The 10 best apps to identify unknown plants and flowers
There are hundreds of thousands of different plant and flower varieties in the world, meaning it takes a special kind of knowledge to tell your Dracula simia (monkey face orchid) from your Rafflesia keithii (corpse flower).
Luckily, modern technology has the ability to retain and process databases more comprehensive than any individual could manage alone. There's an app for pretty much everything nowadays - so it's no surprise there's one to help those who are just starting to get their fingers green.
With every plant and flower you've ever heard of searchable within seconds, plant identifier apps turn your smartphone from handy to horticulturalist in just a few clicks. Never again will you have to worry about what you're doing when visiting a garden centre - and you'll be able to show off you newfound knowledge next time you're in the garden or on a scenic walk.
So, if you often find yourself wondering about the wild wonders decorating the world around you, here is our list of the best plant identifying apps currently available:
1. PlantSnap
The PlantSnap app makes identifying and buying a doddle. First take a photograph of the plant, then the app will do its best to recognise it. Once recognised, it will give details of name, care information and even where/when it must be planted.
Here's the clever bit... once you've found out what your mystery plant is, you can then buy it through the app from one of their HTA certified nurseries. The PlantSnap app is available from Android and Apple.
2. FlowerChecker
The FlowerChecker app uses real botanists to identify unknown plants, moss, fungus and even lichen, perhaps therefore making it the most accurate of the apps. Available from the App Store and for Android.
3. Plantifier
Available from the App Store and for Android, Plantifier employs a team of people from mygarden.org, who help to identify unknown plants.
4. Candide
Known as the Plant ID app, Candide is an innovative gardening app that offers a fountain of knowledge when it comes to horticulture. A buzzing community of those passionate about all things green and garden-related, the app is available from the App Store and for Android.
5. Leafsnap
Developed by the University of Maryland, Smithsonian Institute and Columbia University, Leafsnap identifies tree species from their leaves. For the UK app, Leafsnap has partnered with the Natural History Museum in order to create a bank of images and to help with identifying tricky trees. Available from the App Store.
6. iPflanzen
Rather than using photographs to recognise plants/flowers, iPflanzen requires you to enter criteria such as leaf shape or fruit colour in order to figure out the mystery. In conjunction with their other apps - iGarten and iForest - extremely detailed and interesting information can easily be found.
7. Google Lens
Although not directly plant-related, Google Lens works via the user taking a photograph, and if the app recognises what is in the picture, it will offer up suggestions and information of what it may be.
8. Garden Compass
Garden Compass not only helps you identify plants, pests and diseases but prompts you with monthly care reminders so you can look after all garden-related needs in one place. It's like having horticulturists in your pocket.
9. LikeThat Garden
LikeThat Garden is a fantastically simple app for identifying plants and butterflies – simply snap a picture of the plant of butterfly in question, and the app will sift through its database to find out what you're looking at, along with a helpful description. Sadly, though, it's only available on Apple iPhones.
10. Garden Answers Plant Identification
With a database of over 20,000 different plant species, Garden Answers Plant Identification is the number one gardening app for iPhone and Android. Whether you want to identify a flower growing wild or find out if the plant in your back garden is harmful to children, simply take a photo and upload to the app. And with an FAQ database of over 200,000 questions, it's also a fantastic resource for all manner of horticultural conundrums.
11. NatureGate
Part of the award-winning NatureGate website, this app allows you to identify flowers, birds, butterflies and even fish by noting down the plant or animal's characteristics, and receiving a list of possible species in return. This app has the benefit of allowing you to identify whilst offline, making identifying plants on even the most rural of walks a doddle.
To browse our selection of plants visit gardenshop.telegraph.co.uk.
