Over the years, I’ve learned some weird, wacky, and strange facts about plants, so I thought I’d share some with you.
- Did you know that some of our favorite fruits are related to roses? That’s right—apples, peaches, pears, strawberries, cherries, raspberries, blackberries, and almonds are all members of the rose family!
- That broccoli you had for dinner is the flower head of the plant.
- Bamboo is the fastest-growing plant in the world. Certain varieties have been found to grow up to THREE feet in ONE day!
- Tomatoes, peppers, tomatillos, eggplants, and potatoes are all members of the Solonaceae family, which means they are related to the Deadly Nightshade.
- The strawberry is the only fruit that can carry its seeds outside.
- Nectarines and Peaches are NOT two different fruits. Nectarines are simply peaches without fuzzy skin.
- Peanuts are not nuts at all. They are legumes related to green beans, peas, lentils, and soybeans.
- Sweet potatoes and yams are NOT the same thing! Yams are not nearly as sweet as sweet potatoes and are native to Asia, Africa, and the Americas, while sweet potatoes are native to Central and South America.
- Many of the veggies we eat are fruits. Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, eggplants, squash, green beans, and peas are all botanically classified as fruits.
- The tallest living thing in the world is a tree (no surprise there). It’s a Sequoia (Redwood) in California, which grows to over 380 feet tall.
Isn’t Mother Nature amazing?