Ever spotted an interesting plant and wondered what it was? Plant identification apps can turn your smartphone into a pocket botanist. These apps use image recognition to help you identify plants, learn about their characteristics, and even diagnose plant health issues.
Let’s explore 5 of the best plant identification apps available today:
1. PictureThis - Most Accurate Plant ID
PictureThis leads the pack when it comes to plant identification accuracy. This AI-powered app can identify over 10,000 plant species with a claimed 98% accuracy rate.
Key features:
- Identifies plants from photos in seconds
- Provides detailed plant care guides
- Diagnoses plant diseases and suggests treatments
- Offers a plant encyclopedia with species information
To use PictureThis:
Step 1: Open the app and tap the camera icon.
Step 2: Take a clear photo of the plant, focusing on distinctive features like leaves or flowers.
Step 3: Wait a few seconds for the AI to analyze and identify the plant.
Step 4: View the identification results, care tips, and additional information.
While highly accurate, PictureThis does require a paid subscription for unlimited use.
2. iNaturalist - Best for Citizen Science
iNaturalist takes a community-driven approach to plant identification. This free app allows users to submit observations that are then verified by a network of naturalists and scientists.
Key features:
- Identifies plants, animals, and fungi
- Contributes to real scientific research projects
- Connects users with local nature enthusiasts
- Provides a map of nearby observations
Using iNaturalist is straightforward:
Step 1: Snap a photo of the plant you want to identify.
Step 2: The app suggests possible identifications.
Step 3: Submit your observation to the iNaturalist community.
Step 4: Experts and other users help confirm or refine the identification.
iNaturalist’s strength lies in its engaged community and contribution to scientific knowledge.
3. PlantNet - Free and Open Source
PlantNet is a free, open-source alternative that can identify over 20,000 plant species. It’s particularly strong at identifying wild plants and trees.
Key features:
- Completely free to use
- Identifies plants by leaves, flowers, fruits, or bark
- Provides both common and scientific names
- Allows users to contribute to the plant database
To identify a plant with PlantNet:
Step 1: Select the part of the plant you’re photographing (leaf, flower, fruit, etc.).
Step 2: Take a photo or upload an existing image.
Step 3: Review the suggested identifications and select the best match.
Step 4: Contribute your identification to improve the app’s database.
PlantNet’s open-source nature means it’s constantly improving through user contributions.
4. Seek by iNaturalist - Great for Kids and Beginners
Seek is iNaturalist’s kid-friendly offshoot, designed to make plant and animal identification fun and educational.
Key features:
- Gamifies nature exploration with challenges and badges
- Doesn’t require account creation or share user data
- Identifies plants, animals, and fungi
- Provides educational content about identified species
Using Seek is simple and engaging:
Step 1: Open the app and point your camera at a plant.
Step 2: Seek will attempt to identify the plant in real-time.
Step 3: Once identified, tap for more information about the species.
Step 4: Complete challenges to earn badges and level up your nature knowledge.
Seek’s gamified approach makes it excellent for getting kids interested in botany and nature.
5. Google Lens - Versatile Visual Search Tool
While not exclusively a plant ID app, Google Lens offers robust plant identification capabilities alongside its other visual search functions.
Key features:
- Identifies plants, animals, landmarks, and more
- Integrated with Google Search for additional information
- Available on most Android phones and through the Google app on iOS
- Free to use with no account required
To identify plants with Google Lens:
Step 1: Open Google Lens (either as a standalone app or through Google Photos).
Step 2: Point your camera at the plant or upload an existing photo.
Step 3: Tap the search button to analyze the image.
Step 4: Review the identification results and related web searches.
Google Lens’s integration with Google Search provides a wealth of information beyond just plant identification.
Plant identification apps have made botanical knowledge more accessible than ever. Whether you’re a casual nature enthusiast or a serious botanist, these apps can help you learn more about the plants around you. Remember that while these apps are incredibly useful tools, they’re not infallible. For critical identifications, especially regarding potentially toxic plants, it’s always best to consult with a professional botanist or horticulturist.