Gardening is usually associated with escape: a quiet corner of calm, a chance to slow down, or a way to create something beautiful in an increasingly hectic world. But in Netflix's survival thriller The Last House, growing things takes on a far more urgent meaning.

When a family of four wakes to find themselves mysteriously sealed inside their home, everyday comforts quickly become necessities. And, when food supplies begin to dwindle and panic sets in, survival becomes the priority – which means that cultivating plants becomes less about aesthetics and more about resilience and resistance.

For Greta Lee, who stars in the film, that idea feels surprisingly close to home. Gardening isn't simply something she explored for The Last House; it's already an important part of her own life, both personally and with her children.

Gardening is Key To Survival in Netflix's The Last House

The film taps into something increasingly familiar: the idea that gardens are not just places of beauty, but sources of nourishment, patience, and hope (there's a reason preppers and their survival gardens are always such a beacon of planting inspiration on Reddit). At their most fundamental, they remind us that life continues even when circumstances become uncertain.

When I ask Greta what she'd grow if she were creating her own survival garden, her answer is refreshingly practical. "Lemon, kale, and potatoes," she tells me. And, while it's a simple list, it's one that says plenty. Reliable crops, nutritional staples, and something capable of lifting the spirits? Why, that's exactly what you'd hope for if the world outside suddenly became unpredictable.

Even imagining being trapped inside one house indefinitely, Greta's dream garden isn't pristine or overly designed. Quite the opposite, actually. "Definitely something a little on the wilder side and not so manicured," she says. "Flowering plants that attract bees and birds, maybe a fruit tree, long grasses being blown around in the wind."

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Her reasoning feels particularly poignant given the premise of The Last House. "You would want a view of a garden that feels very alive and has a lot going on, not only because you would be desperate for any means of entertainment, but I think it would give you hope. The world keeps going, things keep growing, even when you feel trapped."

For anyone who's ever found comfort in stepping outside after a difficult day, that sentiment will feel familiar. Gardens offer more than beauty, after all; they offer a sense of continuity, a reminder that change and renewal are always happening around us. And, away from the cameras, Greta says gardening has become one of the ways she reconnects with the natural world after the intensity of filming.

"Gardening is incredibly grounding. And humbling," she says. "The plants are in charge. Nature is in charge. You can't manipulate the weather or tell a seedling it needs to grow faster. You have to be patient, slow down and take things as they come. I find gardening to be really restorative. There's a lot to learn from nature."

Of course, nature isn't always gentle; every gardener knows that behind every beautiful border lies something capable of surprising us, whether it's invasive plants, toxic flowers, or species that seem almost otherworldly. With that in mind, then, I ask Greta whether there's a plant that genuinely unnerves her.

"Not necessarily creeped out," she says. "More like profound respect and fear."

Her answer is sacred datura (Datura wrightii), a striking flowering perennial that grows throughout her neighborhood. "It's used for traditional Indigenous ceremonies, spiritual visions, and historical localized medicines," she explains, "though it is extremely toxic and potentially fatal."

The plant contains powerful tropane alkaloids, and accidental ingestion can cause severe delirium, hallucinations, confusion, blurred vision, coma, and, in some cases, death. It's beautiful, fascinating, and a reminder that nature often commands as much respect as admiration.

Then again, not every memorable garden plant is dangerous; sometimes it's simply unstoppable – a fact Greta underlines when I ask her about the most resilient plant she's ever grown. "Mint! Mint is crazy!" she laughs. "You cannot plant mint willy-nilly. It spreads super aggressively through rhizomes. You must plant with purpose!"

Somewhat unexpectedly, she forges a connection between mint and The Last House. "Mint is like the love that spreads amongst the Delgado family. Strong and unbeatable," she points out. "See what I did there?"

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Considering the slew of headlines we keep being treated to on a daily basis, it's unsurprising that the idea that gardening can represent resilience is also appearing far beyond The Last House. Indeed, Zach Galifianakis' unexpectedly funny and endlessly curious series This Is A Gardening Show recently showcased our changing relationship with the land, using comedy to deliver a more serious message: “the future is agrarian.”

Together, these stories point towards a broader shift in how we think about growing things. Gardening is no longer being portrayed simply as a peaceful hobby or a way to make outdoor spaces look beautiful. Increasingly, it is being framed as a skill tied to self-sufficiency, connection, and survival.

Yes, there is still joy in growing roses and arranging cut flowers, but there is also a growing recognition that understanding plants, cultivating food, and working with nature may be some of the most valuable skills we can develop. I guess it all goes to show that, if gardening is getting a rebrand, survival might just be its most compelling new look.

Greta Lee's The Last House is now streaming on Netflix.