Fear of plants (botanophobia)

Botanophobia is a fear of plants, which may cover all plants or only certain kinds, such as climbers, large leaves or plants kept indoors. It can make gardens, parks and even houseplants hard to be around. Some people worry about plants being poisonous, while others dislike how they look or move.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek botane, meaning plant, as in botany. It is uncommon and has little clinical documentation, appearing mostly on lists of phobias. Related fears include anthophobia, a fear of flowers, and dendrophobia, a fear of trees.

What it feels like

• Not wanting plants in your home or near where you sit
• Unease at leaves brushing against your skin on a path
• Worry that a plant might be poisonous or cause a reaction

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Is botanophobia the same as a plant allergy?

No. An allergy is a physical reaction, such as sneezing or a rash, while botanophobia is a fear. The two can overlap if someone has had a bad reaction in the past, so if you notice real symptoms around plants, it is worth checking them with a GP.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

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