Identifying plants can be tricky, but with the right app, it's easier than ever. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, these plant identification apps can help you quickly and accurately determine what you're looking at. PlantNet Plant Identification, PictureThis, and Flora Incognita are some of the top choices, offering powerful image recognition technology, vast plant databases, and helpful features like plant care tips and community forums. With these apps, you'll be able to unlock the secrets of the natural world right from your smartphone.
Top app for plant identification
1. PlantNet Plant Identification
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PlantNet Plant Identification is the best plant identification app I've found, and it's seriously changed how I interact with nature. It's way more accurate than other apps, and that's because it's backed by a huge database of images and scientists who constantly improve the technology. With over 36 million downloads and a global community of users, PlantNet has the data to identify almost any plant you point your phone at, even the rare ones. This means you don't have to be a botanist to learn about the plants around you, and it's a fun way to learn about the world.
Key Features:
- Identify plants from photos
- Contribute to scientific research
- Large database of plant species
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2. PictureThis
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Cost: Free Plan (Free), Yearly Subscription ($29.99 per year)
PictureThis is the ultimate plant identification app for any budding green thumb. It's incredibly accurate, boasting a 98% success rate, which is far better than most other plant apps and even surpasses the knowledge of many human experts. This app is a game-changer because it can identify over 10,000,000 plants, from common flowers to rare succulents, making it a must-have for anyone who loves exploring the natural world. And the best part? PictureThis provides personalized care advice, making it easy to keep your plants thriving.
Key Features:
- Identify plants, flowers, and trees
- Provide plant care tips and reminders
- Diagnose plant diseases and recommend cures
3. Flora Incognita
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Flora Incognita is a plant identification app that has quickly become a favorite for its ease of use and impressive accuracy. While it's not specifically designed for North America, it still manages to identify most plants I've tried, making it a valuable tool for curious nature lovers. The app's unique UI is a refreshing change from the typical boring designs, and its ability to save locations where you've spotted plants is a handy feature. However, the lack of follow-up on "expert advice" requests for unidentified plants is a major drawback, leaving users with unanswered questions and a feeling of frustration.
Key Features:
- Identifies plants from photos
- Provides detailed information about species
- Records and maps plant sightings
4. Plant App
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Cost: Free Plan (Free), Premium Plan ($9.99 per month)
Plant App bills itself as a powerful plant identification app, boasting a database of over 46,000 plants and a 95% accuracy rate. While some users have found its identification capabilities impressive, others have encountered shortcomings, noting that it failed to recognize common houseplants like Anthurium and Kalanchoe. Additionally, the app's disease diagnosis feature has been criticized for its vagueness and lack of specificity. While its design and intuitive workflow are appreciated, the app's high price tag and inconsistent accuracy have left some users feeling disappointed, highlighting the crucial need for a balance between functionality and affordability in a plant identification app.
Key Features:
- Identify plants from photos
- Learn about plant species
- Get plant care tips
5. Seek by iNaturalist
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Seek by iNaturalist is a fun and educational plant identification app available on mobile devices. Using image recognition technology, Seek can identify thousands of plants and animals, helping users learn about the biodiversity around them. The app has been downloaded over 3 million times and boasts a 4.7-star rating on the Google Play Store, demonstrating its user-friendliness and accuracy. However, Seek's reliance on internet connectivity for identification can be a limitation in areas with poor signal, and its database may not include every species found in every region. Nonetheless, Seek offers a valuable tool for anyone seeking to explore and understand the natural world around them.
Key Features:
- Identifies plants and animals using image recognition
- Provides information about observed species
- Earn badges for discovering diverse organisms
Other plant identification app
- PlantIn Plant Identifier, Care
- LeafSnap Plant Identification
- Blossom
- PlantSnap
- Plant Identifier & Care
- iNaturalist
- Plantify
The most important factors when choosing a plant identification app
- Accuracy: The app should reliably identify a wide range of plants with minimal errors.
- Database Size: A larger database increases the chances of identifying your plant correctly.
- User-Friendliness: The app should be easy to use with clear instructions and an intuitive interface.
- Additional Features: Consider features like plant care tips, community forums, or offline functionality.