Speak with Plants

A
Utility

Speak with Plants is a Utility spell. Utility spells solve problems outside of combat or provide unique situational advantages.

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 spell that lets plants share
insight

Speak with Plants is a Information spell. Information spells provide ways to transmit, perceive, detect, or reveal hidden or unknown information.

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, reshape
battlefield control

Speak with Plants is a Battlefield Shaping spell. Battlefield Shaping spells alter terrain, create obstacles, introduce hazards, and affect enemy positioning.

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, and aid
social contact

Speak with Plants is a Social Influence spell. Social Influence spells create ways to communicate, persuade, and alter behavior.

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.

2024 Rules
Level & School
3rd-level transmutation
Casting Time
Action
Range
Self
Components
V, S
Duration
10 minutes
Classes
Bard, Druid, Ranger

You imbue plants in an immobile 30-foot Emanation with limited sentience and animation, giving them the ability to communicate with you and follow your simple commands. You can question plants about events in the spell's area within the past day, gaining information about creatures that have passed, weather, and other circumstances.

You can also turn Difficult Terrain caused by plant growth (such as thickets and undergrowth) into ordinary terrain that lasts for the duration. Or you can turn ordinary terrain where plants are present into Difficult Terrain that lasts for the duration.

The spell doesn't enable plants to uproot themselves and move about, but they can move their branches, tendrils, and stalks for you.

If a Plant creature is in the area, you can communicate with it as if you shared a common language.

2014 Rules
Level & School
3rd-level transmutation
Casting Time
Action
Range
Self (30-foot radius)
Components
V, S
Duration
10 minutes
Classes
Bard, Druid, Ranger

You imbue plants within 30 feet of you with limited sentience and animation, giving them the ability to communicate with you and follow your simple commands. You can question plants about events in the spell's area within the past day, gaining information about creatures that have passed, weather, and other circumstances.

You can also turn difficult terrain caused by plant growth (such as thickets and undergrowth) into ordinary terrain that lasts for the duration. Or you can turn ordinary terrain where plants are present into difficult terrain that lasts for the duration, causing vines and branches to hinder pursuers, for example.

Plants might be able to perform other tasks on your behalf, at the GM's discretion. The spell doesn't enable plants to uproot themselves and move about, but they can freely move branches, tendrils, and stalks.

If a plant creature is in the area, you can communicate with it as if you shared a common language, but you gain no magical ability to influence it.

This spell can cause the plants created by the entangle spell to release a restrained creature.

Speak with Plants 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

The area is now an immobile 30-foot emanation instead of “Self (30-foot radius),” so the spell’s zone is fixed in place rather than centered flexibly on you. It also loses the clause that lets it make entangle’s plants release a restrained creature.

Speak with Plants popularity

Speak with Plants is a seldom chosen level 3 spell. Choosing it adds a unique option to your spellbook.

Spells similar to Speak with Plants

  • Plant Growth 3rd-level transmutation

    It manipulates plant life and terrain in a similar level and context, letting you shape areas of vegetation for tactical effect.

  • Speak with Animals 1st-level divination

    This is the obvious analog for animals instead of plants, granting short-term communication and social interaction with nonhumans.

  • Locate Animals or Plants 2nd-level divination

    Like Speak with Plants, it’s a nature-focused utility that helps you gain information about plant (or animal) presence in the area.

  • Commune with Nature 5th-level divination

    Both spells give broad natural knowledge about the surroundings and recent events, though this one works on a larger scale.

  • Animal Messenger 2nd-level enchantment

    It provides a plant/animal-themed way to gather and transmit information and involves social interaction with creatures of nature.