James Wong

James Wong is a professional plant enthusiast, renowned broadcaster, and best-selling author based in London.

His tiny flat overflows with more than 500 houseplants, and he is constantly developing new terrariums and aquascapes that he shares via his Instagram. An avid user of social media, Wong believes they’re a great tool to inspire others to appreciate the importance and wonder of plants.

With an MSc in Ethnobotany from the prestigious Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, Wong has conducted extensive research on underutilised crop species, ethnopharmacology, and traditional food systems. His fieldwork has also taken him to places like rural Ecuador, Java, and Southern China, where he gained a deep understanding of diverse plant uses and cultural practices.

Wong was the youngest ever RHS medal winner at the Hampton Court Palace Show in 2004 and has won multiple gold medals for his garden designs at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. His dedication to making plant science accessible and engaging has earned him a broad audience.

A prolific author, James Wong has written six best-selling books on plant use, gardening, and food, including Homegrown Revolution, the fastest-selling gardening book in UK history. He also contributes regular columns to the Observer and New Scientist. In Wong’s breakaway hit series Grow Your Own Drugs, he showcased homemade herbal remedies as alternatives to over-the-counter medicines. He has since presented a variety of science, food, gardening, and nature shows for the BBC, Channel News Asia, and Netflix. Additionally, he is a regular panelist on Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time.

As an Ambassador for both Kew Gardens and the Liz Earle natural skincare company, James Wong travels the world as their resident ethnobotanist, seeking groundbreaking new botanical ingredients. His profound knowledge of plants — how to use them, their origins, and methods of cultivation and harvest — positions him as a leading authority in the field.

James Wong’s unique heritage and upbringing have deeply influenced his passion for plants. Born in Singapore to a Malaysian indigenous Iban father and an English mother, he spent his childhood in the jungles of Borneo and other parts of Southeast Asia. His grandmother’s teachings on traditional medicines ignited his lifelong fascination with plants, driving him to explore and share their incredible uses globally.

A dynamic communicator dedicated to spreading the joy and importance of gardening, plant science, and sustainable living, Wong inspires a greater appreciation for the natural world.