The Private Life of Plants

David Attenborough begins an incredible six-part journey into the world of plants. With the use of time-lapse photography, plants are shown as complex and highly active organisms - growing, fighting, competing, breeding and struggling to survive. This first programme demonstrates the techniques plants employ to travel from place to place to find new homes.

For every seedling that sprouts, growing is a race for the light. David Attenborough looks at how new leaves fight for a place in the sun and infant vines scramble to be first into the forest canopy. Remarkable time-lapse photography also reveals the ingenious methods that plants use to defend themselves from animal attacks.

Flowers are the most eye-catching feature of plants, but they are there for only one thing - sex. In order to procreate, a male seed from one flower must be carried to the female parts of another. David Attenborough looks at the array of flashy colours and lurid perfumes that entice a host of animal couriers to collect their rewards.

David Attenborough looks at the extraordinary battles for survival that are fought in the plant world. Cameras reveal how plants use every trick in the book in a bid to come out on top, from growing at different rates to courting and even capitalising on disaster, whether it be hurricanes, fires or being eaten by animals.

David Attenborough looks at the battle for survival in the plant world. Plants often rely on animals, fungi and each other for food, protection or a home - and they are not always grateful partners. Remarkable time-lapse photography reveals them strangling, stabbing and sucking their victims dry in order to stay alive.

David Attenborough reaches the climax of his journey into the world of plants. The final programme looks at the amazing variety of ingenious techniques plants have invented to survive even the coldest Arctic wastes and the driest, hottest deserts. Time-lapse sequences reveal giant water lilies rampaging across the Amazon, mangroves that care for their babies, and plants that survive only by devouring animals.