What it can name
- Ornamental grasses: miscanthus, fountain grass, muhly
- Groundcovers: liriope, pachysandra, creeping phlox
- Shrubs and trees: hydrangea, boxwood, maple
- Flowers and perennials: hosta, daylily, coneflower
- Houseplants and succulents: pothos, snake plant, aloe
Is it growing in the lawn itself? A lawn grass goes to Grass ID and a lawn weed goes to Weed ID, on the same photo.
How plant ID works
- 1
Photograph the whole plant
One clear daylight photo is enough to start. A close-up of a leaf or a flower helps when two plants look alike.
- 2
Get the safest name the photo supports
A species when the photo shows it, the genus or plant type when it does not. If one more photo would settle it, the result asks for that one.
- 3
Safety first, then care
Any safety warning comes first, then a reviewed care card for that plant or its type. Poison ivy, giant hogweed, stinging nettle and poison hemlock get the warning in place of care.
Plant ID questions
What kinds of plants can it identify?
Garden plants, ornamental grasses, groundcovers, shrubs, trees, vines, ferns, succulents and houseplants. Is it growing in the lawn itself? A lawn grass goes to Grass ID and a lawn weed goes to Weed ID, on the same photo, because those tools are built for turf.
Why does it sometimes name only the genus or the plant type?
A photo can show enough to place a plant in its genus without separating two species. When that happens, the result names the genus or the plant type and stops there. The care card heading tells you which level the care comes from, and if one more photo would settle the name, the result asks for that photo.
Why is there no confidence percentage?
Two scans of the same plant can come back with different percentages, which tells you very little. The wording carries the certainty instead: "Looks like" for a name the photo supports, "Leading guess" when it needs a closer look, and "This may be" when safety comes first.
Does it tell me if a plant can hurt people or pets?
Yes. Any safety warning comes first, above the care steps. Could it be poison ivy, giant hogweed, stinging nettle or poison hemlock? Then the warning replaces the care entirely. When no warning applies, the care card says toxicity is not confirmed. A photo can never prove a plant is harmless, so we never call one safe.
Where does the care advice come from?
Every care card is written from university extension and USDA plant guides and reviewed before it ships. Nothing is written fresh for each photo. "Care for" means the card covers that exact species; "Care basics for" means it covers the whole group, such as ornamental grasses or shrubs.
Will it recommend a spray or a pesticide for my garden plant?
No. Plant results stick to light, water, soil, mulch, feeding and pruning timing. If the plant turns out to be a weed in your lawn, Weed ID covers how to control it.