Ultimo: Hardie Grant Books, 2026. Octavo, paperback. colour illustrations.

This is your backstage pass to the drama, mystery and importance of Earth’s most overlooked species. Blending science, true crime, history and a touch of lore, What the Flora? offers a fresh perspective on the ingenuity and wonders of the plant kingdom.

From Australia’s wildest landscapes to the farthest reaches of the globe, scientists and plant obsessives are uncovering strange stories and profound truths about plants that will leave you feeling fascinated and slightly unnerved.

You’ll encounter trees that survived atomic blasts and deadly species that have shaped medicine and myth, discover the mind-bending secrets of plant intelligence and learn how pollen can be used to crack a murder case.

This thrilling journey also reveals the remarkable ways plants have shaped our world: fuelling civilisations, inspiring innovation and sustaining all life on Earth. Our very survival is intertwined with theirs, and protecting plants may be our greatest hope for the future.