THE most obvious ways plants defend themselves, especially against plant-eating animals, are with hard shells, thorns (modified branches) and spines (modified leaves). Thick bark and waxy leaf cuticles help protect plants against environmental conditions.
Plants have evolved to thrive in a range of environments. We grow plants from around the world and from massively different climatic conditions to our own, so understanding how they cope and use the environment helps us to select and grow the right plant for the right place in our gardens.
Surviving intense temperature
Cold, heat, wind scorch and dehydration can leave plants shredded, stressed and battling for survival, so many plants have needed to evolve defences. By adapting to withstand and even thrive in theseadvantage by reproducing and increasing. Cacti and succulents have adapted to go without water for lengthy periods in desert conditions where they twhrive. They are slow growing and their thick, waxy skin slows down water loss. Some have wide surface roots to take advantage of any drops of rain.
