Digging up Hollywood’s plant howlers

Painting out evidence of agricultural vehicles in Gladiator would have been easy – but film sets are full of botanical errors

As someone who spends so much of his life fascinated by weeds growing in cracks in the pavement, I find it bizarre that to most of modern society plants are just a generic green backdrop to the natural world. I am not alone, either. Us botanists have actually coined a term, “plant blindness”, to describe the human tendency to subconsciously gloss over not just the importance, but even the very presence, of plants in our environment. Perhaps nowhere is this more the case than in the world of Hollywood, where despite every inch of each set being forensically agonised over by teams of specialists, there are almost always huge botanical errors. Niche pet peeve, I know, but I wonder how many of the following have also had you wanting to throw your popcorn at the screen.

Sometimes it’s a simple matter of timing. When a background of North American giant redwoods pops up in Pride and Prejudice, set years before the plants were first widely introduced to Britain, I am sure no normal people bat an eyelid. But my mind starts to drift to how fascinating it is that the landscapes we so closely associate with particular eras never really looked like that at the time. The people planting these trees, which we in Britain named “Wellingtonias” in a tribute to the battle of Waterloo, would only ever have seen specimens that were tiny saplings.

It isn’t just the species themselves though, but how they are grown. It’s become a running joke among farmers, for example, to point out the prominent tramlines running through the fields of wheat in Gladiator. These enormous tyre tracks caused by agricultural vehicles would be far easier to digitally paint out than, say, creating a CGI cast of thousands for the gladiatorial games or battles, but that would require people to actually notice or care about the plants.

Now, I am aware that it’s the height of ridiculousness that I’m instantly snapped out of a cinematic escape when I see that the “Ugandan rebel camp” in Casino Royale is really a couple of potted houseplants stuck in a British silver birch forest, but I really am. I guess my mates are now used to eye-rolling when I point out the jungles of Wakanda are clearly just a US city park with a couple of Monstera plants chucked out.

Even plant use doesn’t escape the clutches of Hollywood writers. At the age of 12 I was gripped by every scene in Jurassic Park, but had to ask my science teacher the next day how the botanist knew a long-extinct plant, only previously seen in the fossil record, was toxic simply by glancing at it. In The Martian, which gets so much of the science of growing potatoes spot on, I laughed out loud to see them being grown from cooked, shrink-wrapped spuds. These are just the examples that sprung to my mind. I wonder if there are any classic cases I have missed. Let me know on Twitter, I’ll share any howlers you have spotted.

Follow James on Twitter @Botanygeek

Contributor

James Wong

The GuardianTramp

Related Content

Article image
Plant limes for fragrance and flavour | James Wong
These unusual citrus trees will add real zest to your garden – and kitchen, says James Wong

James Wong

23, Jun, 2019 @10:00 AM

Article image
How to make amazing living plant pictures
You’ll need cork bark, moss, nylon fishing line and a little manual dexterity: the results will be thrilling, says James Wong

James Wong

10, Dec, 2017 @6:00 AM

Article image
Stop digging! It’s bad for your soil – and you | James Wong
The most back-breaking job in the garden is not necessary – because worms will aerate your beds

James Wong

21, Oct, 2018 @10:00 AM

Article image
Why you should plant trees in square holes | James Wong
Change the way you dig and you’ll grow better, stronger trees, says James Wong

James Wong

08, Dec, 2019 @8:15 AM

Article image
Grow bananas from seed for an exotic plant
The Japanese fibre banana, Musa basjoo, can thrive in surprisingly cold temperatures

James Wong

20, Feb, 2022 @8:15 AM

Article image
For a blast of pure escapism, plant lomatias
These lovely exotics look like something from a sci-fi film, writes James Wong

James Wong

08, Jan, 2023 @8:15 AM

Article image
Is that rare plant illegal? | James Wong
How to spot the signs of plant trafficking online

James Wong

20, Sep, 2020 @7:15 AM

Article image
What not to do for Insta indoor plant success
Cacti in terrariums and other awful ideas to avoid if you want your plants to thrive, by James Wong

James Wong

02, Jun, 2019 @9:59 AM

Article image
Are you ready to ‘plant-flex’?
Showing off your expensive houseplants on social media is the latest thing in bling, says James Wong

James Wong

03, Apr, 2022 @7:15 AM

Article image
Unexpected plant joy from rocky places | James Wong
Bricks, floral foam and volcanic rock all made excellent growing media for plants that thrive without soil, says James Wong

James Wong

18, Nov, 2018 @11:00 AM