A B.C. Couple Turns Their Love of Weird Plants Into a Lesson on Nature
In the South Cariboo, two B.C. gardeners are inviting people into a world where plants eat bugs — not the other way around. Christian and Elanore Lass, the duo behind “Hungry Plant Pals,” have spent years raising carnivorous plants in their cozy home on Barnett Road, and now they’re sharing their strange, science-rich hobby with the community.
Their booth at the South Cariboo Farmers Market doesn’t just offer plants for sale — it sparks conversations. Kids gather around, adults lean in, and everyone leaves with at least one fun fact about biodiversity.
“These plants flip the food chain around,” Christian said with a grin. “That twist is what pulled me in.”
A Lifelong Curiosity That Grew Into a Lifestyle
Christian’s connection to plants started long before he ever stepped into the Cariboo. Growing up in Germany, he kept his own garden and later studied botany, biology and pharmacology. His interest eventually led him into the pharmaceutical world, where he explored how medicinal plants could be used in modern treatments.
His move to Canada in 2016 opened a new chapter — and, unexpectedly, led him to the woman who shared his scientific curiosity.
A Chance Meeting That Rooted a Partnership
Working at Big Bar Ranch, Christian crossed paths with Elanore during a botany conference. The two quickly bonded over plant identification, herbarium collections, and their mutual habit of stopping mid-walk to study whatever was growing underfoot.
Elanore, who moved to the Cariboo from the Okanagan in 2015, works as a rangeland researcher ecologist. Her work — studying plants to understand what landscapes are telling us — only deepened her love for the natural world.
“With plants, you can study them your whole life and still not be done,” she said. “There’s always one more thing to learn.”
A Home That Doubles as a Tiny Ecosystem
When the couple married in 2018, their home quickly transformed into a living classroom. Terrariums filled with quail, tarantulas and isopods line the shelves. A compact greenhouse hums with humidity, sheltering their growing collection of Venus flytraps, pitcher plants, and other insect-eating species.
These aren’t just houseplants — they’re conversation starters, lesson plans, and a gateway into the bigger topic the couple cares about: understanding and protecting biodiversity.
Sharing Nature’s Weirdest Wonders
Through Hungry Plant Pals, Christian and Elanore hope people — especially kids — rediscover curiosity. Whether it’s watching a pitcher plant lure insects or learning how wetlands support carnivorous species, every plant becomes a teaching tool.
Their message is simple: when people understand nature, they care for it. And when they care for it, they protect it.
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