Many iPhone users want to identify plants but don’t know where to start. Quickly identify the plants around you with one of these twelve best iPhone apps for identifying plants on your device.
One of these apps will come in handy on your next adventure to learn more about flowers and trees.
Plus, they’re all free, so you won’t need to worry about breaking the bank before embarking on your plant-filled journey!
Here are the eleven best iPhone apps for identifying plants in any situation, whether at the nursery or in the woods!
1. NatureID
NatureID is one of the best iPhone apps for identifying plants. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy to find the right plant, and it has a vast plant database. You can search by plant name or picture.
You can also take a picture of the plant you’re trying to identify and upload it to the app.
NatureID will give you information about that plant, including its scientific name, family, and common names. It will also tell you where that plant is native and what kind of habitat it prefers.
It is one of the best iPhone apps for identifying plants; it has a comprehensive database of over 20,000 plants. You can search by plant name, leaf shape, flower color, and more.
The app provides detailed information about each plant, including its location, uses, and care.
2. PlantSnap
This app is fantastic and one of the best iPhone apps for identifying plants on the go! Just take a picture of the plant in question, and PlantSnap will tell you what it is. It’s perfect when you’re out hiking or exploring and come across a plant you can’t identify.
The app also has a built-in community where users can share their photos and help each other with ID plants. There are so many features packed into this one little app you’ll be amazed.
If you want to learn more about a plant, tap I on the app and get loads of information. Information like its common name, scientific name, global distribution, and conservation status will be provided.
You can also check its nativity, edible or poisonous parts, amount of needed sunlight for growth, and endangerment.
3. Planta
This app is designed to help you identify plants quickly and easily. With over 20,000 plants in its database, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for.
Plus, the app provides helpful information on each plant, such as care instructions and where it’s best to plant it.
If you don’t know a flower by name, try clicking on flower identification in the top right corner of the screen. You’ll be taken to a page with photos of different flowers so that you can find your match.
And if you still need more assistance, click on What kind of plant is this? to search through more common types of plants.
I found this helpful app when picking out an herb for my garden, and it listed which herbs would do well in pots and grow better in the ground. And if you want more tips about using herbs, click on Usage Tips under Herb Details!
4. GardenAnswers
This app is fantastic for anyone who loves spending time outside and needs help identifying the plants they find. With over 250,000 plants in their database, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for.
And if you can’t, you can submit a photo, and their team of experts will help you. The best part? It’s free, and you can download it here.
5. What’s That Flower
This app is designed to help you identify flowers based on color, season, and location. You can also search by flower types, such as annuals, perennials, or bulbs.
The app includes over 8,000 photos and 2,500 plant species. It is an easy-to-use app and one of the best iPhone apps for identifying plants.
6. Forest Tree Identification
This app is an excellent resource if you need to identify a tree that may be growing in your backyard. It features an interactive tree identification map of the United States with over 200 trees identified. It also captures 360-degree views of each tree’s trunk, bark, leaves, and fruit.
This app still has plenty of helpful resources like descriptions of what different types of trees look like and their reproduction. These features make it one of the best iPhone apps for identifying plants.
7. LeafSnap
If you’re looking for an app that can quickly and easily identify a plant, LeafSnap is an excellent option, and it is one of the best iPhone apps for identifying plants.
With its database of over 30,000 plants, you’ll likely be able to find what you’re looking for. Plus, the app offers helpful information on each plant, including its Latin name, family, and typical uses.
It has a built-in camera so you can take pictures of your leaves and upload them to the app for identification.
It may not have as many plants as other apps, but LeafSnap does well with what it has available. It’s easier to figure out if you’re dealing with poison ivy or just some old lady’s lace.
8. iPlant
This app is designed to help you identify plants quickly and easily. With over 20,000 species in its database, iPlant is one of the most comprehensive plant identification apps available. Infact, it is one of the best iPhone apps for identifying plants.
You can search for plants by name, family, or location; the app will provide detailed information about each. It also provides an image gallery of plants that may look similar to the one you’re trying to identify.
The photos are organized into a slideshow to compare leaves, stems, flowers, and other identifying features. A button at the bottom of the screen lets you take a photo and upload it to iPlant.
9. Picturesque
Picturesque is easy to use, which makes it a good choice for amateur naturalists. Experts will also find helpful features like the ability to upload images of unusual specimens they encounter while exploring new terrain.
Picturesque is $2.99 on the App Store and is well worth the price; it accurately identifies various species. Picturesque also features over 10 hours of HD video footage from YouTube content partners.
The videos provide sound and text commentary, so you can explore other aspects of nature without leaving your home. One downside to Picturesque is that it doesn’t allow users to input their photos for identifying purposes.
10. PictureThis
PictureThis app helps you identify plants, flowers, and trees. It’s simple to use: take a photo of the plant, and the app will give you a list of possible matches. You can filter your results by plant type, making it one of the best iPhone apps for identifying plants.
The app also includes information on each plant to learn about the flora around you. PictureThis is free and an excellent and of the best iPhone apps for identifying plants.
11. Cambridge Science Park
Cambridge Nature is another option and one of the best iPhone apps for identifying plants with your iPhone. This app uses images and text descriptions to help you quickly find a match among its collection of thousands of species.
Cambridge Nature offers multiple features and packages. Still, one thing you’ll get in every version is access to high-quality photographs and detailed information on each plant.
The app also works offline, making it especially handy if you are hiking through remote areas with spotty or non-existent service.
Bonus Apps – Other Ways To Learn About Plants
In addition to the best iPhone apps for identifying plants, consider these other ways to learn about plants:
- Take a local college or community plant identification class.
- Join a plant club or nature group that goes on hikes and shares information about the flora in your area.
- Find a knowledgeable friend or neighbor who can help you ID plants.
- Read one of the many excellent books on plant identification (try your local library).
- Use an online database like the one maintained by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
- Use social media to post photos of plants you’d like to ID and get help from others in the online community. You might also try using PlantSnap, which lets you take pictures of plants to find out what they are right away.
- Visit the Botanical Society of America’s website to download a free PDF file called Plant Guide with pictures and descriptions of over 1500 common North American species.
- Download their Plant Finder app, which helps you identify trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, and wildflowers found throughout North America – it also includes basic information about each species, including its bloom time.
- Get curious!
Conclusion
In conclusion, these are some of the best iPhone apps for identifying plants. They are all easy to use and have a wide range of features. With these apps, you’ll be able to identify any plant in no time.
So please don’t get caught without them! If you’re unsure which app is suitable for your needs, feel free to ask us in the comments below.
