Just imagine there were “superplants”. Plants that are quite normal in appearance but possess almost magical abilities. Little plants, which could help us mitigate problems like environmental pollution, shortages of raw materials and poverty. And these superplants do exist! Hyperaccumulators are plants that store so many heavy metals in their leaves that can decontaminate soil. Others can even be used to gather the accumulated raw materials. In the jungle of the South Sea paradise of New Caledonia, open-cast nickel mining has left huge scars in the landscape. Phyllanthus balgooyi, an unremarkable little plant, helps scientists restore this contaminated wasteland. Meanwhile in Albania, farmers are purposely harvesting nickel-accumulating plants for the first time. Plants that have been regarded as useless weed, can now open up new ways of sustenance for them.