand the changing climate? Whether we remember to pay attention or not, the environment affects our everyday lives: our mood, appetite, and daily experience.

These articles are not only educational and engaging, spread across a variety of environmental topics. Learn about global water usage, how to identify the bees in your garden, or why pesticides are harmful to an ecosystem’s balance.

MICROGREENS

Microgreens are an up-and-coming nutritional food source that comes from plants that have just been germinated but have not been allowed to grow true leaves yet. You will be surprised at the differences in nutrition, with some microgreens containing 20-40x the nutrition of adult plants when tested on certain micro and macro nutrients.

In this section, you will learn everything you need to know about microgreens, from what they are to how to grow them. Thanks to your feedback, HerbSpeak is currently putting together a full course on how to grow microgreens, and it is continuously being shaped by your feedback. Have something to request or want to add your voice? Leave a comment in this section! Below, you can explore the latest Microgreens related in this area.

REVIEWS

In this section, you’ll get an inside look into several different products, from gardening trays, to gardening gifts, bird feeders, and much more.

This is a great way to look for a product related to gardening or nature. Have something to say about a product that has been reviewed? Add your voice in the comments – the more reviews, the better! Check out the most recent reviews and learn which choice is right for you.

Popular Release:
How to Grow Ginseng

Enjoy more in-depth information about how to identify, grow, and harvest your own American ginseng crop in HerbSpeak’s new book: How to Grow Ginseng.

In this book, you’ll learn everything you need to know about growing ginseng – specifically American ginseng, Panax quinquefolius – and how to care for this wonderful plant from seed to harvest.

Beyond that, you’ll learn why such a small root has earned such an honorable reputation, and what you can do to help keep this plant in our lives no matter what your motivation for growing ginseng is.

Your journey into the world of ginseng starts here.

By D. K. Berard

Second Edition Pre-Orders coming soon!
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