Identifying Plants: There’s an App for That

Blog Contributed by Stephen McClain

Have you ever walked past a beautiful flower and wondered exactly what it was? Or, maybe you’ve noticed a weird mold growing on your trees. Surely, you think, there is an easy and quick way to figure out what this plant is? And, let’s face it. Does anyone really remember how to tell the difference between poison ivy and poison oak? Well, now you don’t have to. That’s right, folks. There’s an app for that! Here is a complied list of Great Estates Top 4 Apps for identifying plants and flowers. The best part? Every app is available for both Android systems and IPhone.

1. FlowerChecker

The FlowerChecker app uses real botanists to identify unknown plants, moss, fungus and even lichen. And, of all the apps listed, FlowerChecker has the biggest data base of plant forms. With all that information in one central app, FlowerChecker is the most accurate in identifying your plant. Available from the App Store and for Android.

2. Plantifier

Available from the App store and for Android, Plantifier employs a team of people from mygarden.org, who help to identify unknown plants. All you have to do is take a picture and send it to the team, via the app. They usually respond within 8 hours to your question. They also have a picture gallery of well-known plants for easy identification. Without the wait.

3. NatureGate

NatureGate allows you identify your plant with a database of 700 species. And, like FlowerChecker, it also can id molds and funguses. But, unlike any other app we found, NatureGate takes it a step further. The app also includes a feature that allows its users to identify birds, fish and even butterflies!

4. Leafsnap

This free mobile app uses visual recognition software to help identify tree species from photographs of their leaves, immediately, without needing to wait for an email back. Users can browse through beautiful high-resolution images of leaves, flowers, fruit, petiole, seeds, and bark. This app also includes a tree identifying guide, which is an extremely handy feature. Leafsnap currently includes the trees of the Northeastern United States and Canada and will soon grow to include the trees of the entire continental United States. Leafsnap is available through iOS, but an Android app is in development and should be released this year.

It’s always a good idea to call the professionals, especially if you suspect you have plants that are harmful. Great Estates Landscaping is always happy to remove any unwanted plants from your property. But, if you’re curious, try out one of our Top 4 Plant Identifying Apps. And, if you discover a tree or plant you can’t live without, call Great Estates Landscaping!