The Bible of life is homeostasis. Plants respond to stresses by forming a coordinated defence process from a seemingly chaotic response. Plant molecular glycosylation is the most common and most extensive type of modification reaction in plants. Glycosylation is also an indispensable step for secondary metabolites to produce stable, soluble, storage, detoxification or inactive forms through conjugation with sugars. The present review adds to the description of glycosylation and corresponding glycosyltransferases (GTs) in plants during defence versus growth, which, in comparison to other plant defence regulations, are relatively uncharted. Growth inhibition under stress conditions is related to the redirection of plant resources (such as energy and metabolism) from primary metabolism and growth to activate defence mechanisms in resource-limited environments. A variety of small molecule compounds colored by GTs play an important role in buffering the effects of biotic and abiotic stresses on plants. Autotoxicity defense compounds are stored in the form of inactive glycosides in the defense reaction to release toxic aglycones and to produce cascade effects. All told, glycosylation of secondary metabolites is of first importance to balance growth and defence in an efficient and energy-saving way, but still far to go.