Living Things
Plants and Trees
Talk about flowers, trees, gardens and crops in English.
Plants are everywhere – in parks, gardens, fields and forests. Learn how to name them, describe how they grow and talk about native and invasive species.
Key Words
Ten essential words with their German meaning and an example sentence.
| English | German | Example |
|---|---|---|
| deciduous | laubabwerfend | Oaks and beeches are deciduous trees: they lose their leaves in autumn. |
| evergreen | immergrün | Holly is evergreen, so it stays green all winter. |
| native plant | heimische Pflanze | Native plants support more insects than exotic ones. |
| invasive species | invasive Art | Himalayan balsam is an invasive species along many rivers. |
| to bloom | blühen | The cherry trees bloom in April. |
| seedling | Keimling, Sämling | Protect the seedlings from slugs. |
| root | Wurzel | The tree's roots reach deep into the soil. |
| bark | Rinde | Birch trees have white bark. |
| weed | Unkraut | We spent the morning pulling out weeds. |
| crop | Nutzpflanze, Feldfrucht | Wheat is the most important crop in the region. |
Word Partners
Natural English depends on words that belong together. Learn these as complete phrases.
- in full bloom
- native species
- to plant a tree
- to water the plants
- fallen leaves
- a tree trunk
- to spread rapidly
- wild flowers
"In May, the old apple tree in our garden is in full bloom."
Useful Phrases
Sentence patterns you can use straight away.
Describing a plant
- It has broad, dark green leaves.
- It flowers in early spring.
- It grows best in partial shade.
- It can reach a height of about two metres.
In the garden
- I sowed the seeds in March.
- The tomatoes need more sun.
- The frost killed the young plants.
- It's spreading all over the flower bed.
Talk About It
Answer these questions aloud, write a short paragraph, or discuss them with a partner.
- What is your favourite tree, and why?
- Do you grow any plants at home or on your balcony?
- Should gardeners only plant native species?
- How do the plants around you change through the seasons?
Test Yourself
Click a question to see the answer.
1. What do we call a tree that keeps its leaves all year?
Evergreen.
2. Complete: "The roses are in full ___."
Bloom.
3. What is "Rinde" in English?
Bark.
Explore More
Related topics on Talking English.
Talk about plants and trees.
Learn the words, use them in real sentences and share what you notice with others.
Sow. Grow. Notice. Name.